In this article we describe how to migrate Dependency Maps from Jira DataCenter (or Server) to Jira Cloud. (If you want to migrate the other way, you can follow the same process but in “reverse”).

It is quite straightforward to manually create dependency maps in Jira Cloud that are equal in most aspects to the Jira Data Center/Server maps. Here is a step-by-step instruction on how to do this.

Dependency Map Cloud will support a superset of the DataCenter/Server features, with greatly improved usability.

There are still some features in the Dependency Map Data Center/Server that have not yet been implemented in the Jira Cloud version. An example of this is customizing the issue hover content. More information, see the Feature parity checklist below.

If you have any questions, please contact us!

Migration steps

This assumes you have access both to the Jira DataCenter/Server containing the Dependency Maps to migrate, and the Jira Cloud containing the projects you have migrated from Jira Server/DataCenter.

Note: In Jira Cloud, the term ‘Issue’ has been updated to ‘Work item’.

To migrate a map, follow the steps in the table below.

Jira Data Center/Server Jira Cloud
General settings
  • Open the map to migrate
  • Click on the gear symbol to open Settings for the map
  • Start Dependency Map from the Apps menu
  • Click the Create Dependency Map button to open a new empty Map
  • In General settings, locate the Map name field
  • In the settings form, enter the desired map name into the Map name field
  • Locate the Filter field
  • Click on the Filter field and select the filter corresponding to the filter you see in the Data Center map filter field. Now Work item boxes should appear in the map area.
  • If you can’t find the filter, it may not have been migrated to Jira Cloud, or you are missing permissions needed to access it. Contact your Jira administrator to solve this.
  • Locate the Issue color field
  • Select the field you found
  • Locate the Show issue type icons
 No choice – Work item type icons are always displayed
  • Locate the Map layout field and act depending on layout:
 There is no Map layout field – the layout is determined by the Rows field and Columns field setting. See below!
  • Map layout: Matrix
  • Rows field: a field
  • Columns field: a field
  • Rows field: a field
  • Columns field: a field
  • Map layout: Sections
  • Group by: a field
  • Rows field: a field
  • Columns field: Leave empty
  • Map layout: Ungrouped
  • Rows field: Leave empty
  • Columns field: Leave empty
Issue colors
  • Locate Issue Colors
  • Locate “Work item color field”
  • Click “Customize work item colors”
  • Click each value and set the color by selecting a color in the palette or entering a color code.
Issue content
  • Locate Visible fields
  • In the Work item content field, click and select a field in the menu and press enter. Repeat for each field.
Issue hover content
  • Locate Visible fields
  • In the Work item content field, click and select a field in the menu and press enter. Repeat for each field.
Links
Link types can be individually hidden/shown by unchecking the link type in the Link type legend in the map. Customize the link type color, line type and width with “Link type” settings. Read more here: https://dependency-map.com/customize-link-styles/
Advanced layout settings
Custom grouping replaces the Columns/Rows advanced layout settings, allowing for merging/renaming field values. Read more here: https://dependency-map.com/custom-grouping-of-issues/
Advanced options
  • Locate Link following steps
  • In field Follow links, select No or a number (1-7)
  • Select which Link types to follow
  • Closed sprints
  • Advanced settings > Closed work item sprint
  • Sum of numeric field
  • Advanced settings > Show sum of numeric field
The remaining settings are not implemented yet – see the Feature parity checklist.

Feature parity checklist

Also see the Roadmap for more details.

Feature Data Center/Server Cloud
Create map based on Jira issue filter Yes Yes
Ungrouped layout Yes Yes
Sections layout Yes Planned(1)
Columns only layout No Yes
Issue coloring Yes Yes
Follow links Yes Yes
Share maps Yes Yes
Show/hide links by type Yes Yes
Freeze row/column headers No Yes
Show completed issue key as strikethrough No Yes
Customized issue coloring Yes Yes
Customized link style Yes Yes
Edit fields Yes Yes
Edit links Yes Yes
Export / print Yes Yes
Merge field values Yes Yes
Customized field value merge Yes Yes
Custom sort order Yes Yes
Filter rows/columns by field values Yes Planned
Show sum of numeric field Yes Yes
Favorites Yes Yes
Issue hover content Yes Yes
Manual sorting No Planned

(1): Sections layout is planned for 2026/Q2. For now, create a map with only the Rows field selected. It will automatically be rendered with the Sections layout when  the feature is release.