Generating multiple tickets in Jira from an Excel spreadsheet can be a huge time-saver when you need to log many similar issues. While Jira doesn’t have built-in functionality to import Excel data directly, there are a few straightforward methods you can use to batch create Jira tickets from Excel.
Why Import Excel Data to Create Jira Tickets?
There are a few common scenarios where importing Excel data can streamline Jira ticket creation:
- Logging bug reports or feature requests from user surveys – If you have a list of items culled from customer feedback, importing them into Jira can be much faster than manual data entry.
- Importing test cases – Test case information is often stored in spreadsheets. You can preserve data like test steps, expected results, etc. by bringing it into Jira.
- Migrating from another tracker – If you have legacy issues in another system, converting that data to Jira tickets through Excel is a simple migration path.
- Organizing research findings – Studies and research projects often use Excel to store results. Those findings can launch new tickets when imported to Jira.
The key benefit is that you don’t have to type the same information over and over again. By using Excel as the intermediate step, you can quickly get large amounts of data into Jira for tracking.
Method 1 – Use Excel Macros to Generate XML
The most straightforward approach is to use Excel macros (VBA scripts) to convert your spreadsheet data into XML that can be imported into Jira. Here are the steps:
- Install the Jira Excel add-in – Atlassian offers an Excel add-in for Jira that contains macros to generate Jira-compatible XML. Install it from the Atlassian Marketplace.
- Set up your template – Create a template Excel sheet with columns for the necessary Jira fields (Summary, Description, etc.)
- Populate the template – Fill in the template with the issues you want to import.
- Generate XML – Use the macros to convert the Excel rows into valid Jira import XML.
- Import into Jira – In Jira, navigate to Issues > Import Issues to upload the XML.
This leverages the macros to do the heavy lifting of converting the Excel data into Jira’s import format. The downside is it requires an extra add-in, but the benefit is anyone can do it without coding.
Excel Template Setup
Your Excel template needs columns for the issue fields you want to populate in Jira. At minimum, you should include:
Column | Description |
---|---|
Key | Jira issue key (usually starts with project key) |
Summary | Short summary of the issue |
Description | Full description of the issue |
Type | Issue type (Bug, Task, Story, etc.) |
You can add other columns like Priority, Assignee, Labels, etc. if you want to populate those fields as well. The macro will map the Excel headers to Jira’s internal field names for the import.
Import Gotchas
Here are some tips to avoid issues with importing Excel to Jira tickets:
- Make sure your Jira columns match valid field names – The macro relies on correct headers.
- Put required fields first – Jira requires certain fields like Summary during import.
- Check field length – Jira has max lengths for things like Summary, Description, etc.
- Use text formatting carefully – Things like bold, colors, images won’t transfer over.
- Watch out for field validation – Jira will reject invalid values like Issue Types not in your project.
Test a few rows first before doing a large batch import. This will help surface any formatting or validation issues.
Method 2 – Use Excel Power Query to Generate CSV
If you don’t want to use the Jira macros, another option is to convert your Excel data into a CSV with Power Query. Here are the steps:
- Set up a template in Excel with your Jira field columns
- Populate the template with your issue data
- Use Power Query to import the sheet into a new query
- Transform the query to the needed columns and data types
- Export the query to CSV format
- Import the CSV file into Jira
Power Query is built into Excel and gives you more flexibility to massage your data prior to importing it. The downside is you’ll need to know how to work with the Power Query editor.
Power Query Tips
Here are some tips for successfully using Power Query to import Excel to Jira issues:
- Clean your data before exporting – Remove spacing, fix casing, etc.
- Make sure your column names and types match Jira
- Reorder columns to put required fields first
- Split data across multiple rows into one column like Description
- Remove columns you don’t need for the import
- Test with a subset before exporting your full data
Taking the time to properly shape your Excel data with Power Query will result in a cleaner Jira import.
Method 3 – Script Excel to Jira Import with Python
For advanced use cases, you can script the Jira import process from Excel entirely using Python. Here’s an overview of the steps:
- Load Excel file into Pandas dataframe
- Transform data into proper format for Jira
- Pass data to Jira Python library
- Use Jira API to create issues in batch
This gives you total control over the import process for complex data situations. The downside is it requires Python and coding skills.
Python Import Tips
To successfully import Excel to Jira with Python scripts, keep these tips in mind:
- Use the Jira Python library for API access
- Read Excel into Pandas for easier data wrangling
- Shape data frames into Jira-friendly format
- Watch out for limitations on batch size
- Handle errors and throttling gracefully
- Use logging for easier debugging
Testing your script with a small sample and handling errors will help make batch importing through Python more robust.
Top 3 Excel to Jira Import Tips
Regardless of the method you choose, here are three key tips for smooth sailing when importing Excel data into Jira:
- Match your columns – Use the exact column names and formats Jira expects for fields.
- Test a small batch first – Trial a handful of rows to catch any formatting issues before doing a large import.
- Clean your data beforehand – Fix spacing, capitalization, length, etc. in Excel prior to importing.
With a consistent column schema, trial imports, and clean Excel data, you’ll avoid headaches and rework when generating Jira tickets in bulk.
Conclusion
Importing Excel data into Jira can save tons of time when you need to create multiple tickets for things like bug reports, test cases, or any tracked issues.
Use Excel macros to quickly generate XML, wield Power Query for more flexibility, or create Python scripts for advanced scenarios. With the right preparation, you can smoothly import hundreds or thousands of rows from Excel into ready-to-work Jira issues.
Now geYour Jira project organized for effective team collaboration!