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JIRA 6.x Administration Cookbook
JIRA 6.x Administration Cookbook

JIRA 6.x Administration Cookbook: Over 100 hands-on recipes to help you efficiently administer, customize, and extend your JIRA 6 implementation

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JIRA 6.x Administration Cookbook

Chapter 2. Fields and Screens

In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:

  • Creating a new custom field
  • Creating separate select options for different projects
  • Making a field required
  • Making the assignee field required
  • Hiding a field from view
  • Choosing a different field renderer
  • Creating a new field configuration
  • Creating a new screen
  • Removing the none option
  • Adding help tips to custom fields
  • Using JavaScript with custom fields
  • Creating custom field with custom logic

Introduction

An information system such as Atlassian JIRA is only as useful as the data that goes into it, so it is no surprise that JIRA is very flexible when it comes to letting you customize the fields and screens.

JIRA comes with a suite of default fields to help you get it up and running quickly, and it also allows you to add your own fields, called custom fields, to address your unique needs.

In this chapter, we will learn not only about how to create these custom fields in JIRA, but also the different behaviors that these fields can have. We will end the chapter by showing you an example of expanding the types of custom fields you can have with third-party add-ons and using scripts to create your own field logic.

Creating a new custom field

As mentioned before, one of the key features of JIRA is its ability to let you customize the fields in which you have to collect information from the user. JIRA comes with over 20 different types of custom fields, such as simple text and select lists.

In this recipe, we will be creating a new custom field—a single select list custom field—from the default selection.

How to do it…

Proceed with the following steps to create a new custom field of the type single select list:

  1. Log in to JIRA as a JIRA administrator.
  2. Navigate to Administration | Issues | Custom Fields.
  3. Click on the Add Custom Field button.
  4. Scroll down and select the Select List (single choice) field type, and click on Next as shown in the following screenshot:
    How to do it…
  5. Name the custom field Team.
  6. Add select options by typing the option value in the Options text field and click on Add. Continue until all options are added and then click on Next, as shown in the following screenshot:
    How to do it…
  7. Select the screens...

Creating separate select options for different projects

Often, it is useful for custom fields to have different values depending on the selected project and issue type combination. A good example would be for a select list custom field to show different sets of options for different projects.

We will look at how to achieve this with a custom field configuration scheme, also known as context. A custom field configuration scheme controls what data the custom field will display, such as the field's default value and select options. Just like all other configuration schemes in JIRA, the custom field configuration scheme is applied on a project and issue type context.

How to do it…

We need to create a new custom field configuration scheme in order to set up a new set of select list options:

  1. Log in to JIRA as a JIRA administrator.
  2. Navigate to Administration | Issues | Custom Fields.
  3. Click the Configure link for the field configuration used by the project and issue type.
  4. Click on the Add...

Making a field required

Required fields such as Summary and Issue Type have a little red asterisk next to them, which means they must have a value when you are creating or updating an issue. This is a great way to ensure users will not skip filling in important information.

We will look at how to make any fields of your choice required in this recipe, with field configurations. A field configuration controls the behaviors of a field; these include the field's mandatory requirements, visibility, renderer, and description.

How to do it…

Proceed with the following steps to make a field required in JIRA:

  1. Log into JIRA as a JIRA administrator.
  2. Navigate to Administration | Issues | Field Configurations.
  3. Click on the Configure link for the field configuration used by the project and issue type.
  4. Click on the Required link for Priority and Due Date as shown in the following screenshot:
    How to do it…

How it works…

When a field is marked as required, JIRA will check to make sure the field has a value...

Making the assignee field required

By default, the assignee field has an unassigned option, which is equivalent to making the field optional. If you went to check out field configuration, you would have realized that you could not make the assignee field required as there is no such option available.

In this recipe, we will look at how to disable the unassigned option, effectively making the assignee a required field.

Getting ready

You cannot disable the unassigned option if you have:

  • Issues that are currently using that option for the assignee field
  • Projects that have unassigned set as the default assignee

How to do it…

Proceed with the following steps to disable the unassigned option:

  1. Log in to JIRA as a JIRA administrator.
  2. Navigate to Administration | System.
  3. Click on the Edit Settings button.
  4. Scroll down and select the OFF option for Allow unassigned issues and click on Update, as shown in the following screenshot:
    How to do it…

Introduction


An information system such as Atlassian JIRA is only as useful as the data that goes into it, so it is no surprise that JIRA is very flexible when it comes to letting you customize the fields and screens.

JIRA comes with a suite of default fields to help you get it up and running quickly, and it also allows you to add your own fields, called custom fields, to address your unique needs.

In this chapter, we will learn not only about how to create these custom fields in JIRA, but also the different behaviors that these fields can have. We will end the chapter by showing you an example of expanding the types of custom fields you can have with third-party add-ons and using scripts to create your own field logic.

