I am using the /variable macro within a /pageproperties macro on a custom template created within my confluence space. When a generate a page from the custom template, my custom variables do not appear. I am expecting them to be a clickable list. A photo showing the page properties macro in use in the template A photo showing the variable macro in use, with listed options: Major; Minor. A photo showing a blank space where the 'CAPA Severity' variable is expected to show options 'Major' and 'Minor'.

nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

My custom list variable in my template is not appearing when creating a page from the template

Dave Matthews_bmgq1b

I am using the /variable macro within a /pageproperties macro on a custom template created within my confluence space. When a generate a page from the custom template, my custom variables do not appear. I am expecting them to be a clickable list.

Screenshot 2026-07-06 150218.png

A photo showing the page properties macro in use in the template

Screenshot 2026-07-06 150135.png

A photo showing the variable macro in use, with listed options: Major; Minor.

Screenshot 2026-07-06 150409.png

A photo showing a blank space where the 'CAPA Severity' variable is expected to show options 'Major' and 'Minor'.

Accepted answers

Gabriela - LeanZero

Hi @Dave Matthews, welcome to the community. This is expected rather than a browser issue. A List variable never renders as a live clickable list on the finished page; it's only a fill-in prompt. It shows up when you start the page from the template through the Create menu and pick your template, which opens a form where CAPA Severity appears as the Major/Minor dropdown. Whatever you choose there gets written into the page as plain text, so the spot is blank because nothing was picked in that form. If you're duplicating the template page instead of creating from it, the form never runs. Create a template

All comments

Tinker Fadoua

Welcome to the Atlassian Community @Dave Matthews !

It is definitely an odd behavior. Are you still experiencing it? Did you try different browsers?

Best,

Gabriela - LeanZero

Tomislav Tobijas

Hi @Dave Matthews ,

So, when you select the template, you're not asked to add input to this and/or other variables? I've just tried recreating this (via a global template), and things do seem to work.

This is what shows up when I click on a template with a variable:

If you don't see that option, it might be an issue with the template itself.

Maybe you could try to re-create the template to see if the new one will work.
Also, are other users experiencing the same thing, or does it seem to be just you?

Cheers,
Tobi

Marc -Devoteam-

Hi @Dave Matthews

Welcome to the community.

@Gabriela - LeanZero is right in here reply, but I think you are referring to the page you are creating on a template?

Within the content properties. you are should able to use custom variables you have created.

I have just tested this and this works, but only on creation of a new page based on the template.

Dave Matthews_bmgq1b

Hi Gabriela - thank you for your reply. You've pointed out the expectation that I would like; a live clickable list on the finished page. Is there another way of rendering such a list after initially publishing from a template?

Gabriela - LeanZero

@Dave Matthews if you want the list to stay live and selectable on the published page, the template variable won't get you there, but a Confluence database will. Create a database in the space, add a Tag or Single select field with your options, then embed it on the page — each entry keeps a clickable pick-list you can change any time after publishing, and you can add rows as you go. For a simpler editable checklist a task list does the job, and for a single fixed state the Status macro. Of those, the database is the closest native thing to the interactive list you were after.

Dave Matthews_bmgq1b

Thanks Gabriela. I am operating in the govcloud version of confluence and do not have access to the database feature.

Unfortunately, in govcloud it looks like I do not have the /task list either.

Lastly - and this is a separate issue - the status macro is not working correctly in my space. I have turned off the 'allow custom statuses' feature in the space settings, and set 4 statuses I wanted to use. When I use the status macro, I can create custom statuses, and the 4 statuses I created in settings do not appear.

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