A user guide to combining Confluence macros
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A user guide to combining Confluence macros
Zoriana Bogutska
18 April 2024
3 min read
Zoriana Bogutska
18 April 2024
3 min read
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Why combine Confluence macros?
Can all Confluence macros be combined?
How to combine Confluence macros
How to tell whether a macro is Open Box or Closed Box
Sometimes macros work (even) better when they’re together. If you’re wondering how you can combine Confluence macros - here’s how.
Without macros, a Confluence page is about as exciting as a letter informing you of how much you have to pay for your energy that month. Macros allow you to add images, try out different layouts, and give your Confluence pages interactive elements. Need some ideas about how to use macros to create awesome Confluence pages? Here’s our guide on how to create the best Confluence pages.
And what’s better than one macro? Lots of well-chosen macros! That’s why we’re here to tell you how you combine Confluence macros.
This guide discusses how you can combine Confluence macros that are part of the Content Formatting Macros package - a toolkit that enhances page structure, functionality, and design. You can try Content Formatting Macros for free for up to 10 users.
And what’s better than one macro? Lots of well-chosen macros! That’s why we’re here to tell you how you combine Confluence macros.
This guide discusses how you can combine Confluence macros that are part of the Content Formatting Macros package - a toolkit that enhances page structure, functionality, and design. You can try Content Formatting Macros for free for up to 10 users.
Why combine Confluence macros?
- Dazzle users with impressive visual presentation: Combining macros allows you to create visually appealing and interactive content. For example, you can use the background macro in combination with others.
- Improve the organisation of your content: Structure your content more effectively by grouping related information together.
- Increase page interactivity: Integrate interactive macros without making your pages cluttered - like placing a button macro within a pop-up dialog macro.
Can all Confluence macros be combined?
Unfortunately, no. Combining macros means placing one macro inside another macro. Only some macros allow the placement of other macros within them - these are called Open Box macros.
Macros that don’t allow the placement of other macros within them are called Closed Box macros.
We’ve listed which macro belongs to which category below:
Macros that don’t allow the placement of other macros within them are called Closed Box macros.
We’ve listed which macro belongs to which category below:
Open Box macros
Any of the Closed Box macros can be placed within the following macros:
- Background
- Button Group
- Pop-up Dialog
- Tabs
Closed Box macros
Any of these macros can go inside any of the Open Box macros:
- Advanced Expand
- Alert
- BibTeX
- Button
- Cards
- Footnote
- Interactive Banner
- LaTeX
- Progress Bar
- Tooltip
How to combine Confluence macros
Go to the page where you’d like to combine macros. Either place an Open Box macro, or if one is already placed, type in the keyboard shortcut for the macro you’d like to place inside.
In the below example, we’re combining an Alert macro with an existing Background macro.
In the below example, we’re combining an Alert macro with an existing Background macro.
When you’ve combined the macros, they’ll appear with one inside the other, a bit like this:
Here you can see the Alert macro within the Background macro in Edit mode.
Once you publish/update your page, you’ll now be able to see both macros together (unless the Open Box macro is interactive - in this case, you’ll have to interact with it to see the combined macro).
Once you publish/update your page, you’ll now be able to see both macros together (unless the Open Box macro is interactive - in this case, you’ll have to interact with it to see the combined macro).
Now you can mix and match your macros to create exciting, engaging pages!
How to tell whether a macro is Open Box or Closed Box
On the edit page:
If you click on a macro and there’s the option to type the keyboard shortcut (/) for a macro - or to add a macro by using the + button, it’s an Open Box macro.
If there is no space within the macro to type anything, it’s a Closed Box macro.
But don’t worry if you’re still not sure of the difference - if you try to add a macro to a Closed Box macro, the new macro will simply appear underneath the existing one.
If you click on a macro and there’s the option to type the keyboard shortcut (/) for a macro - or to add a macro by using the + button, it’s an Open Box macro.
If there is no space within the macro to type anything, it’s a Closed Box macro.
But don’t worry if you’re still not sure of the difference - if you try to add a macro to a Closed Box macro, the new macro will simply appear underneath the existing one.
Confluence pages brought to life
Content Formatting Macros includes numbered headings, tabs, and more to make pages more engaging than ever.
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Written by
Zoriana Bogutska
Senior Product Marketing Manager
Zoriana has over 12 years of experience in marketing, with 6 of them in product marketing management. As a Senior Product Marketing Manager, Zoriana aims to ensure Kolekti's apps excel by understanding customer needs, solving their problems, and making Kolekti truly the best solution.
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