[CONFLUENCE] How can I remove empty whitespace / paragraph tags?

[Steve Goldberg]

One common problem with Confluence is that it frequently generates phanatom white space above and below elements such as macros, tables, images, etc. Removing them can be an impossible task. How can you do it?

[Steve Goldberg · Accepted solution]

The answer to this is to use jQuery. Place the following JavaScript in the "At end of the BODY" section of your Custom HTML (this is not possible AFAIK with Confluence OnDemand).

<script type="text/javascript">
jQuery('p').each(function() {
    var $this = $(this);
    if($this.html().replace(/\s| /g, '').length == 0)
        $this.remove();
});
</script>

Full credit for this script goes to "ruslyrossi" on StackOverflow (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10225967/remove-p-nbsp-p-with-jquery-if-no-value).

[Anindita]

Where exactly do I need to put this code? I am already using a set of code for PDF export. so, Please suggest.

Thanks!

[Ryan Leonard]

Hi Anindita,

This solution leverages the "At end of the body" feature that places custom HTML/Javascript code at the end of every Confluence page.

• Go to Confluence Administration
• Select Custom HTML on the left panel, under the Look and Feel section

• On the "At end of the body" box, insert the code

[Kipland Iles]

For Confluence Cloud I found that if you position your cursor immediately to the left of a macro while editing, a single vertical line will appear. If you hit the backspace (delete) key then that space will go away briefly and then reappear. If you do that for all macros on the page then the <p><br></p> will no longer be inline between the macros after saving/publishing.

[Volodymyr Volkov]

Thank you so much, man!

You can't imagine how long I was fighting with that extra space until I noticed your comment.

[Jonathan Sabah]

This is such a tedious process... I wish Atlassian did not introduce them in the first place.

[Kipland Iles]

I had hoped that it would no longer be an issue with the new editing experience but seems to still be there. I do most of my docs in Google Docs now anyway but still need to use Confluence for the JSD KB Articles. Maybe it gets fixed on the next UX release.

Agreed - it is tedious and should be unnecessary. 

[Saranya Murthy]

Thanks very much, @Kipland Iles . Like Volodymyr, I had also been struggling with this for a long time and am pleased to have your solution.

[Keith Bloomfield]

Instead of pressing Enter for a new line, press Shift + Enter.

I know this doesn't solve the bulk case already sorted for those w/admin rights, but I was led here after Googling the "edit a page" case where annoying whitespace appears in undesired places. 

[Jameel Harris]

<script>
AJS.toInit(function() {
   AJS.$("document").ready(function() {
     AJS.$("br").remove();
   });
 });
</script>