I’m working on setting up a Jira filter that captures all issues where a defined custom field does not have any value. I’m exploring ways to form a query that specifically targets these blank entries. For instance, is it possible to combine a special logical operator with a wildcard symbol, like a negated pattern, to achieve the desired outcome?
Based on my experience working with Jira custom fields, I found that the most reliable way to pinpoint issues with an empty custom field is to use the JQL expression that explicitly checks for emptiness. Specifically, the query ‘customfield is EMPTY’ has worked well in past projects. This method directly targets issues where the custom field holds a null value. It’s important to verify that the custom field is correctly indexed and that your permissions allow you to view all instances of it. In certain configurations, especially with nullable strings, additional checks might be necessary to capture all blank cases.
Another approach involves testing the field’s behavioral response. In particular, if the standard ‘EMPTY’ operator does not yield the anticipated results due to indexing or configuration issues, using a null comparison might be useful. For example, determining issues by verifying whether the field equals null can be an alternative solution in certain Jira setups. It is advisable to run comparative queries to confirm that no entries are falsely omitted, especially in instances where custom fields have evolved or multipurpose configurations are in use.
i once dealt with a similar jiras and found that sometimes ‘empty’ misses stray spaces. trim the field or verify its raw input before querying. this helped me overcome indexing quirks that made the standard filter less effective. hope it helps!