Change Field Type
You can convert an issue field type to another type that stores similar data. The following field type conversions are supported:
Fields that store data as a
stringcan be converted to storetextor enumerated types with single or multiple values.You can convert
textfields tostring.Fields that store a
datecan be converted to storedate and time, and vice versa.For fields that store data as an
integer,period, orfloat, you can convert the data to a target format within this set of types. For example, you can convert anintegertype to aperiodtype. Here, you have the option to convert the value that is stored as an integer to a number of hours or number of days.You can convert enumerated types that support single value to
stringor another enumerated type with the single value (enum[1],build[1],ownedField[1],state[1],version[1]).You can convert enumerated types that support multiple values to
stringor another enumerated type with multiple values (enum[*],build[*],ownedField[*],version[*]).
There are a number of cases where data can be lost. For example, if you have a field that stores an enum type (or any other pseudo-enum like build or version) and convert it to string, the enumerated values are converted into a comma-separated string. If you were to convert the type back to the enumerated type, previous enumerations that are not contained in any of the converted strings are not restored to the set of values in the field. Any color coding assigned to specific values in an enumerated set is lost during conversion. Other secondary properties like release date and archive date (for versions) are also discarded.
If any of the following conditions are present, you are not allowed to change the field type:
The field identifies columns on an agile board.
The field identifies swimlanes on an agile board.
The field is linked to sprints on an agile board.
The field is mapped in build server integration settings.
Field type is a global property and cannot be modified on a per-project basis.
To change a field's type:
From the
Administration menu, select Custom Fields.Select the Fields List tab.
Select the field that you want to change in the list.
If the sidebar is hidden, click the
Edit button in the toolbar or click the Show Details button.
Select the desired type from the Type list.
If you want to replace an existing custom field with a field that uses a different type, you can't use the Replace operation. Instead, you need to add a custom field that stores values in the desired type to the project and migrate the data manually from the original field.
To migrate data from one custom field to another custom field:
From the Edit Project page, select the Fields tab.
Click the Add field to project button.
Use the settings to define a custom field or select an existing field that stores values in the desired type.
If the new custom field stores enumerated values, add values to the new custom field that are used in the existing custom field.
When finished, update the values that are stored in the custom fields for your project:
From the Issues list, enter a search query that finds all the issues that contain a specific value in the original custom field. For enumerated types, start with the first value in the set. For example:
In #{Project} Status: Submitted.Select all the issues that are returned by the search query. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + A (⌘ + A on macOS) to select all the issues that are returned by the query.
Use a command to update all the selected issues and assign them a value in the new custom field. For example:
Secondary State Submitted. To minimize notification spam, apply the commands without sending notifications.Repeat this step until you have migrated all the data that was stored in the original custom field to the new custom field.
Return to the
page and remove the original custom field from the project.The field and its related values are deleted from the project.
All the values previously stored in the original custom field are now stored in the new custom field.