Custom Fields: Jira Time in Status Tracking for Improved Productivity

Note! Only administrators have permission to create custom fields. If you are not an administrator, please contact one.

Сompany-managed board only: This integration is available only for the company-managed board.

The time in the rightmost column of the board is not calculated for your convenience, as the time in this status is not relevant. This is especially important for Kanban boards.

The Time in Status add-on allows you to track tasks spent in each status on your board. You can easily view this information directly on the board by creating a custom field. Also, you can attach a work calendar to your custom fields, ensuring that only working hours are included in calculations. This feature provides more accurate time tracking, tailored to your team's schedule, and improves workflow efficiency.

Step 1. How to create a custom field?

Go to the board for the necessary project.

Select Time in Status from the dropdown list in the top right corner.

In the modal window that opens, enter the name of your new custom field and select the working calendar that will be used to calculate the time in the status (more about Calendars).

The data in this field will update every hour and appear in the "dd:hh" format (days and hours).
You can use the custom field's name in JQL search queries to filter and find relevant issues.
The custom field will be created as read-only and with locked configuration settings.
Once the custom field is created, you won’t be able to switch to a different work schedule. However, you can still adjust the settings of the linked schedule.

Step 2. How to associate the custom field with a screen?

Open Jira settings: In the Jira navigation menu, click the gear icon and select "Jira settings". Then, select "Issues" in the opened dropdown list.

Select "Custom fields" on the left-side panel.

Locate the custom field: In the custom fields tab, search for your custom field name. Alternatively, you can find it in the list of all custom fields.

Associate the custom field to a screen: Once you have found the custom field, click on the three-dot icon and select "Associate to screen."

Choose the board screen: Select the board screen you want to add the custom field to from the list of available screens. Then, click "Update".

No further configuration is required. The custom field will update every hour and automatically reflect task changes as they move between statuses. The time calculation is based on the logic of your work calendar, which you have linked to the custom field.

How to View Custom Fields on Your Jira Board?

These steps assume that you have already set up the custom field in Jira and associated it with the board screen.

Access board settings: In the top right corner of your board, click the three dots and select "Board settings".
Go to the card layout tab: Navigate to the "Card layout" tab in the board settings.
Select the custom field: From the "Field name" drop-down list, choose the custom field you want to view on your board.
Add the custom field: Click "Add" to display the custom field on your board.

Important Notes on using Time in Status custom fields in Jira:

Custom field auto-refresh: The custom field will automatically refresh its data every 1 hour.
Real-time updates: If you move a task to another status, the custom field will update in a matter of seconds to reflect the time the task has been in the new status.
Leaving the board: When a task leaves the board, the custom field will automatically refresh.
Deletion of disabled custom field: If the toggle button is switched off, then the custom field will be deleted automatically.
Classic Project type only: This integration is available only for the Classic Project type.
Presentation format: The custom field presents information in the format - “dd:hh”.

That’s all!