YouTrack Standalone 2018.3 Help

Find Similar Issues

When you report or process an issue, it's not uncommon to find that there are already other issues in YouTrack that describe the same problem or duplicate the request. YouTrack offers a collection of features that help you avoid reporting duplicate issues and link reported issues that duplicate each other.

Avoid Reporting Duplicate Issues

The best way to reduce duplicated issues is to avoid creating them in the first place. When you report an issue, use the list of similar issues to

To find possible duplicates while reporting an issue:

  1. Click the New Issue button in the header.

  2. If it isn't already visible, expand the Similar Issues section of the page.

    Similar issues new issue

  3. Enter the issue summary. As you type, YouTrack searches for other issues with similar text.

  4. Continue with the issue description. The list of similar issues updates as you enter the issue description as well.

  5. If you see an issue that looks like a potential duplicate of the issue that you are currently reporting, click the link to open the issue in the current tab.
    • If it duplicates your issue, you can add additional information to the existing issue instead of reporting a new one. Use the back button to return to your issue draft and discard it by clicking the Delete button.

    • If you decide that the issue doesn't duplicate your issue, use the back button in your browser to return to your draft and report the issue.

    You can also add the star tag and vote for similar issues without leaving the page.

Find Possible Duplicates

Another challenge that you face when you manage issues in a project is to find and link duplicate issues. This helps you avoid situations where different users start to tackle the same problem at the same time.

YouTrack provides two views that let you find and link duplicate issues. Use these tools whenever you encounter an issue that gives you déjà vu.

To review a list of possible duplicates:

  1. Open an issue in single issue view.

  2. Copy the issue ID to the clipboard. Use one of the following keyboard shortcuts:
    • Ctrl + C (Windows/Linux)

    • + C (macOS)

  3. From the toolbar, click Show more then select Find similar issues.
    Find similar issues action toolbar
    You can also use a keyboard shortcut:
    • Ctrl + Shift + S (Windows/Linux)

    • Control + Shift + S (macOS)

    This action opens a list of similar issues in a new browser tab.
  4. Locate and select the duplicate issue in the list.

  5. From the toolbar, click Add link, then select is duplicated by.
    Issue is duplicated by link
    • The Apply Command dialog opens with the command to apply the selected link type.

    Apply command duplicate issue
  6. Paste the issue ID from the clipboard, then click the Apply button.
    • The original issue is linked to the selected issue as a duplicate.

    • If the default workflows for managing duplicate issue are attached to the project, the value for the State field in the original changes to Duplicate. The issue is marked as resolved. For details, see Duplicates.

You also have the option to open the search overlay and find possible duplicates without leaving single issue view.

To find possible duplicates in place:

  1. Open an issue in single issue view.

  2. Copy the issue ID to the clipboard. Use one of the following keyboard shortcuts:
    • Ctrl + C (Windows/Linux)

    • + C (macOS)

  3. Open the search overlay. Use one of the following keyboard shortcuts:
    • Ctrl + K (Windows/Linux)

    • + K (macOS)

  4. In the search box, enter looks like: <issue ID>. To speed up the process, paste the issue ID from your clipboard.

    Similar issues search overlay

  5. If you find a possible duplicate, click the issue ID or summary to open the issue.

  6. Locate and select the duplicate issue in the list.

  7. If you decide that the original issue is a duplicate, click the Add link in the toolbar, then select is duplicated by.
    • The Apply Command dialog opens with the command to apply the selected link type.

  8. Paste the issue ID from the clipboard, then click the Apply button.
    • The original issue is linked to the selected issue as a duplicate.

    • If the default workflows for managing duplicate issue are attached to the project, the value for the State field in the original changes to Duplicate. The issue is marked as resolved. For details, see Duplicates.

Last modified: 7 March 2019

See Also