Defining a screen
When it comes to field visibility, screens functionally overlap slightly with field configurations. For example, on the Create Issue dialog box, users will only see issue fields that:
- are present on the screen associated with the issue's Create Issue issue operation
- are also not hidden in the field configuration applicable to the issue (as defined by the project's field configuration scheme)
- the user has permission to edit (e.g. the Due Date field can only be edited by users with the Schedule Issues project permission)
Hence, a field may be present on a screen used by a project, but if that field is hidden in the field configuration used by the project, that field will not be visible to the user when that screen in the project is displayed.
If a particular field needs to be hidden at all times, it is easier to hide the field in the relevant field configuration than remove it from all screens.
Be aware that any newly created screen in Jira is not usable by a Jira project until it has been associated with either:
- An issue operation and issue type (via a screen scheme and then issue type screen scheme)
OR - A workflow transition.
See Activating a screen (below) for details.
Jira applications ship with the Default Screen, Resolve Issue Screen and Workflow Screen, which are used as described below:
- Default Screen — used for the default issue operations for creating, editing or viewing an issue.
- Resolve Issue Screen — used for the transition view for the default Close Issue and Resolve Issue transitions, originating from the Open, In Progress and Reopened steps in Jira's default workflow.
- Workflow Screen — used for the transition view for the default Reopen Issue transitions, originating from the Resolved and Closed steps and Close Issue transition, originating from the Resolved step in Jira's default workflow. The Workflow Screen defines a smaller set of fields than the Resolve Issue Screen.
Adding a screen
To add a new screen to Jira:
- Log in as a user with the Jira Administrators global permission.
- Choose
> Issues. Select Screens to open the View Screens page, which lists all screens that have been defined in JIRA. - Click the Add New Screen button to open the Add New Screen dialog box.
- Complete the Add New Screen dialog box:
- Name — enter a short phrase that best describes your new screen.
- Description — enter a sentence or two to describe the situations screen will be used.
- Click the Add button to add your new screen to Jira.
You will be taken directly to the Configure Screen page, where you can add fields to your new screen. See the Configuring a screen's fields section below for details.
Editing a screen's details
To change a screen's name and/or description:
- Log in as a user with the Jira Administrators global permission.
- Choose > Issues. Select Screens to open the View Screens page, which lists all screens that have been defined in JIRA.
- Click the Edit link next to the appropriate screen.
- You will now be directed to the Edit Screen page where you can edit the name and/or description of the Screen.
Copying a screen
- Log in as a user with the Jira Administrators global permission.
- Choose > Issues. Select Screens to open the View Screens page, which lists all screens that have been defined in JIRA.
- Click the Copy link next to the Screen you wish to copy. You will be directed to the Copy Screen page, where you can enter a name and a description for the new Screen.
Deleting a screen
- Log in as a user with the Jira Administrators global permission.
- Choose > Issues. Select Screens to open the View Screens page, which lists all screens that have been defined in JIRA.
- Click the Delete link next to the screen you wish to delete. You will be prompted to confirm your deletion
Screens that are associated with one or more screen schemes, or one or more workflow transitions, cannot be deleted.
Configuring a screen's tabs and fields
You can configure the fields that display on a particular screen by adding/removing fields, as well as reordering them. Tabs can also be used to help group related fields. Tabs are useful for organizing complex screens, as you can place less used fields onto separate tabs. You can also add, remove and reorder tabs, as well as rename them.
To configure a screen's tabs and fields:
- Log in as a user with the Jira Administrators global permission.
- Choose > Issues. Select Screens to open the View Screens page, which lists all screens that have been defined in JIRA.
Click the Configure link next to the screen you want to add a field to. You can perform the following operations:
Operation Instructions Add a tab Click Add Tab. Enter the name of the new tab in the dialog that appears and clickAdd. Move a tab Hover over the dotted part of the tab (next to the tab name) and drag the tab to the desired position. Rename a tab 1. Hover over the tab name and click the pencil icon.
2. Enter the new name and click OK.Delete a tab Hover over the tab name and click the X. Add a field 1. Click the tab that you want to add the field to.
2. Type the name of the field in the drop-down displayed at the bottom of the current fields. Field suggestions will appear as you type.
3. Click Add Field to add it to the current tab.Move a field Hover over the dotted part of the field (next to the field name) and drag the field to the desired position.
Move a field to a different tab by dragging it to the name of the tab and dropping it.Delete a field Hover over the field and click the Delete button that appears.
Tips on configuring screens
- Date fields on View Issue screen — Fields of type 'Date' will always be displayed in the 'Dates' area of the default 'View Issue' screen, regardless of how you reorder them. This applies even if the dates are custom fields.
- System fields on View Issue screen — System fields on the default 'View Issue' screen (e.g. Summary, Security Level, Issue Type, etc.) are fixed. This means that they will always appear in the same place on the 'View Issue' screen, even if you configure the Screen to move them onto a separate tab. Custom fields of related to Dates and People will also appear in their fixed section of the view issue screen. If none of the fields on a tab contain data then the tab is not shown. To make a tab show up, make sure it has a custom field with a type such as Text or Select and that the field has a value.
Note, this information only applies to the screen associated with the 'View Issue' operation in a screen scheme. - Timetracking — You can add the ability to log work and/or specify/modify time estimates to a screen by adding the special Log Work and/or Time Tracking fields respectively.
If these fields cannot be found in the Add Field selection box and they have not already been added to the screen, check whether Jira's Time Tracking feature has been enabled. These fields will not be available to add to any screen if Time Tracking is disabled.
If any screens have the Log Work or Time Tracking fields and Jira's Time Tracking feature is subsequently deactivated, those screens will retain these fields until you specifically remove them. However, the fields will not be visible to the user until Time Tracking is reactivated.
- Renaming standard Jira fields — You cannot rename the standard Jira fields (e.g. Priority, Summary, etc) via the Jira administration console. If you want to rename the standard Jira fields, you will need to modify files in your Jira installation. Please see this knowledge base article for instructions. Note, renaming the standard Jira fields is not supported.
Activating a screen
To make a Screen available to users, you can either:
- Associate the Screen with an issue operation (e.g. 'Create Issue'), via a Screen Scheme — see Associating Screens with Issue Operations; or
- Associate the Screen with a Workflow Transition (e.g. 'Resolve Issue') — see Configuring Workflow.