Confluence - Edit template and automatically edit all pages using this template
Asked by Remco van der Werf:

Hi,

I created a template using a*Page Properties macro*filled with a table.

For every customer a page is created from this template and the table in the *Page Properties* *Macro* is filled with customer specific information.

On a general page i will use the *Page Properties Report* to create an overview of all customers and their customer-specific information.

Is there a way (possibly other than using templates, ideas are welcome) where I can edit the table in the template's *page properties macro* and this way automatically update this table on all pages using this template?

I have been looking at the *excerpt* macro as well but if you include a table in the excerpt you can not edit the table in the excerpt per page where it is used.

Any suggestions/ideas how to solve this?

Thank you in advance!

Kind regards,

Remco


Answers:
author: Ted Mahsun [ServiceRocket]
body: Like [@_Fabian A. Lopez](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/532898) suggested, try taking a look at the [Live Templates macro](https://docs.servicerocket.com/scaffolding/user-guide/basic-tutorials/putting-live-templates-to-use) from the Scaffolding app. It allows you to create living templates from a global template, a space template, or even a normal page. You only need to edit once, and the rest of the pages which are using the Live Template macro will follow.

(disclaimer: I'm a tech writer at ServiceRocket, which makes Scaffolding, but I do believe it can help you.)

comments: author: Sean Cooney
body: This doesn't work because Live Templates break all the other macros.

eg if you have a page properties table inside a live template, you can't access it in a page properties report.


author: Davin Studer
body: There is not a way to do this with anything built-in. We've achieved something very similar to what you are asking using ConfiForms.

comments: author: _Fabian A. Lopez
body: I agree with [@Davin Studer](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/781467) and keep also in mind that once the page is created from the template the direct relationship is broken, so any changes on the template will apply only to new pages generated.

You will need a way to extend the basic functionality of you template to make it alive. I used to use Living Template that is part of the Scaffolding Forms \& Templates


author: Remco van der Werf
body: Thank you for reply.

I will look into the Scaffolding Forms \& Templates plugin.


author: Jonathan Creech
body: [@Davin Studer](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/781467), would mind explaining how to accomplish what he is describing with ConfiForms? My company has the ConfiForms add-in already and I have not been able to figure out how to use it for project program management yet. I am currently using the page properties macro and report to track one project per page, but anytime we change something about the form, my life stops to update all 50+ pages.


author: Davin Studer
body: [@Jonathan Creech](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/2534608) It's pretty involved and would be hard to convey over this medium. My LinkedIn profile is linked on the social tab of my Atlassian Community profile. Feel free to send me an invite and we can set up somethings where I can walk you though what we have created.


Tags: confluence-server

excerpt

macro

page-property

server

template