The renowned project management tool, Jira, provides users with the capability to import data from diverse formats, including the widely used CSV (Comma Separated Values) format. This feature enables the transfer of issues from other systems or the bulk addition of issues to a project within Jira. The CSV importer in Jira is an efficient tool, although it may prove daunting for beginners to navigate. This guide aims to simplify the process for you.
Preparation
Before starting, make sure you have the ‘Bulk Change’ global permission and the ‘Create Issues’ and ‘Edit Issues’ project permission in JIRA.
CSV File Format
Your CSV file should contain a header row denoting what each column in your CSV file is going to represent in JIRA. For example, Summary, Description, Assignee, etc.
Steps to Import CSV into JIRA
Now let’s dive into the step-by-step process on how to import CSV to JIRA.
Step 1: Navigate to the CSV Importer
Log in to JIRA as a user with the ‘JIRA Administrators’ global permission. Select ‘External System Import’ in the ‘IMPORT & EXPORT’ section of the Jira admin settings.
Step 2: Start the Importing Wizard
Click on the ‘Import CSV’ button to launch the CSV File import wizard.
Step 3: Select and Upload your CSV
Click on ‘Choose File’ to upload your CSV file. You also have the option to change the CSV encoding and delimiter.
Step 4: Map the CSV fields to JIRA fields
You will be presented with a setup page where you need to map your CSV columns to the appropriate JIRA fields. If a CSV field does not match with any existing JIRA fields, you have the option to create a new custom field.
Step 5: Validate the CSV Data
Once you have mapped your CSV fields, click on the ‘Validate’ button to check for any potential errors. Correct any errors before proceeding.
Step 6: Begin the Import
Click the ‘Begin Import’ button to start the importing process. Be patient as this process may take a while depending on the size of your CSV file.
After the import process is complete, you should see your data in JIRA. Congratulations, you have successfully imported a CSV file into JIRA!
Please remember that this is a basic guide to CSV importing in JIRA. JIRA’s CSV importer is a complex tool with many options, so don’t be afraid to consult the official Atlassian documentation for more detailed information.
