Where diagrams are stored
A diagram is two things: the source, and the macro that points at it. The source lives in your Confluence site, as custom content or as a page attachment, and the macro on the page holds a reference to it.
That is why permissions work without any extra configuration, and why a diagram survives being copied, exported or migrated with the page.
#When this matters
Security reviews and data mapping exercises.
Understanding what happens when a page is deleted or moved.
Planning a migration or a backup strategy.
#The detail
Thing | What happens |
|---|---|
Source | Custom content or a page attachment, in your Confluence site. |
The macro | Holds a reference to the source, plus display settings. |
Preview image | An attached rendering, used by exports and anonymous readers. |
Version history | Kept with the source, so earlier versions can be restored. |
#A few things that catch people out
Deleting the page deletes the diagram source with it. That is Confluence's behaviour, not ours.
Copying a page copies the diagram, so the copy is independent.
A diagram reference points at the original, so it follows that page's lifecycle rather than its own.
#Related
Ask us the awkward questions. They have answers.