Creating a new custom field


As mentioned before, one of the key features of JIRA is its ability to let you customize the fields in which you have to collect information from the user. JIRA comes with over 20 different types of custom fields, such as simple text and select lists.

In this recipe, we will be creating a new custom field—a single select list custom field—from the default selection.

How to do it…

Proceed with the following steps to create a new custom field of the type single select list:

  1. Log in to JIRA as a JIRA administrator.

  2. Navigate to Administration | Issues | Custom Fields.

  3. Click on the Add Custom Field button.

  4. Scroll down and select the Select List (single choice) field type, and click on Next as shown in the following screenshot:

  5. Name the custom field Team.

  6. Add select options by typing the option value in the Options text field and click on Add. Continue until all options are added and then click on Next, as shown in the following screenshot:

  7. Select the screens to place the new...

Creating separate select options for different projects


Often, it is useful for custom fields to have different values depending on the selected project and issue type combination. A good example would be for a select list custom field to show different sets of options for different projects.

We will look at how to achieve this with a custom field configuration scheme, also known as context. A custom field configuration scheme controls what data the custom field will display, such as the field's default value and select options. Just like all other configuration schemes in JIRA, the custom field configuration scheme is applied on a project and issue type context.

How to do it…

We need to create a new custom field configuration scheme in order to set up a new set of select list options:

  1. Log in to JIRA as a JIRA administrator.

  2. Navigate to Administration | Issues | Custom Fields.

  3. Click the Configure link for the field configuration used by the project and issue type.

  4. Click on the Add new context...

Making a field required


Required fields such as Summary and Issue Type have a little red asterisk next to them, which means they must have a value when you are creating or updating an issue. This is a great way to ensure users will not skip filling in important information.

We will look at how to make any fields of your choice required in this recipe, with field configurations. A field configuration controls the behaviors of a field; these include the field's mandatory requirements, visibility, renderer, and description.

How to do it…

Proceed with the following steps to make a field required in JIRA:

  1. Log into JIRA as a JIRA administrator.

  2. Navigate to Administration | Issues | Field Configurations.

  3. Click on the Configure link for the field configuration used by the project and issue type.

  4. Click on the Required link for Priority and Due Date as shown in the following screenshot:

How it works…

When a field is marked as required, JIRA will check to make sure the field has a value when you are making...

Making the assignee field required


By default, the assignee field has an unassigned option, which is equivalent to making the field optional. If you went to check out field configuration, you would have realized that you could not make the assignee field required as there is no such option available.

In this recipe, we will look at how to disable the unassigned option, effectively making the assignee a required field.

Getting ready

You cannot disable the unassigned option if you have:

  • Issues that are currently using that option for the assignee field

  • Projects that have unassigned set as the default assignee

How to do it…

Proceed with the following steps to disable the unassigned option:

  1. Log in to JIRA as a JIRA administrator.

  2. Navigate to Administration | System.

  3. Click on the Edit Settings button.

  4. Scroll down and select the OFF option for Allow unassigned issues and click on Update, as shown in the following screenshot:

Hiding a field from view


There will be times when a field is no longer needed. When this happens, instead of deleting the field, which would also remove all its data, you can choose to hide it. So if you need the field again further down the track, you can simply unhide it and retain all the data.

In this recipe, we will be hiding both the Priority and Due Date fields.

How to do it…

Proceed with the following steps to hide a field in JIRA:

  1. Log in to JIRA as a JIRA administrator.

  2. Navigate to Administration | Issues | Field Configurations.

  3. Click on the Configure link for the field configuration used by the project and issue type.

  4. Click on the Hide link for Priority and Due Date.

    Tip

    Clicking on the Show link will unhide the field. You cannot hide a mandatory field.

There's more…

Using field configuration is one way to hide fields from the user. There are two more ways to make a field hidden from view:

  • Take the field offscreen. Note that for the View screen, default fields, such as summary and description...

Choosing a different field renderer


Most custom field types, such as select lists and text fields, can be rendered in multiple ways. For example, select lists can be rendered either with an autocomplete feature or as a simple, standard drop-down list.

In this recipe, we will be changing the environment field to use Wiki Style Renderer so that we can use wiki markup when entering data.

How to do it…

Proceed with the following steps to change the field renderer option:

  1. Log in to JIRA as a JIRA administrator.

  2. Navigate to Administration | Issues | Field Configurations.

  3. Click on the Configure link for the field configuration used by the project and issue type.

  4. Click on the Renders link for the field to change.

  5. Select the new renderer type from the Active Renderer drop-down list.

  6. Click on Update to apply the change as shown in the following screenshot:

There's more…

JIRA comes with several field renderers to choose from, and you can install custom renderers from third-party vendors. A good example is the...

Creating a new field configuration


As we have seen in previous recipes, you can configure a field's behaviors with field configuration. JIRA not only comes with a default field configuration that is applied to all project and issue types by default, but it also lets you create your own so that you can choose the projects and/or issue types to apply your field configuration to.

