Confluence Cloud – Macro to Encapsulate External System URLs (Links)

[Ashvin Patel]

Intention:
Confluence Cloud – Macro to Generate External Links to a Different Project System Using Only an ID Number

Background:
I'm working in Confluence Cloud. When building Confluence Requirement pages, we frequently need to link to our external Incident Tracker system. I'd like to simplify this linking process.

Current Manual Process:
Right now, to link an incident, I need to:

1. Type text such as: Incident# 12345
2. Select that text and press Ctrl + K
3. In the URL field, type or paste the full URL:
   http://external-proj-system.test.com/incident/IncidentDetail.do?action=EDIT&ID=12345

This means that each time, I must remember and type the full base URL, then append the 5-digit incident number.

What I'd Like to Do:
Ideally, I want a macro called "Incident Tracker" that would allow me to:

1. Type /Incident Tracker
2. Provide a 5-digit incident number (for example, 12345)

The macro would automatically build the URL as:
http://external-proj-system.test.com/incident/IncidentDetail.do?action=EDIT&ID=<five_digit_number>

...with the link text displayed as Incident# 12345.

Questions:

1. Can this type of macro be created in Confluence Cloud (new editor)?
2. Do I need to be a site admin or Confluence admin to set this up, or is space admin access sufficient? 
3. If I need to request Site Admin to help me build this macro, what is the best pattern/technology to use (user macro / Forge app / Connect app / something else)? Or
   Seeking suggestion on the procedure to build this.

My main goal is to encapsulate the base URL within the macro logic so that authors only need to enter the 5-digit Incident Tracker number without worrying about the full URL.

Thanks in advance for any guidance or examples!

[Marc -Devoteam- · Accepted solution]

Hi @Ashvin Patel 

There is no need for this, you can just paste a url directly on a page.

If you want to have a other name, directly use Ctrl + K and you can paste the url and specify the linke name.

Or you can look at the Atlassian Marketplace, for options.

Or built your own Forge app that can do this.

[Ashvin Patel]

Thank you, Marc.   
1.  We are all set with CTL+K building the link.
2. Yes, that's exactly what I need help with to build Forge App.   
3. Any specific Marketplace Tool are you aware of? 

[Marc -Devoteam-]

HI @Ashvin Patel 

You can get information on forg or reach out to an Atlassian partner, https://partnerdirectory.atlassian.com/ 

I.m not aware of any app, suggestion is to browse the marketplace for options.

[Anatolii Starshekov]

@Ashvin Patel 

Hi

As for an app for your use case, I've been testing the solution we're developing and managed to achieve the result you requested.

Take a look at it:


It's a user macro where you can do and customize a lot of things: your base URL, look&feel, move a URL to user params, or completely change the overall logic.

If you need any help with that, please reach out to me 🙂 

[Marc -Devoteam-]

Hi @Anatolii Starshekov 

As you are part of a marketplace vendor, the rules of the community state that you have to disclose this in your username.

Please adjust you username accordingly.

Atlassian-Partners-Rules-of-Engagement 

[Ashvin Patel]

Hi @Anatolii Starshekov 
This is slick - I will definitely play with it.  Is this compatible for Cloud Confluence that you are aware of? 

Thank you so much for hints. 

Ashvin

[Anatolii Starshekov]

@Ashvin Patel 

It's fully compatible with Confluence Cloud.

Also, I can share a snippet being used in the template. After you create and save a macro, refresh your Confluence page and it'll be available in Confluence macro browser.

If you need any help setting it up, let me know 😊

[Ashvin Patel]

Hi @Anatolii Starshekov 
Please share snippet, that will be extremely helpful.   Thank you so much.
Ashvin

[Anatolii Starshekov]

@Ashvin Patel 

Sure, I've updated my previous reply with the code snippet

[Ashvin Patel]

Thank you, @Anatolii Starshekov
Appreciate your help.