Project managers and agile teams often struggle with handling a large amount of tasks in Jira, also known as the backlog. However, there is a useful technique that can help with this issue – filtering. By learning how to filter the backlog, you can effectively prioritize tasks and improve your workflow. This blog post provides a detailed, step-by-step tutorial on how to filter the backlog in Jira to enhance your project management efficiency.
Understanding Jira Backlog Filtering
Jira’s backlog filtering option is a powerful feature that allows you to manage your project backlog more effectively. It enables you to filter out irrelevant issues, refine the list of tasks that are important, and categorize them based on different criteria such as status, assignee, priority, etc.
Step-by-Step Guide on Filtering Jira Backlog
Step 1: Navigate to your Project Backlog
To start, you need to navigate to your project backlog. You can do this by selecting the relevant project from the sidebar menu and then clicking on “Backlog” on the project’s navigation menu.
Step 2: Use the Basic Filter
Jira provides a basic filter located at the top of your backlog screen. This filter allows you to categorize the backlog based on assignee, reporter, or issue type.
Step 3: Use the Quick Filters
If you want a more refined filter, Jira offers quick filters. These filters can be found above the backlog list. Examples include “Only My Issues”, “Recently Updated”, etc. You can also create your custom quick filters by going to the “Board Settings”.
Step 4: Use the Advanced Search
For more advanced backlog filtering, you can use Jira’s advanced search which allows you to filter your backlog based on almost any issue field. The advanced search option is located at the top-right corner of your backlog screen.
Step 5: Save Your Filters
Once you have defined your desired filters, you can save them for future use. To do this, simply click on the “Save as” button on the advanced search bar, provide a name for the filter, and hit “Submit”.
Writing JQL for Advanced Search
If you want to filter your backlog using the advanced search feature, you will need to write a Jira Query Language (JQL) statement. Here’s an example of a JQL statement that filters out issues that are of high priority and are assigned to a user named ‘John’:
issueType = Task AND priority = High AND assignee = John
With this statement, the backlog will only show tasks that are of high priority and are assigned to John.
Conclusion
Filtering your backlog in Jira is a crucial skill that can dramatically improve your project management efficiency. It allows you to focus on what’s important and helps you manage your tasks in a more structured and organised manner. Remember, the goal of using Jira is not just about tracking issues but about improving your team’s productivity and deliverables.
