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User Guide - Simple Bulk Issues Excel CSV Export for Jira

Overview​

The Simple Bulk Issues Excel CSV Export app allows you to export filtered Jira issues to Excel (XLS/XLSX) or CSV formats with complete control over which fields to include. This guide will walk you through all the features and functionality.

Getting Started​

Prerequisites​

  • Jira Cloud instance
  • App installed and licensed
  • Appropriate permissions to view issues you want to export

Accessing the Export Function​

Screenshot: App Button Location

  1. Navigate to Issues > Search for Issues in Jira
  2. Apply your desired filters using JQL or the visual filter interface
  3. Once you have your filtered results, look for the "Simple Bulk Issues Excel CSV Export for Jira" action button
  4. Click the action button to open the export dialog

Using the Export Dialog​

Screenshot: Configure

Main Interface​

The export dialog consists of several key sections:

Current Filter Display​

  • Shows the JQL query that will be used for the export
  • Reflects your current filter settings from the issue navigator

Field Selection Panel​

The field selection is the core feature that sets this app apart:

Quick Selection Buttons:

  • Select Default: Chooses commonly used fields (Key, Summary, Status, Assignee, Reporter, Priority, Issue Type, Created, Updated, Project)
  • Select All: Selects all available fields
  • Clear All: Deselects all fields
  • Field Counter: Shows how many fields are currently selected

Available Fields:

  • System fields (built-in Jira fields)
  • Custom fields (marked with "Custom" label)
  • Fields are sorted with system fields first, then custom fields alphabetically

Export Options​

Three format options are available:

  • CSV: Comma-separated values, compatible with most spreadsheet applications
  • XLS: Legacy Excel format, compatible with older Excel versions
  • XLSX: Modern Excel format with better performance and features

Screenshot: Export

Field Types and Data Handling​

Supported Field Types​

The app intelligently handles various Jira field types:

Basic Text Fields​

  • Key: Issue key (e.g., PROJ-123)
  • Summary: Issue title
  • Description: Full description text (ADF converted to plain text)

User Fields​

  • Assignee: Display name of assigned user
  • Reporter: Display name of issue creator
  • Watchers: List of users watching the issue

Date/Time Fields​

  • Created: Issue creation date
  • Updated: Last modification date
  • Due Date: Target completion date
  • Resolution Date: When issue was resolved

Selection Fields​

  • Status: Current issue status
  • Priority: Issue priority level
  • Issue Type: Type of issue (Bug, Story, Task, etc.)
  • Resolution: How the issue was resolved

Multi-Value Fields​

  • Labels: Comma-separated list of labels
  • Components: Project components
  • Fix Versions: Target release versions
  • Affects Versions: Versions where issue was found

Custom Fields​

  • Text fields
  • Number fields
  • Date fields
  • Select lists (single and multi-select)
  • User picker fields
  • And many more...

Data Formatting​

The app applies intelligent formatting to ensure data is readable in spreadsheets:

  • Dates: Formatted as locale-appropriate date strings
  • Users: Shows display names rather than usernames
  • Multi-select fields: Values separated by commas
  • Rich text: ADF (Atlassian Document Format) converted to plain text
  • Empty values: Shown as blank cells

Export Process​

Step-by-Step Export​

  1. Filter Issues: Use Jira's issue navigator to filter issues
  2. Open Export Dialog: Click the export action button
  3. Select Fields: Choose which fields to include using checkboxes
  4. Choose Format: Select CSV, XLS, or XLSX
  5. Start Export: Click the appropriate export button
  6. Download: File downloads automatically with timestamped filename

Export Limitations​

  • Maximum Issues: Up to 1,000 issues per export
  • Performance: Large exports may take a few moments to process
  • Permissions: Only exports issues you have permission to view
  • Field Availability: Only shows fields available in your Jira instance

File Naming Convention​

Exported files use the following naming pattern:

jira-issues-export-YYYY-MM-DD-HH-MM-SS.[format]

Example: jira-issues-export-2024-01-15-14-30-25.xlsx

Tips and Best Practices​

Optimizing Your Exports​

  1. Filter First: Always filter your issues before exporting to get exactly what you need
  2. Select Relevant Fields: Only include fields you actually need to keep file sizes manageable
  3. Use Default Fields: The default field selection covers most common use cases
  4. Test with Small Sets: Try exporting a small number of issues first to verify field selection

Common Use Cases​

Project Status Report​

Recommended Fields:

  • Key, Summary, Status, Assignee, Priority, Due Date, Progress

Bug Analysis​

Recommended Fields:

  • Key, Summary, Issue Type, Status, Priority, Reporter, Created, Affects Versions

Sprint Planning​

Recommended Fields:

  • Key, Summary, Story Points, Status, Assignee, Labels, Sprint

Compliance Audit​

Recommended Fields:

  • Key, Summary, Created, Updated, Reporter, Assignee, Status, Resolution Date

Working with Exported Data​

Excel Tips​

  • Use Excel's Filter feature to further analyze data
  • Create Pivot Tables for summary reports
  • Use Conditional Formatting to highlight important issues
  • Freeze the top row for easier scrolling

CSV Tips​

  • Open in Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet application
  • Use Text to Columns if formatting needs adjustment
  • CSV format is ideal for importing into other systems

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

"No issues found matching the filter criteria"​

  • Cause: Your current filter returns no results
  • Solution: Adjust your filter in the issue navigator before exporting

"Failed to load fields"​

  • Cause: Network connectivity or permissions issue
  • Solution: Refresh the page and try again, or contact your Jira administrator

"Your license for this app is not active"​

  • Cause: App license has expired or is not properly configured
  • Solution: Contact your Jira administrator to renew or configure the license

Export button is disabled​

  • Cause: No fields selected or app is still loading
  • Solution: Select at least one field and wait for the field list to load

Performance Considerations​

  • Large exports (500+ issues) may take 30-60 seconds
  • Complex custom fields may slow down processing
  • Network speed affects download time for large files

Getting Help​

If you encounter issues not covered in this guide:

  1. Check your Jira permissions
  2. Verify the app license is active
  3. Try with a smaller set of issues
  4. Contact your Jira administrator
  5. Reach out to app support with specific error messages

Advanced Usage​

JQL Integration​

The app works seamlessly with any JQL query. Some advanced examples:

# Export all bugs created in the last 30 days
project = "MYPROJECT" AND issuetype = Bug AND created >= -30d

# Export issues assigned to specific users
assignee in (john.doe, jane.smith) AND status != Closed

# Export issues with specific custom field values
"Custom Field Name" = "Specific Value" AND project = "MYPROJECT"

Automation Integration​

While the app requires manual triggering, you can:

  • Create saved filters for regular exports
  • Use Jira dashboards to quickly access common filter combinations
  • Document export procedures for team members

Data Privacy and Security​

  • All data processing happens within Atlassian's infrastructure
  • No issue data is transmitted to external servers
  • Exported files are downloaded directly to your device
  • The app respects all Jira permissions and security settings

Version History and Updates​

The app is regularly updated with new features and improvements. Updates are automatically applied to your Jira instance without requiring reinstallation.