How to connect and auto-update specific columns in two tables?

[Chris Zhao]

Hi Atlassian Team! 

I was working on two database pages (each has >50 rows):

1) for employees to fill out 

Employee Name | Team | Task | Contact | Other Info

and 2) for managers to check.

Employee Name | Team | Task | Approve?

I'd like to link the information of the first three columns in db1 to db2 and add action column to db2.

I'm wondering if there's any built-in function or add-on to make connections between these two tables so that when someone adds their information to the first db the second one will be updated as well.

Thank you very much in advance!

Chris

[Stiltsoft support · Accepted solution]

Hi @Chris Zhao ,

As I know the Page Properties/Page Properties Report macros collect only one-row tables into one big report. And, as far as I can see, you can't add any manual columns to the result report.

As I've understood from your description, you have a 50+ rows table (Col 1, Col 2, Col 3 and other columns) that are fulfilled by your employees. Then on the same page or on any other Confluence page you need to reuse Col 1, Col 2, Col 3 from this table and add other different columns for your managers to fulfill later.

As a workaround, I can suggest the Table Filter, Charts & Spreadsheets for Confluence app (the add-on is developed by our company).

Your initial table is rather big, so you may create it in the Table Spreadsheet macro.

Then on the page for managers you insert the Table Spreadsheet Include macro and reuse the required cell range (Col 1, Col 2, Col 3) from the first table.

The Table Spreadsheet Include macro should be wrapped in the Spreadsheet from Table macro: on this step we turn our reused cell range into a fully functioning spreadsheet where you can add new columns.

For example, for an "Approved" column you can use standard Excel data validation feature (your managers will be able to choose a correspondent status from a dropdown list).

If you are not familiar with the app, please book a live demo from our team. We'll be able to discuss your case in more details (maybe we'll come up with a more handy solution).

[Chris Zhao]

Thanks for the information! They’re very helpful.

[Chris Zhao]

Hi! To follow up, I installed the  Table Filter, Charts & Spreadsheets for Confluence app and was trying to do the charts arrangements.

I was looking for a way to mention (@) people in the Table Spreadsheet macro just as the way I could mention people in the Confluence Page Table. Please advice if it's doable. Thank you!

[Stiltsoft support]

Hi @Chris Zhao ,

The native Confluence mentions don't work in the spreadsheets. The macro contents is not stored on a Confluence page directly, all the data is attached to the page as an attachment.

[Prakash Murugesan · Accepted solution]

One option is to use the "Page Properties" and "Page Properties Report" macros

please Insert a "Page Properties" macro into the page where your first table (for employees to fill out) is located. Configure this macro to capture the relevant information (Employee Name, Team, Task, Contact, Other Info) from the table then nsert a "Page Properties Report" macro into the page where your second table (for managers to check) is located. Configure this macro to display the information captured by the "Page Properties" macro from the first table. You can filter and format the displayed information as needed. you can manually add an "Approve" column to the second table where managers can mark their approval

[Chris Zhao]

Thank you for the suggestion Prakash! I will try if it works.