Zephyr test cases migraton from an old verion to a new one

[panagiotis.karalis]

Hello community,

In my company there is a very old instance of Jira (v. 7.3.6) along with Zephyr (v. 3.6.4) add-on. Both licenses are expired and we cannot make any upgrade to a different version.

Additionally, we have bought new licenses and we have installed to a different local servers the latest Jira Server Software and the latest Zephyr add-on. Both are supported.

I'm trying to make a migrate the zephyr test cases from old instance to the new one. But, I cannot find any technique or mechanism for this activity.

Do you have any idea or advice?

I'm looking forward for your responses!!

BR

Panos

[Probin]

Hello @panagiotis.karalis 

We have created "Jira for zephyr" data migration utility which migrates data from one Jira server instance to another server instance. Please find utility at github.

Regards,

Probin

[Naveen K S]

Hi @panagiotis.karalis 

Can you specify which version of JIra that you currently have installed, the latest version of Zephyr supports from JIra version 7.2.9 to 7.13.x so you are covered in terms of compatibility. 

You can follow the simple Jira upgradation path of taking a full backup of Jira server from your older instance and do a restore in the new instance, that should bring all the zephyr related test cases as well.

Please do take a backup of the new instance just in case the older restore doesn't go well then you have something to restore the latest state from. 

[panagiotis.karalis]

Hi,

Old Jira v.7.3.6 and new Jira v.8.4.1

I have tried to take a backup from old Jira and use it as input for new Jira , but there is compatibility issue also there.

I had opened a different discussion end of October related to this incompatibility :

https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Jira-Software-questions/Migration-from-Old-server-to-New-one/qaq-p/1215679

Thank you

[Petter Gonçalves]

Hello @panagiotis.karalis

Thank you for reaching out.

Please, allow me to provide you with some concepts so we can better confirm we are on the same page here:

A JIRA server license is "perpetual". Explaining better, when your Jira Server License expires, you can keep using the same instance with the following limitations:

• You can't raise support requests
• You can't upgrade to any version released after the end of the license
• Your admins will see the odd reminder message that you're not supported

That being said, I'm not sure what happens to test cases of Jira Core application, but if it works like another default issue types, you can simply access the expired Jira Server and export the test cases using the CSV export functionality:

How to export issues to CSV 

Then, import the cases to your new Jira instance:

Importing data from CSV 

Can you confirm is this would be an option for you?

[panagiotis.karalis]

Hello @Petter Gonçalves 

I have exported the CSV file properly and I followed the Jira Importer (not the Zephyr Importer).

The imported completed the task with several number of error and warnings.

Finally, the issues have been imported without critical fields (like test step, test data etc).

It seems that the problem is both on exporting and on the importing. The above fields were not part of all issues during the export, but the issues that have properly exported, during the import haven't updated along with the above info as they should.

Any ideas or advice?

Thank you!

[Petter Gonçalves]

Hello @panagiotis.karalis

Thank you for your detailed answer.

Per your description, the missing critical fields (test step, test data) were successfully exported in the CSV file, however, they are not properly imported in your new instance. Is that correct?

I suggest you check the following details:

1 - Confirm if the fields are properly being exported from the source Jira instance, by checking them directly in the CSV file.

2 - Check in the destination Jira instance if the Critical fields exist and are properly configured in the create/edit screens of the project you are uploading the issues.

3 - If those critical fields are provided by the Zephyr app, check if the new version of Zephyr supports those fields. If it doesn't, I suggest you contact Zephyr support to know if there is a way to import the content of those fields to any other Jira custom field:

Zephyr Support 

Let us know if this information helps.

[panagiotis.karalis]

Hello @Petter Gonçalves ,

It seems that the critical fields are not included in the exported CSV file.

Those data is sub-data under Test Details field. The Test Details field also is not included in the exported CSV file.

When I tried to import the CSV file to new Jira, I started to prepare the MAP between imported CSV file and the current fields of the new jira instance. The critical fields are already available in the list of destination fields (new jira instance).

Thank you,

BR

Panos

[Petter Gonçalves]

Hello @panagiotis.karalis

Thank you for your answer.

Since the fields are not being added to the CSV file, I suggest you check with the Zephyr support if it there's any possible workaround to get those fields with the old version of Zephyr you have in your deprecated instance:

Zephyr Support 

In case there's no workaround, you can try to copy those field values to other system custom fields in your old Jira with the same name, mapping them in the CSV file and trying to import it in your current Zephyr test cases.

Let us know in case you find any better solution with the Zephyr support.