# User Guide - Simple Bulk Issues Excel CSV Export for Jira

Looking for the how-to walkthrough? Read the [complete guide: Export Jira issues to Excel/CSV](/blog/export-jira-issues-to-excel.md) — JQL examples, recommended field sets per use case, and best practices for recurring exports.

## Overview[​](#overview "Direct link to 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[​](#getting-started "Direct link to Getting Started")

### Prerequisites[​](#prerequisites "Direct link to Prerequisites")

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

### Accessing the Export Function[​](#accessing-the-export-function "Direct link to Accessing the Export Function")

![Screenshot: App Button Location](/assets/images/highlight1-807bb8bc0c497c576b35d9f19d1c0925.png)

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[​](#using-the-export-dialog "Direct link to Using the Export Dialog")

![Screenshot: Configure](/assets/images/highlight2-fe20c4336d0b884ba630101fc1a14dff.png)

### Main Interface[​](#main-interface "Direct link to Main Interface")

The export dialog consists of several key sections:

#### Current Filter Display[​](#current-filter-display "Direct link to 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[​](#field-selection-panel "Direct link to 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[​](#export-options "Direct link to 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](/assets/images/highlight3-ff6197f0d5d3381ddadc53286d5ba6b7.png)

## Field Types and Data Handling[​](#field-types-and-data-handling "Direct link to Field Types and Data Handling")

### Supported Field Types[​](#supported-field-types "Direct link to Supported Field Types")

The app intelligently handles various Jira field types:

#### Basic Text Fields[​](#basic-text-fields "Direct link to Basic Text Fields")

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

#### User Fields[​](#user-fields "Direct link to User Fields")

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

#### Date/Time Fields[​](#datetime-fields "Direct link to Date/Time Fields")

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

#### Selection Fields[​](#selection-fields "Direct link to 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[​](#multi-value-fields "Direct link to 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[​](#custom-fields "Direct link to Custom Fields")

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

### Data Formatting[​](#data-formatting "Direct link to 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[​](#export-process "Direct link to Export Process")

### Step-by-Step Export[​](#step-by-step-export "Direct link to 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[​](#export-limitations "Direct link to 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[​](#file-naming-convention "Direct link to 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[​](#tips-and-best-practices "Direct link to Tips and Best Practices")

### Optimizing Your Exports[​](#optimizing-your-exports "Direct link to 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[​](#common-use-cases "Direct link to Common Use Cases")

#### Project Status Report[​](#project-status-report "Direct link to Project Status Report")

**Recommended Fields:**

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

#### Bug Analysis[​](#bug-analysis "Direct link to Bug Analysis")

**Recommended Fields:**

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

#### Sprint Planning[​](#sprint-planning "Direct link to Sprint Planning")

**Recommended Fields:**

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

#### Compliance Audit[​](#compliance-audit "Direct link to Compliance Audit")

**Recommended Fields:**

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

### Working with Exported Data[​](#working-with-exported-data "Direct link to Working with Exported Data")

#### Excel Tips[​](#excel-tips "Direct link to 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[​](#csv-tips "Direct link to 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[​](#troubleshooting "Direct link to Troubleshooting")

### Common Issues[​](#common-issues "Direct link to Common Issues")

#### "No issues found matching the filter criteria"[​](#no-issues-found-matching-the-filter-criteria "Direct link to \"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"[​](#failed-to-load-fields "Direct link to \"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"[​](#your-license-for-this-app-is-not-active "Direct link to \"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[​](#export-button-is-disabled "Direct link to 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[​](#performance-considerations "Direct link to 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[​](#getting-help "Direct link to 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[​](#advanced-usage "Direct link to Advanced Usage")

### JQL Integration[​](#jql-integration "Direct link to 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[​](#automation-integration "Direct link to 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[​](#data-privacy-and-security "Direct link to 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[​](#version-history-and-updates "Direct link to 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.

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