Introducing CFT Ascend: Vectors Pre-migration program for Content Formatting Toolkit Data to Cloud

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As Atlassian moves toward a cloud-first future, with Data Center reaching EOL on March 28, 2029, many Confluence Data Center teams are starting to plan their next steps.

Migration to Cloud is more than a platform change; it requires understanding of what data exists today, how it’s used, and how app-specific configurations can be moved without disruption. While Atlassian provides the overall migration path, Marketplace apps play a critical role in ensuring their data migrates safely and predictably.

At Vectors, we’re committed to making this transition as smooth and safe as possible for our customers. That’s why we’re introducing Vectors Ascend, our migration support program designed to help customers prepare for Cloud in a structured, reliable way, starting with CFT Ascend for teams using Content Formatting Toolkit for Confluence (CFT) on Data Center.

What Is Vectors Ascend?

Vectors Ascend is our internal migration support program designed to help Vectors customers transition their Data Center licenses to Cloud with clear guidance at every stage.
It supports the full migration journey, from understanding existing app data and configurations, to migrating to Cloud and ensuring a stable post-migration state. Rather than treating migration as a last-minute task, Vectors Ascend encourages early planning, alignment with Atlassian’s timeline, and a migration pace that fits each organization.

The program focuses on migration readiness, helping admins understand what will migrate smoothly, what needs attention, and exactly how to prepare their data properly before moving to Cloud.

Our goals are simple:

• Detects potential issues before they block CCMA.
• Improve successful migration outcomes.
• Provide clear actionable preparation guidance.
• Support customers before, during, and after migration.

How CFT Ascend Helps Teams Prepare for Cloud Migration:

For Confluence Data Center teams, Content Formatting Toolkit (CFT) is central to structuring knowledge, maintaining documentation, and supporting daily workflows. Because macros are deeply embedded in pages, outdated or misconfigured macros can block migration or break layouts, making it critical to preserve structure and functionality when moving to Cloud.

This is exactly the gap CFT Ascend is designed to fill. 

Released as the first step of the Vectors Ascend program, CFT Ascend is a migration-readiness and sanity-check interface for Content Formatting Toolkit on Confluence Data Center. It is designed to help admins prepare their content before running the Confluence Cloud Migration Assistant (CCMA), so potential issues are caught early, not mid-migration.

CFT Ascend Improves Your Migration Outcome through:

1. A Pre-Check Layer Built for Confluence Instances:

CFT Ascend introduces a dedicated readiness scan that analyzes your spaces for:

• Legacy macro variants that won’t map 1:1 to Cloud.
• Missing or invalid parameters.
• Missing metadata that may cause migration issues.
• Permission issues that block migration.

This directly addresses the most common causes of incomplete or stalled migrations on large Confluence instances.

2. Clear, Actionable Fixes (Not Just Error Messages):

For every issue detected, CFT Ascend provides:

• A clear explanation of what’s wrong.
• The impacted page and macro.
• Concrete actions to fix in Data Center.

Examples include rebuilding macros with missing parameters, mapping outdated values to supported schemas, ensuring correct permissions for migration users.
Admins can export reports, track progress, and systematically clean up their spaces.

3. Migration Readiness by Space:

CFT Ascend works space by space, providing:

• A readiness status per space.
• Counts of impacted pages and macros.
• The ability to re-run scans until issues are resolved.

When a space turns green, it’s considered migration-ready, and only then do you proceed to CCMA. In short, by preparing your data for migration, CFT Ascend speeds up CCMA processing, reduces migration time, and minimizes incomplete migrations on large instances.

What’s Next? More Ascend Programs Coming Soon:

CFT Ascend is just the beginning. We’re actively working on tools and guidance to support our users before, during, and after migration, with a clear cloud-focused roadmap.

🔜 Next up: Glossary Ascend, launching next month.

Resources to Help You Ascend to Cloud:

If you’re planning a migration, or just starting to think about it, we’re happy to talk.

📩 Reach out via our support portal: Our support team is ready to guide you through your preparation and migration steps.

🔗 Explore the CFT Migration Hub: Everything you need to understand, prepare, audit, and migrate Content Formatting Toolkit with confidence.

💬And if there’s a specific Vectors app you’d like to see covered next under Ascend, let us know. This program is shaped directly by what our customers need.

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FAQ:

1. Can we stay on Data Center with Vectors and for how long?
You can use Data Center until Atlassian’s end-of-life date in March 2029, but starting preparation early ensures a smooth transition to Cloud.

2. How does Vectors support customers after moving to Cloud?
We provide ongoing migration support, Cloud-native improvements, and feature updates to keep your apps working smoothly and growing with your team.

3. Will all my content and macros be preserved in the Cloud?

Yes, all macros and their settings are preserved, with CFT Ascend ensuring your content stays intact during migration.

4. Do all CFT macros exist in the Cloud?
Yes, all macros from DC are available in Cloud, and CFT Ascend ensures that every macro continues to work correctly after migration.

5. Will Confluence UI/UX be different after migration?
Cloud provides a more modern, polished interface, with pages, macros, and layouts working smoothly.

[Khrystyna_Dzhus_SaaSJet_]

Thanks for sharing valuable info!