# Projects - How to use Jira 'define expected-reading 4 min 'define created 24 July 2020 'define edited 03 June 2021 [$pagenav] 'define start_link ./ 'define prev_link ./cards.html Cards 'define next_link ./kanban.html Kanban template [$pagination_middle] :contents :numbered 1. [url #creating-a-project Creating a project] 2. [url #boards Boards] .numbered 1. [url #columns Columns] 2. [url #adding-more-boards-to-a-project Adding more boards to a project] 3. [url #backlog Backlog] 4. [url #add-item Add item] In short, [=projects are a collection of issues=] with added functionality for [=organising them, getting statistics, etc=]. [image ./img/projects.png] ## Creating a project To create a project, either [=click on [`Create project`] from the menu [`Projects`] in the top bar=], [image ./img/create-project-top.png] or [=click on the [`Create project`] button in the [`View all projects`] page=]. [image ./img/view-all-projects-top.png] [image ./img/create-project.png] [=Note=]: when you [=have created your account=] the first thing you'll see is the [`Create project`] page. You'll be met by the [`Choose project type`] screen. From here choose [`Classic project`], in this tutorial the [`Next-gen project`] types [=won't be covered=]. [image ./img/choose-project-type.png] After that you'll need to put a [=name=] for your project, set a [=key=] (used as an ID for issues ; it is automatically generated, but you can change it if you want) and select a [=template=]. [image ./img/create-project-new.png] This tutorial covers [=only=] the three classic software templates: [=[url ./kanban.html Kanban]=], [=[url ./scrum.html Scrum]=] and [=[url ./bug.html Bug tracking]=]. [image ./img/choose-classic-template.png] In a nutshell, [=templates=] govern how [=boards and issues should work together=]. Later in the tutorial we cover the differences between these templates. Projects also have [url ./releases.html Releases], [url ./pages.html Pages] and [url ./components.html Components], that are also explored. ## Boards Each project contains, amongst many other things, boards. [=Boards are a way to better organise results from [url ./filters.html filters]=]. By default every project gets a board with a filter for all of the project's issues. ### Columns [=Boards are divided into columns=] that contain the cards (issues). A card can move [=freely=] from one column to another. [image ./img/SOD.png] To illustrate how this could be useful, let's say we have three columns: [`TO DO`], [`DOING`] and [`DONE`]. [image ./img/todo-doing-done.png] When you create an issue you initially put it in the [`TO DO`] column. After someone has started working on it, they put the issue in the [`DOING`] column. Finally, when the issue is resolved, it is put in the [`DONE`] column. Of course, the name, quantity and purpose of different columns [=depend on the project's organisation=]. Adding and removing columns can be done from the [`Columns`] tab in the [`Board settings`] menu (three dots on the top right of a board). [image ./img/board-settings.png] [image ./img/columns-edit.png] ### Adding more boards to a project You can also add to a project as many [=[url ./scrum.html Scrum]=] and [=[url ./kanban.html Kanban]=] templated boards as you want. This can be done, either while in a board, from [=clicking the three dots and choosing [`Create board`]=] [image ./img/create-board.png] or [=in the sidebar, from the [`Board`] menu=]. [image ./img/sidebar-create-board.png] After that, you are met with the [`Create a board`] window, where you can choose your template. [image ./img/scrum-kanban-board.png] Once you've made your choice, you will be met with three options: [image ./img/board-from.png] :unordered - [=Board created with new Software project=] - creates a new project with a new board (has the name of the project). [image ./img/npb.png] - [=Board from existing project=] - creates a board that gets the filter from another project [image ./img/ntb.png] - [=Board from an existing Saved Filter=] - as it says, you add to the project (indicated in the [`Location`] field) a board based on a saved filter [image ./img/ntb-filter.png] ## Backlog [=The backlog is a place for issues that outline a general task/feature=]. Depending on your project template, the backlog will either be a [=separate window ([url ./scrum.html Scrum])=], [image ./img/scrum-backlog.png] [=just a column in a board ([url ./kanban.html Kanban])=], [image ./img/backlog-kanban.png] or [=nonexistent ([url ./bug.md bug tracking])=]. The purpose of the backlog depends on the template and it is described in the page of each template. ## Add item [=You can also add some resources to the sidebar of your project=] for everyone to use. That is done through the [`Add Item`] menu. [image ./img/add-item-kanban.png] From here you can [=add a website shortcut=], simply by putting the web address and giving it a name. [image ./img/add-item-to-project.png] [image ./img/add-shortcut.png] The name is used for showing the shortcut on the sidebar. [image ./img/added-site.png] You can also add a [`Bitbucket`] or [`GitHub`] repository which you can [=leave=] only as a [=shortcut=], or you can [=integrate=] it so that [=issues are transferred to Jira=]. [image ./img/test-repo.png] [image ./img/test-repo-sidebar.png] [=Integration won't be covered in this tutorial=], but I can recommend [url https://www.idalko.com/jira-github-integration/ this] article for [`GitHub`] integration and [url https://www.idalko.com/jira-bitbucket-integration/ this] one for [`Bitbucket`] integration. From the [`Add Item`] menu you can also [=toggle the shortcut to [url ./pages.html Pages]=].