Bulk Transfer Github Issues to Another Repository

bulk-transfer-github-issues.md

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How to Bulk Transfer Github Issues to Another Repository	git github programming how to	https://gist.github.com/assets/45643901/4bd8c681-9ab0-4ec3-a73e-44f85f725116

How to Bulk Transfer Github Issues to Another Repository

Click to watch the video 👆

Here’s a simple command you can run in your terminal to transfer all the issues from one Github repository to another!

Pre-requisites:

1. Make sure you have Github CLI installed:

$ brew install gh - (Mac)

2. Make sure you are “authenticated” through Github CLI:

$ gh auth login

3. Make sure that the repository you’re transferring from & to have the same labels, fields, etc.

NOTE: I didn't actually test step #3 above... maybe it's not a problem.

Just test it first if you're worried and LMK in the comments if it matters!

Now you’re ready to bulk transfer your issues!

Bulk Transfer your Issues CLI

1. Open your terminal & run the command below

gh issue list -s all -L 500 --json number -R devinschumacher/repository-a | \
    jq -r '.[] | .number' | \
    while read issue; do
        gh issue transfer "$issue" devinschumacher/repository-b -R devinschumacher/repository-a
        sleep 3
    done

Just make sure to replace the `organization/repository` name syntax with the ones that you want.

• "repository-a" is the source repository - aka where you want to transfer (move) your issues FROM
• "repository-b" is the destination repository - aka where you want to transfer (move) your issues TO

In my example, those are:

• devinschumacher/repository-a
• devinschumacher/repository-b -R devinschumacher/repository-a

Note: Adjust the sleep <number> number at your own risk. I started without sleep and have seen account rate limits so far with 0 wait, 1 second, and even 2 seconds. It only happened once on 2 seconds but the repo had 80+ issues. So now i've changed it to 3.

Note: It does not COPY them it moves them.

Note: This will bulk transfer both the active and in-active (archived, closed, whatever) issues - which may not be what you want. To transfer only the active ones, see below

Bulk transfer only the ACTIVE issues (skip the closed/archived ones)

gh issue list -s open -L 500 --json number -R devinschumacher/repository-a | \
    jq -r '.[] | .number' | \
    while read issue; do
        gh issue transfer "$issue" devinschumacher/repository-b -R devinschumacher/repository-a
        sleep 3
    done

Yes I am sure, I tested with an issue that had a specific label not in repo b and it did not create it. Maybe there has been some changes on github side also

Yes I am sure, I tested with an issue that had a specific label not in repo b and it did not create it. Maybe there has been some changes on github side also

next time try creating the label in repo-b first, and then i think they will transfer over fine!

if anyone is still struggling with missing labels, try this:

gh label clone owner/source-repo --repo owner/destination-repo

check out the gh cli docs for details https://cli.github.com/manual/gh_label_clone

TL,DR: the repo receiving the ticket transfers must already have all the same labels. This script takes care of that.

nice find @maxheld83 ! ty