How to Create a Template in Confluence

Do you want to help your team take your new project to the next level? Using the right Confluence template will streamline your workspace and organize important information so that it’s easy to find and understand. Not only will it simplify your work week, but it’ll also help you feel more confident meeting new challenges with the help of Confluence templates.

Keep reading to find out how to create a template that’s a perfect fit for your work requirements.

Working With Page Templates

You don’t have to do everything from scratch when you need to add or create a new page. Instead, you can use a template as the foundation of the page and create a page with pre-made content. Use blueprints or add-ons to generate templates, or you can make your own if you want it to be more customizable.

What Are Space Templates and Global Templates

Confluence comes with two different page template options:

• Space templates

Team members can only use these templates in a specific Confluence space. If you are the space administrator, you’ll be able to edit or create templates in the Confluence Cloud and select them through the space administration screen.

• Global templates

You can access these templates through any page on your website. When you make an editing mistake, you can quickly go back to the original settings of the default global template.

How to Create a Template in Confluence

The Confluence editor enables you to generate new templates. You can add specific variables to customize the page, registering as fields you can fill in once the page is uploaded.

To add a new space template:

1. Enter the appropriate space and find ‘’Space tools’’ at the bottom of the toolbar.
   
2. Click on ‘’Content tools.’’
   
3. Select ‘’Templates.’’
   
4. Choose ‘’Create new template.’’
   

When you’re the website administrator, you can create templates that will be available for your team in every workable space.

To create a new global template, log into your Confluence Cloud and do this:

1. Locate the settings wheel icon in the top right of the screen. Select it to open the website settings.
   
2. Go to the toolbar and find ‘’Configuration.’’
   
3. Choose ‘’Global Templates and Blueprints.’’
   
4. Pick ‘’Add global page template.’’
   

How to Add a Template Description

Adding descriptions to original templates will help your colleagues find them quickly because they’ll stand out in the template gallery. The descriptions usually indicate which projects and tasks work best with the template.

To include or change a description of a global template:

1. Open settings.
   
2. Choose ‘’Global Blueprints and Templates.’’
   
3. Select the small pencil button.
   

Note that you can’t include attachments or pictures in your templates, but you’re still able to insert placeholder text, variables, and labels. These elements will help you build a functional page that will meet specific requirements.

How to Add Variables to a Confluence Template

When you generate a page using a template containing variables, the page will appear as a document with blank spaces you can fill up with the appropriate text information. Alternatively, clicking on each variable will show a list of options you can choose from. The information embedded in the variables is automatically included on any page where the template is used.

 To insert a variable:

1.  Choose ‘’Templates’’ in the toolbar.
   
2. Pick ‘’New Variable’’ or select a pre-existing one.
   
3. Type in the variable’s name.
   
4. Hit the Enter key to create a single-line text box.
   

When you want to edit the variable type, select the placeholder. It will open the property panel window. Here you can decide between ‘’Text,’’ ‘’Multi-line Text,’’ and ‘’List.’’

Remember that variables with the same name should have identical characteristics. Confluence views these as copies of the original variable. Suppose you generate a page using a template that contains several copies of a specific variable. In that case, the text you enter into one variable space will appear in all other copies on the page.

Additionally, when you pick ‘’Multi-line Text,’’ you’ll be able to adjust the number of lines required for input. Whereas clicking ‘’List’’ opens a box to type in the available options by separating them with a comma.

How to Add Labels to a Confluence Template

Labels are words you can attach to templates to make pages more organized and easier to find. This is useful for monitoring similar pages and tracking their performance since all pages created with the same template will contain the labels attached to them. However, only space administrators have permission to do this.

If you want to add labels to a template using the legacy editor:

1.  Go to the top of the page and select the labels icon next to the breadcrumbs.
   
2. A pop-up window will appear. Enter the labels and separate them with the Space key.
   
3. Click ‘’Add.’’
   
4. Select ‘’Close’’ to finish the action.
   

If you want to add labels through the new editor:

1. Click the breadcrumbs icon and select ‘’Add labels.’’
   
2. Enter the labels and separate them with the Space key in the box.
   
3. Pick ‘’Add.’’
   
4. Once you’ve typed up all the labels, choose ‘’Close’’ to save them to the template.
   

How to Add Placeholder Text to a Confluence Template

The placeholder text feature is helpful when you want to include instructions that will appear to anyone who is editing the page. You can use it to explain specifics like the page’s purpose, outline project requirements and tasks team members should do in specific areas. Visitors looking at the published version of the page won’t be able to see it.

If you’re using the legacy editor:

1. Chose ‘’+’’, then click ‘’Placeholder text.’’
   
2. Enter your text in the box and hit Enter.
   

When you’re using the new editor, do this:

1. Type “ /placeholder” where you want people to see the text, then press Enter.
   
2. Input your text and again click Enter.
   

How to Promote a Template

Space administrators can also help team members make pages look more organized and uniform by encouraging them to apply promoted templates. These templates will appear at the top of the search list, making them easier to find and use.

When you want to promote a template:

1. Enter your space in the Confluence Cloud.
   
2. Find the toolbar and click ‘’Space Settings.’’
   
3. Open the ‘’Look and feel’’ card, then choose ‘’Templates.’’
   
4. Go through the list and select the template you want.
   
5. Pick ‘’Promote’’ to finish the action.
   

How to Delete a Template

There’s also a way to remove a template from a space you’re administering. Once you delete a template, it will be permanently removed, and you won’t be able to recover it.

If you want to make a template inaccessible, then:

1. Access your space in the Confluence Cloud.
   
2. Choose ‘’Space Settings’’ in the sidebar.
   
3. Click ‘’Templates’’ in the ‘’Look and feel’’ card.
   
4. Select the template you want to remove and pick ‘’Delete.’’
   

Work With Confidence Using Confluence

Finding the best way to streamline your online workspace can be a hassle. When you’re in charge of several projects and managing many team members, it’s easy to lose track of the numerous meeting notes, assignment deadlines, and scheduled events. Confluence takes the hassle out of keeping track of your work, helping you stay organized so that you can stay on top of every new task.

Has using Confluence helped you become more productive? Why do you find their templates useful? Share your experience with us in the comments below.