How to make custom field visible in Jira?

[changdong li]

When I add a custom field, it will have a official default value 'None', but if I add a new issue with the default value 'None', I can not find the field on the issue page, it only can be find on the issue edit page. I want to know how to make custom field visible with the default value 'None' in Jira cloud instance.

[Peter Bengov · Accepted solution]

Hi @changdong li the fields in Jira don't show if they have no value. And a value of None is basically a null value. 

You can workaround this by adding another value to this field called None and set it as your default value. Of course, make sure the field itself is found inside the relevant View screen. That should do the trick, though a bit messy. 

[changdong li]

As the default value of None can not be removed, if I add a option with the value None, it will have two 'None' option, it really not a good design.

[Peter Bengov]

You are exactly right. That's why I've wrote "though a bit messy".

You can, of course, give the new value a different name which is equal to None so you can have a better differentiation. 

I will note, this is something which some user tend to point out but eventually makes sense and accessing fields which are blank could be very easy using keyboard shortcuts. Especially the "." (dot) menu. 

Please accept one of the answers you have got, which best fits your needs. 

[Ivan Tovbin · Accepted solution]

You can't. Fields with no value in them are not displayed on issue view screen. 'None' is not actually a value, it's an indication that a field has not value. That's how Jira works right now. There's an open feature request for this, feel free to vote and follow.

[changdong li]

It's really not a good design...because the I can't remove the default value 'None', but I still can add a option 'None', then the custom field will have two option value 'None', it will impact the filter. And as the custom field not visible, it is very inconvenient. :(

Still thank you for your reply!

[Olga Videc · Accepted solution]

Hello @changdong li

I experienced this issue before, and the outcome is always the same, you cant show the field with an empty value.

Set the default value to something, and the field will be visible.

People posting about this before:

https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Answers-Developer-Questions/Always-display-custom-field-in-issue-view/qaq-p/515379

And known issue further consideration from Atlassian:

https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRASERVER-2997

BR, Olga

[changdong li]

Thank you!

[Vasiliy Zverev]

Dear @changdong li, you could use some dummy value just to fill this field.

For example: empty string for strring values or 0 for numbers.

[changdong li]

thanks for reply~