Learn about migrating templates from Jira Data Center to Jira Cloud
You’ll find most of the basic functionalities in both Issue Templates for Jira Data Center and Issue Templates for Jira Cloud. They deliver the same business value, which is to save time by using templates for quick issue creation.
Two separate app versions were developed to meet the particular needs of our Clients and to overcome specific limitations of both Jira hostings. That’s why they differ from each other in terms of particular features and the overall application design. The Data Center version offers more advanced functionalities and customization options, while the Cloud version has been simplified and adjusted to the Jira Cloud experience.
Because of these differences, there is no dedicated migration tool that would allow the migration of settings between the two hosting options. We recommend carrying out the export and import process natively, using standard Jira features.
| Feature | Data Center | Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Template repository project |  The repository project called Templates (TEMP) is created automatically during the app installation. It contains two predefined issue types (Template and Sub-template). It can also contain sample templates if you chose to add the samples during the onboarding. The repository project can be changed in the configuration. |
The repository project is not created automatically unless you follow the onboarding. During the first steps you can choose an existing project or create a new one. The repository project can be changed in the configuration. In the Cloud version you can have multiple repositories. |
| Template details configuration | Available on the template’s issue view, as well as in the Template Navigator. The panel includes the following tabs: General, Fields, Availability, Context, Relations and User variables. |
Available on every template’s issue view in the repository project. Contains four tabs: General, Availability, Advanced and Smart Defaults. For more details, see Template’s configuration. |
| Set of fields/Scope | Available on every template’s issue view (Fields tab) and under the repository project’s settings. |
Available on every template’s issue view, under the repository project’s settings and global configuration. |
| Template availability settings | Available under the Availability tab in particular templates and in the global Template Repository project’s settings. You can restrict the template’s availability to the following categories: Projects, Project Categories, Issue Type, Screens, Groups, Users, Languages. |
Available in the Template’s configuration panel in Availability tab. Allows to restrict the template’s availability to particular projects only. |
| Variables | Provides two types of variables: User variables and System variables. Configured in a dedicated panel on the issue view and globally. |
Provides two types of variables: Dynamic (equivalent to User variables in the Data Center version) and Static (equivalent to System variables in the Data Center version). The functionality is basically the same, although the Data Center version offers more custom settings. |
| Autocomplete fields on Jira issue screens | Available for all screen types delivered by Jira, including create, edit and transition screens. |
You can automatically add the template select field to Jira native create screen. See more details in the Create from template chapter. |
| Applying templates to existing issues | Available under More on the issue view. See Apply template for more details. |
Available under the three dots menu on the issue view. See Apply template for more details. |
| JQL Searchers | JQL queries dedicated for searching for templates. See JQL Searchers for more details. |
Different JQL queries are available for the Cloud version. See JQL Searchers for more details. |
| Templates with subtasks | Supported with an additional workflow post function (Create Structure). |
Supported when the Copy subtasks option is enabled in the template. |
| Templates for epics | Supported with an additional workflow post function (Create Structure). |
Supported with no additional settings needed. |
| Templates with issue links | Supported with an additional workflow post function (Create Structure). |
Supported with no additional settings needed. |
| Templates on the Customer portal | Supported with all functionalities such as autocomplete and variables. See Jira Service Management for more details. |
Supported with limitations. See Jira Service Management for more details. |
| Default templates | Available under every project settings. See Default Template for details. |
You can configure a default template for Jira Service Management for particular request types. See Default Template for details. |
| Use as a template | You can convert any issue into a template. See Use as a template for details. |
You can convert any issue into a template in every Repository project. |
| Templates Navigator | A dedicated view for managing all the templates in the repository project. Offers additional features such as bulk editing, adding templates to categories, and more. See Template navigator for more details. |
You can edit templates in bulk with Manage templates. You can also Clone templates. |
| App integrations | The way the app is integrated differs significantly between the Server and Cloud versions. For more details, see REST API |
The way the app is integrated differs significantly between the Data Center and Cloud versions. For more details, see Automation. |
| Post functions | The Create Structure post function is necessary copying subtasks and linked issues, as well as for copying values from templates to target issues. |
There is no need to use workflow post functions on the Cloud version. Subtasks, issue links and issues under epics are copied automatically. |
To perform the migration you’ll need two separate licenses, one for the Data Center version and one for the Cloud.
You can check official Atlassian documentation for migration details.
In both versions, templates are stored in a project that serves as a repository. This project can be migrated, just as any other project, using Jira’s native importing tools.
In Jira Cloud, a template is just an issue with additional issue properties. Unfortunately, at the moment there is no easy way to migrate issue properties. After importing the repository project, all the issues should be visible in issue navigator, however they may not be visible as templates on the Manage templates page yet.
Your template repository project along with templates has been migrated, however you still need to activate them and recreate some features manually, such as certain types of variables.
After the migration, the template issues are available in the repository project but they still need to be activated as templates for Jira Cloud. In order to do so, you need to use the Use as a template setting in each template issue.
If you migrate templates to a Jira Cloud instance where Issue Templates is already installed, and you are experiencing problems with app permissions, we recommend to reinstall the app. It should fix the problems with permissions automatically.
After the activation, all the templates will be available on the Manage templates page in Jira Cloud:
You can activate the templates one by one manually using the toggle:
You can activate all templates that have no configuration and have the Use as a template toggle disabled. You should use this option right after migration.
Use bulk activation after:
Templates will be activated and configured with default values from the template configuration panel:
See Template Configuration for details.
If you have any templates in the repository that you don’t use, these templates will be also activated if you use this option.
The manage templates list has been updated and all templates have been activated.
An activated template is practically ready to use on the Cloud. Fields and their contents are preserved in each template. You might want to additionally configure the following:
No, on Cloud you can autofill fields and copy values from templates without any post functions.
The Copy subtasks feature is enabled by default. Every template issue that has subtasks will create those subtasks in the target project without any additional configuration.
Yes. If you have a template that is an epic with stories, the entire structure will be created in the target project without any additional configuration.
Because of the Jira API’s limitations, currently we are not able to offer a Cloud alternative for this feature.
You can reach a similar effect (although without the autocomplete feature) by adding the Apply template post function to the Create transition.
If you can’t find the answer you need in our documentation, raise a support request.
