Show the same diagram on several Confluence pages

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To show the same diagram on several Confluence pages, insert Diagram reference (Capable) on each extra page and pick the original diagram. The reference draws the diagram from its source, so when someone edits the original, every page that references it shows the change. Nothing is copied, so nothing drifts out of date.

#Before you start

You need

Why

Edit permission on the page where the diagram should appear

You add the reference while editing.

The diagram already exists

A reference points at a diagram on a page, in a collection or saved as a template. It does not create a new one.

Readers who can see the source

A reader who cannot view the source page cannot see the diagram, even on a page they can read.

#Steps

  1. Edit the page where the diagram should also appear and put the cursor where it should go.

  2. Type /diagram reference and choose Diagram reference (Capable).

  3. Next to Template, select Browse.

  4. In Select a diagram template, find the diagram under Diagrams on pages, Collections or Templates, select it and select Insert.

  5. If a Version field appears, leave it on Latest (follows edits). Pick a version number only to freeze an older drawing.

  6. For a draw.io diagram with several tabs, choose the one to show under Diagram tab.

  7. Insert the macro and publish the page.

#What happens next

Every page with a reference shows the original diagram. Edit the original once and the references follow on their next load.

#If it does not work

  • Some readers see nothing: they cannot view the source page. See Diagram permissions.

  • The reference shows an old drawing: a version is pinned. Set Version back to Latest (follows edits).

  • Every copy of a multi-tab draw.io file shows the first tab: choose the right tab under Diagram tab on each reference.

One diagram, updated once, shown everywhere.