Using a link to execute another link

Question

Okay I'm producing a set of How To documentation pages.  This includes detailed first time instructions and as well as an expert short cut pages.  Links are likely going to be re-used in several instruction pages as well as in the expert pages.  Links can change and I don't want to have to go through the whole space looking for a changed link.  Links will point to other spaces.

So - what I want to do is to set up a source link in my space.  And then use links within the space to point to that link.  Essentially I'd like to say - execute the source link pointed to by this link.  Something like a symbolic link or by reference.  The intent is that if the link changes, I can just correct one link and all the other links in the space will not require changes.

Is this possible? or is there a simpler way of doing it?

Regards

Nic Brough -Adaptavist- · Answer

Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

You don't need to do this in this way.

I suspect you're probably using URLs for these links, inserting something like https://your.org/confluence/pages/viewpage.action?spaceKey=SPACE&title=pagename

You have a couple of options with this -

* Use the page's tiny-link URLs - these don't change if you move or rename the page they point to (and are recommended for use by external systems).  You can find them on the target page "page information."
* Use internal links - again, these won't break if you move or rename a page, and they automatically display the name of a page rather than a URL (so you don't have to put in the display string you want instead of a URL)

In some ways, the internal links are fundamental to wikis - they enable you to restructure it without thinking about links and cross-references.  I also like them because they enable us to do in-place reminders of pages that don't exist.

To put on into a server Confluence, you simply put in [Space: Page Name] .  For Cloud, it's a function call, you need [Space: Page Name]() .  The Space: is optional in both (if you move a target page to another space, Confluence will add/amend as needed).

If "Page Name" exists, the display will be a little link icon with the name of the page.  If the page does not exist, then it will be in red, and clicking it will take you to "Create page with name in link"

Alex Koxaras -Relational- · Answer

Hi @Mike Knox and welcome to the community,

Out of the box, I'm not aware of any workaround for your request. I would advise you to take a look at this app https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1224660/link-management-for-confluence?hosting=cloud&tab=overview which might (or might not) suit your needs.

Perhaps this one https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1226626/page-links-for-confluence-free?hosting=cloud&tab=overview from K15t may be of use to you.

In any case you should also search by your own here https://marketplace.atlassian.com/search?hosting=cloud&product=confluence&query=link