Plan your Cloud migration
Documents to help you prepare to migrate your Atlassian Server or Data Center products.
Differences using Confluence Data Center and Cloud
This page outlines the differences your team can expect as a Confluence Data Center or Server end-user when moving to Confluence Cloud. Some of the capabilities listed below apply to more than one product.
We’ve organized this list by how different the experience is:
You may want to factor in these differences when planning the change management and onboarding activities for your team. Interested in the differences you can expect as an administrator? Differences administering Confluence Data Center and Cloud
1. Works differently in Cloud
Editor (new editor)
Works differently in Cloud.
What’s different
The editor in Confluence Cloud is significantly more modern and user-friendly than the editor in Confluence Data Center and Server, known as the legacy editor. New pages are created using the new editor unless you select the legacy editor template. Tables, images, macros, and page layouts all work a little differently but are easier to use once you become familiar with the change. We’ve included more information about the most significant differences below.
How it works in Cloud
Draft, publish, and update a page
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Editor (legacy editor)
Works differently in Cloud.
What’s different
When you migrate, your existing pages will use the Legacy editor, which is very similar to the editor in Confluence Server and Data Center. Users will have the option to convert existing pages to the new editor on a page-by-page basis, to avoid losing any formatting or macro data that isn't available in the new editor.
By default, new pages are created in the new editor. If you need the ability to create new pages in the Legacy editor, our support team can help, but be aware that the legacy editor does not get bug fixes (except in the case of a major incident), or any improvements or new features.
How it works in Cloud
Convert pages to the cloud editor
Suggestion CONFCLOUD-70955: Bulk convert pages to the new editor
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Macros
Works differently in Cloud.
What’s different
The way macros work in the new editor in Confluence Cloud is significantly more user-friendly than in Confluence Data Center and Server. Many render visually in the editor, rather than as a placeholder. Some macros have been combined, while others are not available. Another significant difference is that macros can’t be nested (for example, you can’t put a code macro inside a panel macro).
Many of the Confluence Data Center and Server macros are still available in the legacy editor template, and in migrated content that has not been converted to the new editor.
How it works in Cloud
Learn which macros are being removed
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Nested macros
Works differently in Cloud.
What’s different
In Confluence Server and Data Center there were not many restrictions on how macros could be used together. In the new editor, a macro with a body can’t be nested inside another macro. For example, you can’t put a code macro inside a panel macro. This limitation also affects third-party apps, so you may find macros provided by your apps may work differently or not be available in the new editor. When you migrate, your existing pages will use the Legacy editor which does still allow nested macros, to make sure your existing content displays the way you expect it to.
How it works in Cloud
Suggestion CONFCLOUD-70746: Allow nested macros for apps
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Tables
Works differently in Cloud.
What’s different
In Confluence Server and Data Center table options were provided in the editor toolbar. In Confluence Cloud, the way you interact with a table is a little different. The options are integrated into the table itself, which makes it more intuitive to add, remove, copy, and paste columns and rows, change the column width, cell color, and other characteristics of your table. The most significant changes your team might notice include that you can only choose from three preset table widths (no custom width), and you can’t nest one table inside another.
How it works in Cloud
Suggestion CONFCLOUD-67748: Custom table width
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Templates
Works differently in Cloud.
What’s different
In Confluence Server and Data Center you select a template from the Create dialog when creating a page. In Confluence Cloud, you choose a template from within the page, and will get a preview of how it will look. There are over 100 templates to choose from, and you can download more from our website. Your existing templates will also be available.
How it works in Cloud
Format a page or blog with a template
See what templates are available
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
View unpublished pages
Works differently in Cloud.
What’s different
In Confluence Server and Data Center, unpublished pages (often known as drafts) were accessed from the Drafts list in your profile or Recently worked on in the dashboard. In Confluence Cloud, people can access pages they have contributed to from the page tree in the sidebar and the Recent drop-down menu in the header. Unpublished pages are much easier to access in Confluence Cloud.
How it works in Cloud
Draft, publish, and update a page
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Delete page and child pages
Works differently in the cloud.
What’s different
In Confluence Server or Data Center, users can delete the current page, or the current page, and any child pages.
In Confluence Cloud:
For Standard plans, the users can delete the current page, or the current page and any child pages.
For Enterprise and Premium plans, the users can delete pages in bulk by selecting the Purge All option under Space settings > Manage content > Trash.
