Create automation rules in Confluence
Rules allow you to automate actions in your system based on criteria you define.
Automation rules are made up of three steps: triggers that kick off the rule, conditions that refine the rule, and actions that perform tasks in your site.
Navigate to automation
To create a rule, administrators will first need to navigate to Confluence automation in the location where the rule will function:
Site admins and Confluence admins can create and enable rules that function across Confluence in Global automation.
Space admins can create and enable rules for individual spaces in Space automation.
While you may not think of yourself as an administrator, if you have a personal space you’re an admin of your space!
To navigate to Global automation:
Only site admins and Confluence admins can view Global automation.
Select the wheel icon () in the top-right corner to open Confluence administration.
Find Admin tools in the left-hand navigation.
Select Automation.
To navigate to space automation (space admins):
Only space admins can view Space automation.
Go to the space where you’d like to create a rule.
From the sidebar, select Automation.
Select Rules from the Automation card.
To access space Automation from a page (space admins):
Go to a space where you're an admin.
Open a page in view mode.
On the top right toolbar, select the lightning bolt icon or press a.
If you don’t see Automation in Confluence administration or Space settings, this might be why:
You're on the Space Overview page, a whiteboard, or a database. The automation icon appears only on pages in view mode.
You’re not an admin of the space you’re in (for Space automation).
You’re not a site admin or Confluence admin (for Global automation).
Your team has Cloud Standard or Cloud Free – automation is a premium feature in Confluence.
Once you’re in Global automation or Space automation, there are two ways to create rules:
Create a rule with Rovo
Start with a template
Create a rule from scratch
Create a rule with Rovo
To create a rule with Rovo:
Select Create with Rovo in the top right of automation.
Describe the rule you’d like to create, including a trigger and action. You can also use one of the examples provided by selecting Show me an example.
Select Preview rule to see how the rule works.
Optionally, rename the rule and configure the rule details.
Use the rule summary on the left to make edits:
Select each step in the rule chain to view and configure it.
Select Add component to add more conditions, branches, or actions.
Select Rule details to change the name and default functionality settings (like Owner and Actor).
When your rule is complete, select the Turn it on button (at the top) to save and enable it.
More on creating rules with Rovo in Confluence
Create a rule from a template
A rule template functions similarly to a page template: It provides a starting point with appropriate steps pre-selected and arranged in the rule chain on the left.
To create a rule from a template:
Select the Create rule button in the top-right of automation. A dropdown will appear.
Select Use a template.
Select a rule template.
Optionally, rename the rule and configure the rule details.
Use the rule summary on the left to make edits:
Select each step in the rule chain to view and configure it.
Select Add step to add more conditions, branches, or actions.
Select Rule details to change the name and default functionality settings (like Owner and Actor).
When your rule is complete, select the Turn it on button (at the top) to save and enable it.
The rule chain contains the instructions for the rule. Once your rule is enabled, components will run in the order they appear from top to bottom.
Drag and drop to reorder them. Hover and select the X to remove them.
Although the feature allows you to add components in any order, they won’t necessarily work in any order.
After you enable your rule, confirm that it runs successfully by viewing Status in the automation audit log.
After you turn on your rule, you’ll see a green toggle switch turned ON, indicating that the rule is enabled. You can toggle the switch off to disable the rule at any time. Alternatively, select Return to rule to go back to the automation Rules tab. The name of your new rule will appear in the rules table, in alphabetical order. Find the row with your rule's name and toggle the Enabled switch to off. If you add a new step after enabling, you’ll need to select Update to apply any new changes to the rule.
Create a rule from scratch
The rule builder lets you build a new rule from scratch (instead of using a template from the Library). It guides you through adding and configuring steps, starting with a triggering event. Each component you save will appear in a rule chain on the left.
To create a rule from scratch:
Select the Create rule button in the top-right of automation. A dropdown will appear.
Select Create from scratch.
Select a trigger.
Optionally, add conditions to your trigger. Edit it (if needed) and select Next.
Select the component type (condition, branch, or action) you’d like to add next.
Note: You must add an action to complete the rule.
Continue adding steps until your rule is complete.
Select Rule details to change any of the following default functionality settings:
Name: Give your rule a name.
Description: Add a description to your rule.
Scope: Select which spaces the rule can run in.
Owner: Determine who will receive the emails about the rule.
Actor: The user the rule uses when it runs (example: Actor created the page).
Notify on error: Select how often the owner should be notified when the rule fails.
Select the Turn on rule button to save and enable your rule.
The rule chain contains the instructions for the rule. Once your rule is enabled, the components will run in the order they appear from top to bottom.
Drag and drop to reorder the components, and hover over the trash can () to delete them.
Although the feature lets you add components in any order, they may not work in that order.
After enabling your rule, confirm it runs successfully by viewing Status in the automation audit log.
After you turn on your rule, you’ll see a green toggle switch turned ON, indicating that the rule is enabled. You can toggle the switch off to disable the rule at any time. Alternatively, select Return to rule to go back to the automation Rules tab. The name of your new rule will appear in the rules table, in alphabetical order. Find the row with your rule's name and toggle the Enabled switch to off. If you add a new component after enabling, you’ll need to select Update to apply any new changes to the rule.
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