jira-search

Query and discovery operations for JIRA issues using JQL (JIRA Query Language).

Risk Levels

Operation	Risk	Notes
Query/search	`-`	Read-only
Validate JQL	`-`	Read-only
Export results	`-`	Read-only (local file)
List filters	`-`	Read-only
Create filter	`-`	Easily reversible (can delete)
Update filter	`!`	Can be reverted
Share filter	`!`	Can be unshared
Delete filter	`!!`	Filter lost, but can recreate
Bulk update	`!!`	Use --dry-run first; changes reversible but tedious

Risk Legend: - Safe, read-only | ! Caution, modifiable | !! Warning, destructive but recoverable | !!! Danger, irreversible

When to use this skill

Perfect for:

•Search by criteria: "Find all bugs assigned to me in the current sprint"
•Reporting: Export sprint results or metrics to CSV/JSON
•Bulk operations: Update labels, priority, or assignee on 50+ issues at once
•Automation: Create saved filters for monitoring or dashboards

Not ideal for:

•Single issue operations - Use jira-issue skill
•Workflow transitions on many issues - Use jira-lifecycle skill
•Complex issue relationships - Use jira-relationships skill
•Sprint/board management - Use jira-agile skill

Quick Start

bash

# Find your open issues
jira-as search query "assignee = currentUser() AND status != Done"

# Find bugs in a project
jira-as search query "project = PROJ AND type = Bug AND status = Open"

# Export results to CSV
jira-as search export "project = PROJ" --output report.csv

# Save a filter for reuse
jira-as search filter create -n "My Bugs" -j "type = Bug AND assignee = currentUser()" -f

For detailed setup, see docs/QUICK_START.md.

Available Commands

IMPORTANT: Always use the jira-as CLI. Never run Python scripts directly.

Command	Purpose	Example
`jira-as search query`	Execute JQL queries	`jira-as search query "project = PROJ"`
`jira-as search export`	Export to CSV/JSON	`jira-as search export "JQL" -o report.csv`
`jira-as search validate`	Check JQL syntax	`jira-as search validate "your query"`
`jira-as search build`	Build JQL from clauses	`jira-as search build --clause "project = PROJ" --clause "status = Open"`
`jira-as search bulk-update`	Bulk update issues from search	`jira-as search bulk-update "JQL" --add-labels bug --dry-run`
`jira-as search suggest`	Get field value suggestions	`jira-as search suggest --field status --no-cache`
`jira-as search fields`	List available JQL fields	`jira-as search fields --custom-only`
`jira-as search functions`	List available JQL functions	`jira-as search functions --with-examples`
`jira-as search filter list`	List saved filters	`jira-as search filter list --favourites`
`jira-as search filter create`	Save a reusable filter	`jira-as search filter create --name "Name" --jql "JQL"`
`jira-as search filter update`	Update an existing filter	`jira-as search filter update 10042 --name "New Name"`
`jira-as search filter run`	Run a saved filter	`jira-as search filter run --id 10042`
`jira-as search filter favourite`	Toggle favourite status	`jira-as search filter favourite 10042 --add`
`jira-as search filter share`	Share filter with users/groups	`jira-as search filter share 10042 --project PROJ`
`jira-as search filter delete`	Delete a saved filter	`jira-as search filter delete 10042 --yes`

All commands support --help for full documentation.

What this skill does

•JQL Search: Execute custom queries with sorting, pagination, field selection
•JQL Builder: Build and validate queries interactively
•Query History: Save queries locally for quick reuse
•Saved Filters: Full CRUD on JIRA filters with sharing
•Filter Subscriptions: View email subscriptions on filters
•Export Results: CSV, JSON, JSON Lines with streaming for large datasets
•Bulk Updates: Update multiple issues from search results

Common Options

Option	Description
`--help`, `-h`	Show help message and usage
`--output`, `-o`	Output format: `text` (default), `json`
`--max-results`, `-m`	Maximum results to return
`--fields`	Comma-separated list of fields
`--show-links`, `-l`	Show issue links in output
`--show-time`, `-t`	Show time tracking info
`--show-agile`, `-a`	Show agile fields (story points, sprint)
`--page-token`, `-p`	Pagination token for large results

Examples by Category

Search

bash

# Basic search
jira-as search query "project = PROJ AND status = Open"

# With field selection
jira-as search query "project = PROJ" --fields key,summary,status,assignee

# With result limit
jira-as search query "project = PROJ" --max-results 50

JQL Building

bash

# Validate syntax (--show-structure shows parse tree, --output for format)
jira-as search validate "project = PROJ AND status = Open"
jira-as search validate "project = PROJ" --show-structure
jira-as search validate "project = PROJ" --output json

# Build JQL from clauses (--operator selects AND or OR between clauses)
jira-as search build --clause "project = PROJ" --clause "status = Open" --validate
jira-as search build --clause "status = Open" --clause "status = Closed" --operator OR
jira-as search build --clause "assignee = currentUser()" --order-by created --desc
jira-as search build --template sprint-backlog  # Use a predefined template
jira-as search build --list-templates           # List available templates

# Get field suggestions
jira-as search suggest --field status
jira-as search suggest --field status --prefix "In"
jira-as search suggest --field assignee --prefix "john"
jira-as search suggest --field priority --no-cache   # Skip cache
jira-as search suggest --field status --refresh      # Refresh cached values

