Specify field behavior

A field configuration defines the behavior of all fields available in your Jira installation, including Jira's own 'fixed'/'built in' fields (known as 'system' fields) and custom fields.

For each field, a field configuration specifies:

• the description that appears under the field when an issue is edited

• whether the field is hidden or visible

• whether the field is required (i.e. the field will be validated to ensure it has been given a value) or optional

• (for text fields only) which renderer to use

When defining field behavior for one or more Jira projects and the fields used by the issue types in these projects, you typically start by adding one or more new field configurations (see below). You then begin modifying the behavior of individual fields in these new field configurations.

Manage multiple field configurations

You can create multiple field configurations for use on separate projects and issue types.

• Multiple field configurations are organized into field configuration schemes, which associate field configurations with issue types.

• A scheme can then be associated with one or more projects, allowing you to control fields on a per project, per issue type basis. See Associating field behavior with issue types for more information.

About the Default Field Configuration

When Jira is installed, the Default Field Configuration is created automatically. All new projects are associated with this configuration. This configuration is also used for projects that are not associated with a field configuration scheme.

It is not possible to edit or delete the Default Field Configuration.

Adding a field configuration

1. Select > Issues.

2. Under FIELDS, select Field Configurations to view all your field configurations.

3. Click the Add Field Configuration button to open the Add Field Configuration dialog box.

4. Complete the Add Field Configuration dialog box:
   
   

   • Name — enter a short phrase that best describes your new field configuration.

   • Description (optional but recommended) — enter a sentence or two to describe when this field configuration should be used.

5. Click the Add button to add your new field configuration to Jira. Once you have added your new field configuration, you can then begin modifying the behavior of its fields (below). You will be taken directly to the View Field Configuration page, where you can modify the behavior of fields in your new field configuration. See Modifying field behavior (from step 4) below for details.

Edit a field configuration

The Edit link allows you to change the Name and Description of the field configuration, not of individual fields. If you wish to change individual fields, see Modifying field behavior (below).

1. Select > Issues.

2. Under FIELDS, select Field Configurations to view all your field configurations.

3. Click the Edit link next to the field configuration you wish to edit.

4. On the Edit Field Configuration page, edit the field configuration's Name and Description.

Delete a field configuration

You can only delete a field configuration that is not associated with a field configuration scheme. The Delete link will not be available for field configurations which are associated with one or more field configuration schemes.

To delete a field configuration:

1. Select > Issues.

2. Under FIELDS, select Field Configurations to view all your field configurations.

3. Click the Delete link next to the field configuration you wish to delete.

Copy a field configuration

1. Select > Issues.

2. Under FIELDS, select Field Configurations to view all your field configurations.

3. Click the Copy link next to the field configuration you wish to copy.

4. On the Copy Field Configuration page, specify the Name and Description for the field configuration to be copied.

Modify field behavior

To modify the behavior of fields in Jira, you need to modify the field configurations that those fields have been defined in.

1. Select > Issues.

2. Under FIELDS, select Field Configurations to view all your field configurations.

3. Locate the field configuration of interest and click the Configure link to open the View Field Configuration page, which lists all system and custom fields in your Jira installation for that field configuration.

4. In the Actions  column, you can perform the following actions for any field:
   
   

   • Edit — change the field's description (i.e. help text).

   • Hide/Show — hide the field from view or show it.

   • Required/Optional — set a field to be required (so that whenever a field is edited it must be given a value) or optional.

   • Renderers — change a field's renderer (see Configuring renderers for more information).

Edit a field's description

Fields can be given descriptions to better identify the meaning of the field. These descriptions are typically displayed under the fields they are associated with when creating or editing an issue. 

1. Select > Issues.

2. Under FIELDS, select Field Configurations to view all your field configurations.

3. Locate the field configuration of interest and click the Edit.

4. Change the description as you wish.

5. Click the Update button to save your changes.

Hide or show a field

If your organization or project has no use for a particular field, you have the option to hide it. Hiding a field ensures that the the field does not appear on any screens (i.e. issue operation screens, workflow transition screens) where the field configuration applies.

To hide or show a field from any and all screens on your Jira site:

1. Follow the first three steps above (in Modifying field behavior) to access the field configuration whose fields you wish to hide or show.

2. Do either of the following:

   • If you no longer want to expose a field through Jira's user interface, click the Hide link associated with that field. You can make this field visible again at any time by clicking the Show link.

   • If you want to show a field (which is currently hidden) through Jira's user interface, click the Show link associated with that field. You can hide this field again at any time by clicking the Hide link.

Make a field required or optional

Certain fields within your organization may be compulsory for issues. In this case you can set a field to be required, so that Jira validates that the field has been given a value whenever an issue is edited. If a required field has not been given a value, Jira will return an error informing the user that the field should be filled.

1. Follow the first three steps above (in Modifying field behavior) to access the field configuration whose fields you wish to make required or optional. When viewing a field configuration, fields which are required have that indication next to their name.

2. Do either of the following:
   
   

   • To make a field mandatory when used through Jira's user interface, click the Required link associated with that field. The text Required appears next to the field's name. Hidden fields cannot be set as required.

   • To make a field optional, click the Optional link associated with that field. The Required text next to the field's name disappears.

Change a field's renderer

Before you change the renderer for a specific field, please read Configuring renderers, paying particular attention to the Implications for Jira operations section.

1. Select > Issues.

2. Under FIELDS, select Field Configurations to view all your field configurations.

3. Locate the field configuration of interest and click Renderers. This will take you to a page where you will have the option to select a renderer from all configured and available renderers.

4. Choose the renderer you wish to use and click Update.