In this recipe, we will make the Description and Assignee fields required only for the Task issue type.

How to do it…

Setting up a new field configuration is a three-step process. The first step is to create the new field configurations:

  1. Log in to JIRA as a JIRA administrator.

  2. Navigate to Administration | Issues | Field Configurations.

  3. Click on the Add Field Configuration button, name it Task Field Configuration, and click on Add.

  4. Click on the Required link for Description and Assignee fields.

The second step is to associate the new field configuration with a new field configuration scheme:

  1. Navigate to Administration | Issues...

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Description

A comprehensive guide, full of practical recipes with real-life JIRA administration challenges, solutions, and examples with illustrations from the actual application. If you are an administrator who will be customizing, supporting, and maintaining JIRA for your organization, this book is for you. Familiarity with the core concepts of JIRA is essential. For some recipes, basic understanding in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript will also be helpful.

What you will learn

  • Upgrade and maintain a JIRA instance
  • Design and implement custom forms to capture information with custom fields, screens, and validation rules
  • Create custom workflows with complex validation logic and business rules
  • Secure JIRA data from unauthorized access
  • Set up single signon for JIRA on a Windows domain
  • Make JIRA compliant with FDA Part 11 with electronic signatures
  • Integrate JIRA with other cloud platforms, such as Google Drive
  • Automate administrative tasks with scripts and commandline interfaces

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Jul 10, 2014
Length: 260 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781782176862
Vendor :
Atlassian
Tools :

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Product Details

Publication date : Jul 10, 2014
Length: 260 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781782176862
Vendor :
Atlassian
Tools :

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Table of Contents

10 Chapters
1. JIRA Server Administration Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Fields and Screens Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. JIRA Workflows Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. User Management Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. JIRA Security Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. E-mails and Notifications Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Integrating with JIRA Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. JIRA Administration Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. JIRA Customizations Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

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Steve Sep 23, 2015
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Good how to book.
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Craig Apr 13, 2015
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Excellent step by step guidebook to accomplish the most common needs for JIRA. Much better than other publications that I have tried.
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Ellen Feaheny Jan 02, 2015
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This book is the logical and natural "extra limb" for any Atlassian server administrator serious about their job supporting JIRA end users in a corporation. Sure, you can "get by" winging it day by day, and many do. But as many also learn, with JIRA, ramifications for your configuration decisions matter well beyond the day you make them. Similarly, unraveling early-on poor decisions can be both painful and cumbersome. This book will help you make good and right JIRA configuration decisions out the gate, and simultaneously bring your JIRA skill set up a whole new level. Bonus: your end users and boss(es) will thank you for it.(This is Mr. Li's 3rd book on JIRA; he's worked with the platform for 8+years in some of the largest/most complex corporate JIRA installations in the world.)
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Philipp Sendek Sep 12, 2014
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JIRA, a software that has its roots in the software development and the bug tracking has a growing popularity even outside of those industries. The fact that JIRA is more like a very versatile framework than a static standard software for managing issues will become clear once more in this bookThe author doesn't limit himself to providing a plain guide that only states the obvious ways of customizations which the user interface offers, but brings in his years of experience to deliver a full-fledged administration guide with extraordinary depth:Apart from general things like the installation, setting up own issues types, workflows, field configurations et al. he picks up common snitches and minor issues and provides practical solutions in form of Velocity-, Groovy- or JavaScript-Code to adjust the appearance, automatize field input or run content checks in screens. Yet this book isn't only dedicated to "hardcore" admins either, as even starters will learn a lot on best practices before or even during setting up and getting familiar with JIRA.Therefor I can absolutely recommend this book to fresh and experienced JIRA admins alike, using it myself to pick up some new tricks in terms of scripting and "under the hood" tweaking.
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W Boudville Aug 15, 2014
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When the book says Jira is an issue tracking package for a corporate environment, in practice for some of you, this will mean handling complaints and bugs. In the computing community, bug tracking is a common necessity for any firm putting out software.The book is directed towards a system administrator of Jira. There is much flexibility built into what you can make for your users. A form that a user fills out can have fields that you define as mandatory or not. The former means the user must fill out a field. You should probably exercise care about how many such fields you assign this status. Tempting after all to define all fields as mandatory. But that can deter some users from reporting an issue. While this might be frustrating from your standpoint, you have to make a tradeoff between ease of reporting and the comprehensiveness of those reports.Jira is much more than form filling. One chapter delves into how you can define a workflow. Using an simple graphical interface to build a directed graph. A finite state machine, for those readers with the appropriate background. This network machine can then be used by your users in a project. The transitions between nodes [states] of the network can themselves have intermediate screens where users can fill in extra data or get information.If indeed you want to use Jira for software development, then chapter 7 is germane. It shows how to integrate it with github, bitbucket and other 3rd party packages and websites. As you may know, several of these sites are now often used by programmers to archive their code in a globally accessible manner. A key paradigm change in the programming field. Jira lets you accomodate your users if they use these websites.
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