💡 Develop Data-Driven Decision-Making in Confluence with Excel Insertion

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Frustrated switching back and forth between Excel and Confluence? As a project manager, you need to make informed decisions quickly to ensure all the moving pieces stay on track. When you’re setting out project requirements or creating reports in Confluence but the data you need is stored across several Excel documents, you may get slowed down or overlook important details.

But there’s good news; you can avoid this problem if you embed Excel in Confluence! We’ll show you why you need the power of Excel in Confluence along with a few ways that you can embed Excel in Confluence.

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3 Reasons to Bring the Power of Excel Into Confluence

There are several reasons why project managers need to embed Excel in Confluence. It enhances collaboration, avoids the hassle of importing/exporting documents, and allows you to turn raw Excel data into valuable Confluence reports.

Collaborate on Documents in Real-Time

When data is stored in Excel, the documents need to be shared among team members and stakeholders. There’s a chance not everyone will have access or have the right version, so miscommunications or double work may occur.

When you have all the data in tables in Confluence, on the other hand, everyone working in Confluence can view and edit the data related to the project in real-time. They’ll know it’s the same version and there’s no need to be constantly sharing links and access.

Ensure Accurate Formatting by Creating Tables Directly in Confluence

Often, project managers working in Excel attempt to import tables to use in Confluence reports, but this is not as straightforward as it may seem. Formatting can get lost when you import tables into Confluence, so it’s best to create tables directly in Confluence.

Instantly Turn Raw Data Into Insights

If you’re developing requirements or reports in Confluence and referring to external Excel tables, getting the insights you need is a manual process. In addition to the time lost, putting all the data together is a challenge and may result in leaving out key details.

When you have all the data in Confluence, it’s easy to see how it fits together and apply it to make important decisions. Confluence’s tools and features help you instantly analyze the data and organize it efficiently so no detail is missed.

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How to Embed Excel-Like Tables in Confluence

Now that you’ve seen the benefits of embedding Excel in Confluence, how do you do it? Confluence’s native features allow you to create tables and databases and embed web-based spreadsheets. This works well for certain use cases, but to experience the full power of Excel in Confluence, you’ll need an app.

Use Native Confluence Tables and Databases

For simpler use cases, Confluence’s built-in tables and databases are great for team collaboration. When you’re setting up a requirements document, everyone can access and edit it simultaneously, and it can be exported for external stakeholders. Tables are limited, but databases enable more advanced visualization.

Tables

• Simple way to organize information

• Add issue links as needed

• Collaborate with team members

Databases

• Bring in Jira tasks, Confluence pages and external documents 

• Track task status

• Filter and sort data to get what you need for specific projects or reports

👉 Learn more about Confluence Databases

While Confluence databases offer advanced options for organizing data, they lack Excel features so are not ideal for complex projects requiring in-depth analysis and calculations.

Embed Web-Based Spreadsheets

Another option for businesses managing data in spreadsheets is to embed web-based spreadsheets like Google Docs or One Drive documents into Confluence. If you want to embed Excel in Confluence without an app, this is the closest you can get.

All you need to do is directly insert links to external spreadsheets in Confluence to view and edit in Confluence. You’ll need to check the sharing permissions on the document. If the document hasn’t been shared with stakeholders and team members in the external document, they won’t be able to see it on Confluence either.

🔗 Add spreadsheets with Confluence Smart Links

Certain features like CQL queries, item slicer, or creating pivot tables based on filtered data can’t be applied to these external spreadsheets, so while you can do your calculations in the spreadsheet, it’s not as easy to customize the data for reports and analysis.

Use an App to Bring Excel Into Confluence

For greater flexibility in analysis and full collaboration capabilities, it’s best to use an app like Excel-like Tables for Confluence which combines all the benefits of Confluence and Excel. Even if you’ve created a native table in Confluence, you can convert it into an Excel-like table instantly, without losing any data or formatting. And unlike with spreadsheets embedded from weblinks, you have full control over permissions, with no need for external sharing settings..

Gather, organize and share data to get the full picture by doing following:

• Use Confluence Query Language (CQL) to search and filter

• Create pivot tables and charts based on filtered data

• Pull Jira data instantly into your spreadsheet in Confluence

• Use templates to create reusable spreadsheets for consistent reporting and analysis across your team

• Use item slicer to break down data

• And much more!

Confluence’s native features allow you to bring in tables and databases for simpler needs, but an app like Excel-like Tables for Confluence unlocks the full power of Excel for your team.

🚀 Try Excel-like Tables for Confluence Free

Supercharge Your Data Analysis in Confluence

When you embed Excel in Confluence, you can analyze your data and organize it all in one place while easily sharing and collaborating with team members and stakeholders. This ensures you consider every aspect when making decisions and can make a solid case fully backed up with data.