How to Work With Tables in Confluence Cloud

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You can categorize and store data in many ways, but with tables, you add some visual structure which helps understand and interpret information. You can efficiently use tables in work to make your data look neat. There is no need to emphasize the advantages of tables anymore - if you used them once, you already know all the benefits.

Microsoft Excel and Google Spreadsheets are two of the most popular tools for working with tabular data, and they are perfect for both simple operations and advanced use. However, if your company works with specific management systems like Confluence, you might want to store the data there, without incorporating extra resources.

Confluence tables are very convenient for storing various kinds of data or tracking different criteria. You can also make them unique and suitable for any presentation. Keep reading, and you will find out how to create outstanding tables in Confluence Cloud.

The basics of Confluence Cloud tables

So, how do you work with tables in Confluence Cloud?

Create a table

To add a table, click a button at the top control panel or use a Shift+Alt+T shortcut to generate a table with nine cells.

But that is just a template which you can alternate however you want, for example:

• add more rows and columns or delete them
• choose header placement
• pick cell color
• add statuses and icons and do many more. 

If you want to learn more about customizing your tables in Confluence Cloud, check out our article.

Copy a table

If you need to duplicate a table that was created in Confluence, click the upper left corner of it. Then use the Ctrl+C combination and paste the table into the chosen place.

If you have a table in Excel but want to move it to a Confluence page, select the necessary rows and columns, copy and insert them wherever you need. Users of the old editor need to create one table cell first and then enter the data from Excel there.

Tables from CSV or JSON files

It is possible to convert data from a CSV or JSON file into a Confluence table too. For this, you will need to use the Table from CSV or Table from JSON macros which belong to the Table Filter and Charts for Confluence app. You can import a table from an attachment or specify a URL.

Users of Google Sheets can output their tables on Confluence pages too, using the Table from CSV macro. Read more about it in our documentation.

Further use of table data

Native Confluence features do not allow to filter table data or accumulate it into a pivot table. However, you can use other apps, such as Table Filter and Charts for Confluence, to boost the functionality of Confluence and perform the operations you need.

Table filtering allows navigating through the table easily, while pivot tables and charts help you work with data to create engaging and dynamic dashboards. Let's see what you can do with this app.

Apply filters

Those who work with large tables will appreciate the Table Filter macro. It allows setting one or several filters, only displaying the data that you need. You can apply filters right in the view mode and save the filtered table for further use. If you no longer need the filters, remove them with just a couple of clicks. 

Export the filtered table

After you are done filtering the table, you can export it into a CSV, PDF, or Word file. Click the funnel icon on the right and choose the most suitable format. If you want to download a CSV file, pick the settings.

Aggregate data in pivot tables

Another handy tool to use with big tables is the Pivot Table macro. You can also do simple calculations, like summarizing or multiplying the values or depict literal numbers for the chosen labels.

In the settings of the pivot table, you need to select the columns of the source table. One of these columns will be used to create row labels of the pivot table, and the other should contain the data that you need to aggregate. The last thing you need to do is define the operation type, and the pivot table is right there!

Build charts

For building charts, you can use the Confluence Chart macro, but its features are limited. So, if you want to get the most out of your charts and change them on the fly, the Chart from Table macro will be a more convenient option. You can add it right in the view mode and choose one of the automatically suggested data aggregation types. It offers the most popular chart types:

• Pie and Donut charts
• Bubble Pie chart
• Column, Stacked Column, Bar, Stacked Bar charts
• Line, Area, Stacked Area charts
• Time Line, Time Area, Stacked Time Area charts
• Gantt chart and some more.

In case you need to adjust the size of the chart to the page or hide the source table and the chart management panel, it is also possible.

Multiple macros in use

Table Filter and Charts for Confluence allows you to nest the macros into one another, creating a dynamic dashboard with all types of data. You can do that with the help of the Table Toolbox macro. You can filter your large table, aggregate the values in the pivot table and build various charts and graphs. And if you change something, your pivot table and charts will adjust to the modification as well.

What's next?

Now you see how simple working with tables in Confluence is. And with the help of Table Filter and Charts for Confluence, you can turn a page with a table into a convenient workspace. 

Want to learn more about the app and test it in real time? Visit our demo site. And for any questions or suggestions, make sure to contact us.

[M Amine]

Great article

[Ruslana Smirnova]

Very useful tips. Thanks for sharing!

[Rob Buijs]

Cool. Now how to nest tables?

[Maria Kurnosenko]

@Rob Buijs unfortunately, due to the new Cloud editor limitations, it is not possible to place one table inside the other.

[Keith Sottung]

Is it possible to pull in the right side of the table in so it doesn't go across the entire page? 

[Natalie Paramonova _Stiltsoft_]

Hi @Keith Sottung , you can try the Layouts tool in the editor's panel. With its help, you can add and configure columns and sections and then organize tables, macros, and other content on your page.

[Wibberg, Peter]

What criteria can be present if the header row of a table does not remain above the page when scrolling up and down the page? I want the header to remain at the top even when using the table macros when the page is scrolled.

[Stiltsoft support]

Hi @Wibberg, Peter ,

If you are talking about the standard Confluence feature called "sticky headers", then your table should be simple: no merged cells and only one-row headers.

But you can also use the "Freeze N rows/columns" feature provided by the Table Filter macro. It supports all kinds of manually created tables and macro generated tables as well (Jira Issues, Page Properties Report, etc.)