If you work with Atlassian’s suite of tools, you know the importance of Confluence as a collaborative platform for managing and sharing content. Recently, I explored improvements in Confluence’s space creation templates while testing the integration between Jira and Confluence. In this blog, I’ll share my experience, highlight the features of these new templates, and provide insights on how to get started.
What Is a Confluence Space?
A space in Confluence is essentially a container where pages are stored and organized. It serves as a hub for your team or project, allowing you to present and manage pages effectively. While spaces can be customized extensively, getting started can be daunting—especially for those new to the platform. That’s where templates come in handy.
The Role of Templates in Confluence
Templates in Confluence are designed to simplify the process of creating spaces by offering predefined layouts and configurations. Unlike Jira, which has “project templates” with configurations and schemes, Confluence templates are simpler and more content-focused. While they might not be as extensive as Jira’s templates, they provide a helpful starting point for organizing your work.
Exploring Space Creation Templates
When you create a new space in Confluence, you’ll notice a variety of templates available. Here’s a quick rundown of the key templates:
1. Blank Template
- Ideal for users who prefer building spaces from scratch.
- Provides a basic structure without any pre-configured elements.
- Perfect for those who know exactly how they want to organize their content.
2. Team Space
- Designed for team collaboration.
- Includes panels to showcase teamwork and keep everyone in sync.
- Pre-populated with placeholders for team-related content.
3. Documentation Space
- Helps create a central repository for your documentation.
- Features sections for “recently updated” and “featured pages.”
4. Knowledge Base
- Useful for building a self-service hub for internal or external users.
- Includes templates tailored for FAQs and troubleshooting guides.
5. Software Project Space
- Integrates with Jira to pull in issues and display project data.
- Includes macros to display Jira-related information, such as timelines and issue lists.
6. Project Management Space
- Similar to the software project template but focused on planning and roadmaps.
- Allows for creating simple roadmaps directly within Confluence.
7. Marketing, IT, Finance, Legal, Sales, and HR Spaces
- Tailored for specific departmental needs.
- Pre-configured layouts to streamline workflows.
Testing the Templates
I decided to test the “Blank” and “Team” templates first. Here’s what I found:
- Blank Template: After creating a blank space, I was greeted with a basic home page and a sidebar for shortcuts. I added a simple page titled “First Page,” which was listed on the sidebar. The blank template offered full flexibility for customization.
- Team Template: This template provided a pre-configured home page with panels and placeholders for images and team updates. While it was easy to modify, it served as a great starting point for those who want a quick setup.
Next, I explored the “Software Project” and “Project Management” templates. These templates included options to integrate Jira data and create roadmaps. However, I noticed that some macros needed manual configuration to display Jira data or generate roadmaps within Confluence.
My Take on the New Interface
The updated space creation wizard in Confluence is a significant improvement over the older interface. It offers:
- Ease of Use: The visually appealing wizard simplifies the setup process.
- Customization Options: While templates provide a starting point, users can modify pages and layouts to fit their needs.
- Integration with Jira: Templates like the “Software Project” space make it easier to connect Jira projects to Confluence.
That said, there’s room for improvement. For example, pre-configured macros could be more intuitive and include sample data to help users better understand their functionality.
Final Thoughts
The new space creation templates in Confluence are a great addition for beginners and seasoned users alike. They offer a solid foundation to organize your content, collaborate with your team, and integrate with Jira. While they may not replace advanced customizations, they make the initial setup much smoother.
If you haven’t explored these templates yet, I encourage you to give them a try. Whether you’re setting up a knowledge base, a team space, or a project management hub, these templates can save you time and effort.
Happy collaborating!