How to Work with SharePoint Content in Confluence Using Space Folders and Byline
Teams often use Confluence as their main workspace while keeping documents in SharePoint. The challenge is not connecting the tools, but making SharePoint content visible, understandable, and usable inside Confluence.
This walkthrough explains how teams typically set this up using Space Folders and Byline, and how both work together in daily collaboration.
Step 1: Bring SharePoint Folder Structure into the Confluence Space
The first step is exposing selected SharePoint folders directly in a Confluence space.
You can only bring SharePoint Folders into the Space if you are an administrator for the space or have the right permissions to view/edit the space settings.
Space Folders appear in the Confluence sidebar and mirror the folders from SharePoint. Teams usually need to have folders that are:
- Used frequently
- Maintained centrally
- Relevant for the entire space
Once added, the folders stay visible in the sidebar and do not depend on individual pages. This means:
- Users don’t need links to access shared documents
- The folder structure remains consistent
- Navigation works the same way for all space members
Instead of searching SharePoint or bookmarking folders, with SharePoint Connector for Confluence, teams rely on the sidebar as their entry point to shared content.
Step 2: Connect SharePoint Content to Confluence Pages
While Space Folders solve navigation, pages still need context.
When SharePoint files, folders, or lists are embedded or linked on a Confluence page, Byline automatically collects them and displays an overview of all linked SharePoint files, folders, and lists on that page.
Byline shows:
- All SharePoint items connected to the page
- Files, folders, and lists in one overview
- A clear indication of what supports the page content
This removes the need to scan the page for linked documents or wonder whether something is missing.
Step 3: Use Search to Find the Right Document on the Page
Pages that reference multiple SharePoint items can quickly become hard to manage.
Byline includes a search function that lets users search within the connected SharePoint content of that page. Instead of opening folders or switching tools, users can:
- Search by file or folder name
- Jump directly to the relevant item
- Confirm they are working with the correct document
This is especially useful on pages that evolve over time and accumulate multiple references.
Step 4: Keep Confluence Pages and SharePoint Content Aligned
With Space Folders and Byline combined, teams usually follow a clear pattern:
- Space Folders provide long-term structure and navigation
- Byline provides page-level visibility and clarity
Documents remain in SharePoint, while Confluence pages focus on explanations, decisions, and collaboration. The relationship between both stays transparent.
Users can always answer:
- Where the document lives
- Why it is relevant
- What content is connected to a page
What Changes in Daily Work
After setting the SharePoint Connector for Confluence up, teams typically notice:
- Less time spent searching for documents
- Fewer outdated or broken references
- Clear ownership of content structure
- Better trust in the information shown on Confluence pages
Confluence becomes the place where work happens, while SharePoint remains the source of documents - without disconnect between the two.
If you’re working with both SharePoint and Confluence, what has been the hardest part to keep organized? Folder structure, page context, permissions, or something else?
Interested to learn how other teams approach this. 😊
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Klaida_Communardo Products
Atlassian Partner
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