How to add new issuetype as a parent issue of Epic in to Jira Software Professional?

[James Morris]

What is the simplest way to add a new issuetype as a parent of "Epic" and how do you activate the "Parent Link" field? 

[Ste Wright · Accepted solution]

Hi @James Morris 

There is a good guide for how to do this - see: https://support.atlassian.com/jira-software-cloud/docs/configure-custom-hierarchy-levels-in-advanced-roadmaps/

You will need Jira Premium though to set this up :)

Ste

[James Morris]

Many thanks for the swift reply @Ste Wright 

We are now on Jira Premium but coming off a free version of Jira Software so I've added a new hierarchy Initiative issuetype above Epic but still having difficulty visualising the Parent Link field on Epics (to link to their parent Initiative).

I'm familiar with Advanced Roadmaps but may need to read up and back-track the original Project config of our field schemes etc to figure out why the Parent Link field isn't visible within Epics

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist- · Accepted solution]

You'll need to be on Jira Premium, so that your system has "Advanced Roadmaps", then you'll be able to create things like themes and initiatives to use above the Epics (the parent link field is part of the functionality, so it'll appear as soon as you've got any layer above Epic)

[James Morris]

Many thanks for the swift reply @Nic Brough -Adaptavist- 

We are now on Jira Premium but coming off a free version of Jira Software so I've added a new hierarchy Initiative issuetype above Epic but still having difficulty visualising the Parent Link field on Epics (to link to their parent Initiative).

I think this may be to do with field schemes?

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Yes, I think there's a lot of "new fields do not work" when we upgrade.

Your upgrade is NOT a problem.  It sounds like you have more solution options - it is about finding the new stuff that you want to use.

And you are completely right, you do need to make sure that your schemes use the parent-link field, just that you have added them to the issues.

[James Morris]

Yep - looks like there may also be a bit of a lag between applying the change and visibility of the field and hierarch - looks good now - thanks again for the swift response, @Nic Brough -Adaptavist-