How it works in Cloud
Delete, restore, or purge a content item
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
2. Not available in Cloud
Adding attachments from other pages
Not available in Cloud.
What’s different
In Confluence Data Center and Server, users could upload attachments from existing pages. In the new editor, you can only upload attachments from your computer, not from another page or space.
How it works in Cloud
Suggestion CONFCLOUD-65344: Add attachments from other pages
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Copy pages without attachments
Not available in Cloud.
What’s different
In Confluence Server or Data Center, you had the option to exclude attachments when copying pages. This option is not available in Confluence Cloud.
How it works in Cloud
Suggestion CONFCLOUD-19389: Copy pages without attachments
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Edit files using Companion
Not available in Cloud.
What’s different
In Confluence Data Center and Server, users could edit an attached file in any compatible application using the Companion app. The Companion app was removed from Confluence Cloud in March 2022. To edit an attached file, you need to download the file, edit it in a compatible application, then manually re-upload it to the page.
How it works in Cloud
Companion App removal announcement
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Right-to-left language support for editing and searching
Not available in Cloud.
What’s different
Right-to-left languages are supported in Confluence Data Center. This is not available in Confluence Cloud, although there are some Marketplace apps that provide this functionality.
How it works in Cloud
Suggestion CONFCLOUD-1373: Support right-to-left languages
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
3. Only available in cloud
We’ve included some significant features that are only available in cloud, as you may want to prepare your team for these as well.
Archive pages
Available in Cloud, on selected plans.
What’s different
In Confluence Server and Data Center you could archive a space to exclude pages in that space from search. In Confluence Cloud you can archive a space, or choose to archive individual pages. Archived pages don’t appear in the page tree, are still easy to access under Archived in the sidebar. You can bulk archive pages with a Premium or Enterprise plan.
How it works in Cloud
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Cloud automation
Available in Cloud, on selected plans.
What’s different
Automation for Confluence allows you to create automation rules to perform many types of manual, repetitive tasks. The simple rule builder allows users to configure powerful automation rules to handle even the most complex scenarios. Requires a Premium or Enterprise plan.
How it works in Cloud
Who it affects
Administrators, Users
Confluence, Jira Software, Jira Service Management
Convert tables to charts
Available in Cloud.
What’s different
Present table data dynamically as pie charts, bar charts, and line charts in your Confluence page. Make charts from your tables to do things like track work, create financial reports, and visualize survey data.
How it works in Cloud
Turn tables into compelling charts
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Inline comments in the editor
Available in Cloud.
What’s different
In Confluence Server and Data Center, you could only add inline comments while viewing a page. In Confluence Cloud, you can also add inline comments when editing a page. This allows for more collaboration before the page is published, and makes actioning the comments even easier.
How it works in Cloud
Comment on pages, whiteboards, and blog posts
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Live macro preview
Available in Cloud.
What’s different
The way macros work in the new editor is significantly more user-friendly. While configuring macros, many render visually in the editor, rather than as a placeholder.
How it works in Cloud
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Page actions from the sidebar
Available in Cloud.
What’s different
In Confluence Server and Data Center, actions like creating, editing, and moving pages can only be done from the top navigation or directly in the page. In Confluence Cloud, you can also perform these actions from the page tree in the sidebar.
How it works in Cloud
Draft, publish, and update a page
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Page headers, emojis, and page status
Available in Cloud.
What’s different
In Confluence Cloud you can customize a page in a number of ways, including adding an emoji to the page title (which appears in the page tree), adding an image to the header, and a customizable status to represent the current state of the page.
How it works in Cloud
Make your page and its title more memorable
Add a status to your page or blog
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Schedule publish
Available in Cloud.
What’s different
In Confluence Cloud you can schedule the date and time for a page to be published. This is useful for things like company announcements, or pages that aren’t applicable until a particular date.
How it works in Cloud
Draft, publish, and update a page
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Smart links
Available in Cloud.
What’s different
When a link is pasted into the new editor it becomes a Smart link, and you have several options for how you want the link and its content to appear on your page. This gives you more control over how links appear.
How it works in Cloud
Who it affects
Users
Confluence
Need help choosing?
Still deciding whether cloud or Data Center is right for your organization? Head to our comparison page to explore the benefits of each.
Learn more about the differences between Confluence Cloud and Data Center
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