how can i bulk upload epics in an existing project? facing issues

[Saad Ahmad]

I have an Excel spreadsheet listing my projects. I want to import them all into Jira as new epics but under an existing project.

I have created a csv file where I have listed all mandatory and optional fields which are listed on a Epic creation screen. 

I'm facing two challenges.

1—At step 2 (set up a project), Jira isn't letting me select an existing project but forcing me to create a new one. I want to import an existing one.

2- At step 3 (map fields): Not all my custom fields are listed in the drop-down. e.g. 'Application' is one of the custom fields which is mandatory while I create a new epic. I put this in the csv as a column as well, but I'm unable to map it as its not appearing in the list.

Please help resolve both of my challenges. 

[Vishal Biyani · Accepted solution]

@Saad Ahmad 

if you want to create epics (issues) in an existing project, then go to filter all issues, click on ... (ellipsis) and use the menu "import issues from csv"

Looks like you have navigated from Import and Export -> External System Import

[Saad Ahmad]

it worked, thanks a lot. 

I have another challenge now, in my import csv, I have 'Target Date', I entered the date in multiple date formats and then entered the exact date while doing the import process setup, but once the epics are imported, it's always taking month as January, irrespective of the month entered in csv.

e.g. if in csv, the target date is: 03/28/2025

and the date format I configured is: mm/dd/yyyy

upon import, the target date appearing on the epic is: 28 January, 2025.

[Vishal Biyani]

@Saad Ahmad 

This shouldn't happen. Are you sure you are looking at Target Date and not at Created date column?

if yes, can you share the snip of your imported issue with Target Date column value and the csv import file that you have used?

[Saad Ahmad]

@Vishal Biyani  Please see attached and guide.