Confluence Basics

Here are the basic things you should know about Confluence.

Fonts and Headings

Paragraph Text

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

Heading 1 

Heading 2

Heading 3

Heading 4

Heading 5
Heading 6

The above headings are used to structure the document, make it easier to read, quick to scan, and to build the table of contents.  There should only be one Heading 1 heading per page.  In this document Playground is the H1 heading.

Preformatted Text

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

Quote

Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted.

-Groucho Marx

Page Layouts

This document is using a two column section with right sidebar.  Page layouts can be accessed by clicking the  icon in the toolbar.

Files and Images

Files and images can be embedded, linked, uploaded using the  Files icon in the toolbar.

 

Links to documents, web pages, and other Confluence pages can be inserted using the  link icon.

Tables

A table can be created in using the table icon.  

Heading 1Heading 2Heading 3
1Abcdef
2These cells are merged

Insert Macros

Info, Note, and Warning Alert Boxes

There are a variety of items that can be added using the insert box

Info Box

You can put informational alerts in Info boxes like this.

Notes and Warnings

If you need a brighter alert box try the Note box.

Errors and Warnings

If you need to show a bright red warning or error use the Warning box.

Table of Contents

You can add a table of contents based on the page headings (Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3, etc.)

Children

If you want to show the pages that beneath this page in terms of page hierarchy use the Children macro.

Labels

Labels are basically tags that can be added to pages to make them easier to find.  It is a good idea to add labels to your pages.  See Add, Remove, and Search for labels.

Restrictions

You can limit who can see your page by group or user.  For example, this page is restricted to only be visible by editors of this Confluence space.  See Page Restrictions.

Watchers and Version History

Watchers

Using the Watch icon at the top of the page you can monitor a page for any changes.  If a change is made to a page you are watching you will receive an email notification.

Page History

Changes to all pages are tracked and can be viewed, compared, and restored using the page menu ... -> Page History link.  See Page History and Page Comparison Views

Deleted Pages

Deleted pages are stored for a short time so if you accidentally delete something contact Gabe or TJ so they can restore it for you.

Importing Word Documents and Screenshots

Import Word Documents

Word documents can be imported into Confluence saving you a ton of time if your content is already in Word.  You will want to do this especially if you are using screenshots as a simple copy and paste will not bring over the screenshots.  To do this use the Page menu ... --> Import Word Document.

Screenshots

Although Confluence will bring over screenshots it may do a couple of things you find odd.  

  1. Screenshots become uncropped and and show things you were not intending to show.
  2. Screenshots that have drawing like circles and arrows may come through without the drawings.

Workaround for Screenshot Wonkiness

When 1 or 2 above happen take a screenshot of your screenshot and insert it into the page.  In other words, go to your Word document where the screenshot still looks the way it is intended.  Using Snipping Tool to take a rectangular screenshot of the screenshot within Word.  Copy and paste the new screenshot into your Confluence page.

Moving Pages and URLs

Moving and Re-Order Pages

If you have tried creating pages in Confluence undoubtedly you put them in the wrong place.  You can move them around by using the Page menu ... --> Move link and then dragging and dropping the page in its new location.

Page Titles and URLs

Unique page titles are required for all pages within the Employment Knowledge base.  The parent page is not part of the URL so it may be necessary to suffix or prefix your documents in such a way that they are unique.  For example:

If Faculty, Staff, and Student need pages titled Create a Requisition then two pages with different names would need to be created. 

Employment AreaPage TitleExplanation
FacultyCreate a RequisitionFaculty title this page Create a Requisition so this page title/url is now taken
StaffCreate a Staff RequisitionStaff is not able to use Create a Requisition so the word Staff is added to the title
StudentCreate a Requisition - StudentStudent is not able to use Create a Requisition so the title is suffixed with - Student


Moving or re-ordering your Confluence pages you will not break the URL

Changing the Page Title will break the URL for websites outside of Confluence.  The URL will be automatically updated for pages within Confluence so you don't need to bother fixing links anywhere in Confluence.  This also applies to the Table of Contents and Children Macros.

 

Contents

Helpful Documentation

 

Passwords

Never put a password in Confluence or on any other website for that matter. Please contact your IT professional for assistance storing and sharing passwords.