Documentation for GreenHopper 6.1.x. Documentation for other versions of JIRA Agile is available too.
GreenHopper is now called JIRA Agile. Learn more.

You need a board so that you can view and work with issues in GreenHopper. A board displays issues from one or more projects. You can either use a board that someone else has created, or create a new board for yourself. You can create as many boards as you like.

There are two types of boards:

  • Scrum boards are for teams that plan their work in sprints.
  • Kanban boards are for teams that focus on managing and constraining their work-in-progress. Because work is not planned in advance using discrete time periods or versions, Kanban boards are visible in Work mode but not in Plan mode.

(tick) Before you begin, please note that you will need the JIRA 'Create Shared Objects' global permission before you can create a board. If you don't have this permission you can still create a board, but it will not be visible to other people as its filter will not be shared.

You can either copy an existing board, or create a completely new one.

Creating a Completely New Board

  1. Log into JIRA.
    (info) If you are on the GreenHopper Getting Started page, simply click either Create a new board or Create a new project and board, then select (or create) a project, type the name of your new board — and you're done! Otherwise, please continue:
  2. Select Agile > Manage Boards from the top navigation bar.
  3. Select Create from the Tools ('cog') menu at the top-right of the page.
  4. Either:
    • To create a Scrum board:
      • Click Select Scrum on the Presets tab (see Screenshot 1 below). You will be prompted to enter the name of your new board, select the project(s) you wish to view, and select what type of workflow to use (Simplified Workflow is recommended).
        (info) This will create a preconfigured Scrum board containing all the issues in your chosen project(s). Your Scrum board will have a JIRA filter with the following query:

        project = "[YOUR PROJECT(S)]" ORDER BY Rank ASC

        or:

    • To create a Kanban board:
      • Click Select Kanban on the Presets tab (see Screenshot 1 below). You will be prompted to enter the name of your new board, select the project(s) you wish to view, and select what type of workflow to use (Simplified Workflow is recommended).
        (info) This will create a preconfigured Kanban board containing all the issues in your chosen project(s) that do not belong to a released version (see the JIRA documentation on Managing Versions). Your Kanban board will have a JIRA filter with the following query:

        project = "[YOUR PROJECT(S)]" AND (fixVersion in unreleasedVersions() OR fixVersion is EMPTY) ORDER BY Rank ASC

        or:

    • To create a Kanban board that is based on a query of your own choosing:
      (info) Before you can do this, you must have access to at least one saved JIRA filter (either your own filter, or one that someone else has shared with you). If you don't, first create and save a new filter in JIRA (you may want to see the documentation on issue filters and JQL).
      • Click the Advanced tab (see Screenshot 2 below).
      • 'Saved Filter' — Select the issue filter to be used by this board (see some examples below).
        (info) If a colleague has not shared their saved filter with you, that filter will not be available for you to choose in this field.
      • 'Shares' shows which groups or projects roles have access to the currently selected saved filter. Your new board will be available to all users who have access to your chosen filter.
      • Click the 'Edit Filter' link if you wish to alter the JIRA filter's query. (You will only be able to do this if you are the owner of the JIRA filter. If you are not, then the owner's name will be shown instead of the 'Edit Filter' link.)

(info) Note that you cannot change the board type after creation (that is, a Scrum board cannot become a Kanban board, and vice versa).

Congratulations — you have created a new board!

Your new board will be shown. At the top is a link that you may want to send to other people so that they can use your board.

Next steps:

Screenshot 1: Create a new board using Presets

Screenshot 2: Create a new board using the 'Advanced' tab

Some example JQL you might wish to use for your Saved Filter:

  • Select all issues which are Unscheduled or in an Unreleased Fix Version:

    project = GHS AND (fixVersion in unreleasedVersions() or fixVersion is empty
  • Select all issues you are interested in:

    (assignee = currentUser() or reporter = currentUser()) AND (fixVersion in unreleasedVersions() or fixVersion is empty)
  • Show all issues that you have participated in and have been updated in the last week. (info) This requires the JIRA Toolkit Plugin.

    updatedDate > -7d AND Participants = currentUser()
  • Select all issues for a team (using a Label custom field named 'Team')

    (team = ateam or team = dreamteam or team = engineroom) AND (fixVersion in unreleasedVersions() or fixVersion is empty)
  • Only select my bugs for a bugfix team

    project = GHS AND team = bugfix AND issuetype = bug AND (fixVersion in unreleasedVersions() or fixVersion is empty)
  • Try fixVersion = earliestUnreleasedVersion(PROJECT KEY) to see all issues in the next Fix Version to be released:

    fixVersion = earliestUnreleasedVersion(PROJECT KEY) 

(info) Refer to the JIRA documentation for your detailed JQL reference.

Let your imagination run wild and please comment below with your best JQL suggestions to help us learn what you are looking for.

Copying an Existing Board

If you would like to create a board that is similar to one you are already using, you can simply create a copy.

(info) Your new board will be based on the same JIRA issue filter as the original board. You will be the owner of the new board, but not necessarily of the filter. However, once your new copy is created, you can easily modify or create a new filter if you wish — see Configuring a Board.

To copy a board:

  1. Select Agile > Manage Boards from the top navigation bar.
    .
  2. The Manage Boards screen will be displayed. Click the Copy link corresponding to the board of interest.

(tick) Alternatively, to quickly create a copy of the board you are currently viewing, simply select Copy from the Tools (cog) menu at the top right of the screen.


Next steps:

  • The configuration screen for your new board will be displayed. If you wish to make any changes, see Configuring a Board.
  • To start using your new board right away, click Use board at the top of the screen. See Using a Board.