# List available fields and operators
jira-as search fields
jira-as search fields --custom-only             # Only custom fields
jira-as search fields --system-only             # Only system fields
jira-as search fields --filter priority         # Filter by name

# List available JQL functions (-t is short for --type)
jira-as search functions
jira-as search functions -t list                # Only list-returning functions
jira-as search functions --list-only            # Only list-returning functions
jira-as search functions --with-examples        # Include usage examples

Saved Filters

bash

# Create filter (use -n and -j options, or long forms --name and --jql)
jira-as search filter create -n "Sprint Issues" -j "sprint IN openSprints()" -f
jira-as search filter create -n "Team Filter" -j "project = PROJ" -d "Team issues" --share-project PROJ

# List filters
jira-as search filter list --favourites          # Your favourite filters
jira-as search filter list --my                  # Your own filters
jira-as search filter list --search "Sprint"     # Search by name
jira-as search filter list --owner "john@co.com" # By owner
jira-as search filter list --project PROJ        # By project scope
jira-as search filter list --id 10042            # Get specific filter by ID

# Run filter (use --id or --name option)
jira-as search filter run --id 10042
jira-as search filter run --name "Sprint Issues"
jira-as search filter run --id 10042 --max-results 50  # Limit results

# Update filter
jira-as search filter update 10042 --name "New Name" --jql "updated JQL"
jira-as search filter update 10042 --description "New description"

# Toggle favourite status
jira-as search filter favourite 10042 --add
jira-as search filter favourite 10042 --remove

# Share filter
jira-as search filter share 10042 --project PROJ
jira-as search filter share 10042 --project PROJ --role Developers
jira-as search filter share 10042 --group jira-users
jira-as search filter share 10042 --global
jira-as search filter share 10042 --list         # View current permissions
jira-as search filter share 10042 --unshare 10100  # Remove permission by ID (use --list first)

# Delete filter (use --yes to skip confirmation, --dry-run to preview)
jira-as search filter delete 10042 --dry-run     # Preview deletion
jira-as search filter delete 10042 --yes         # Skip confirmation

Bulk Update

bash

# Add labels to all matching issues (dry-run first!)
jira-as search bulk-update "project = PROJ AND status = Open" --add-labels needs-review --dry-run
jira-as search bulk-update "project = PROJ AND status = Open" --add-labels needs-review --yes

# Remove labels
jira-as search bulk-update "type = Bug AND labels = stale" --remove-labels stale --dry-run

# Change priority
jira-as search bulk-update "project = PROJ AND priority = Low" --priority Medium --dry-run

# Limit number of issues updated
jira-as search bulk-update "project = PROJ" --add-labels batch1 --max-issues 50 --dry-run

Export

bash

# CSV export
jira-as search export "project = PROJ" -o report.csv

# JSON export
jira-as search export "project = PROJ" -o data.json --format json

# Export specific fields
jira-as search export "project = PROJ" -o report.csv --fields key,summary,status,assignee

# Limit results
jira-as search export "project = PROJ" -o report.csv --max-results 500

Using Filters in Queries

bash

# Run a query using a saved filter ID
jira-as search query --filter 10042

# Combine filter with additional criteria
jira-as search query --filter 10042 --max-results 100

# Save search results as a new filter
jira-as search query "project = PROJ" --save-as "My New Filter"

Exporting Large Datasets

For large exports, optimize your query and field selection:

Result Size	Recommendation
< 1000	`jira-as search export "JQL" -o file.csv`
1000-5000	`jira-as search export "JQL" -o file.csv --fields key,summary,status`
> 5000	Split by date ranges using created/updated filters

bash

# Large export with minimal fields for speed
jira-as search export "project = PROJ" -o report.csv --fields key,summary,status,assignee

# Split by time periods for very large datasets
jira-as search export "project = PROJ AND created >= -30d" -o recent.csv
jira-as search export "project = PROJ AND created >= -60d AND created < -30d" -o older.csv

Exit Codes

Code	Meaning
0	Success
1	General error (API, validation)
2	Invalid arguments
130	User interrupted (Ctrl+C)

Troubleshooting

Quick diagnostics:

bash

jira-as search validate "your query"     # Check syntax
jira-as search fields                    # List available fields
jira-as search suggest --field status    # Get valid values for a field
jira-as search functions                 # List available JQL functions

For detailed troubleshooting, see references/TROUBLESHOOTING.md.

Configuration

Requires JIRA credentials via environment variables (JIRA_SITE_URL, JIRA_EMAIL, JIRA_API_TOKEN).

Documentation

Document	Purpose
docs/QUICK_START.md	Get started in 5 minutes
references/jql_reference.md	JQL syntax reference
references/BEST_PRACTICES.md	Expert guide
references/TROUBLESHOOTING.md	Error solutions
assets/QUICK_REFERENCE.txt	Printable cheat sheet

Templates

Pre-configured JQL templates:

•assets/templates/jql_templates.json - Common search patterns
•assets/ERROR_SOLUTIONS.json - Error catalog

Related skills

•jira-issue: For creating and updating individual issues
•jira-lifecycle: For transitioning issues found in searches
•jira-collaborate: For bulk commenting on search results
•jira-agile: For sprint and board operations
•jira-relationships: For issue linking and dependencies
•jira-bulk: For large-scale bulk operations