I need advice on the process for removing custom fields from a JIRA instance

[Matthew Martin]

I am putting together a process for removing customfields from my JIRA environment in a safe, structured, and repeatable manner.

The process needs to:

• avoid unintentional impact on users
• include a cool-down period (e.g. the fields are not deleted; however, they are hidden, disallowing any new data from being stored against the field) and later, removed
• include a backup of the customfield configuration data
• include a backup of the customfield ticket data

So far, to facilitate the hiding of the customfields, I have been removing in-scope fields from screens however, I'm not sure if that covers it entirely.

In regards to detaching a customfield from configuration data ahead of deletion, the configuration items I have in-scope are:

• screens
• filters
• workflows

Are there others I am missing that I should be checking?

Last but not least, I need this process to not be so cumbersome that I die of old age before I complete it.

Before someone mentions it, JQL CSV export doesn't support archived projects. It is consequently unhelpful unless I was to unarchive approximately 3000 projects bringing everything into the main index and lighting our instance on fire.

My process currently:

• Analyse
  • through the customfields page in JIRA, mainly leveraging the last updated and issue count functions
• Hide
  • through removing customfields from screens
• Notify
  • announce to our userbase that customfields will be removed from X date in the future
• Backup
  • export customfield data and store indefinitely externally for reference only. We are not intending on supporting a recovery scenario here
• Remove
  •  delete the customfield
• Rinse and repeat 800 times

Any suggestions on how I can go about this or tips on making this process painless would be greatly appreciated. 

I have database queries for filter and workflow usage. 

[Danny Grenzowski _Rewind_]

Rewind can handle the backup for you, it provides ongoing daily backups with the ability to restore either the entire site or just single items

Check it out on the Atlassian Marketplace: 

https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1226389/