Widget connector support for Box.com

[Chris Zach]

We're using Confluence Cloud as well as Box as a cloud-based enterprise. An important use case is to embed Box widgets in Confluence pages.

The Widget Connector Macro should support Box embeds. Box has an API to obtain the embed URL, so this seems pretty simple to implement. Here's some documentation from Box for developers.

It seems the same issue was closed in 2014 as unresolved. https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/CONF-23203

Since Widget Connector doesn't work, we're using a painful manual workaround with Iframe Macro. The user has to manually set up the iframe, which is confusing for laymen. Basically, they need to find and copy the embed link and then paste it in an iframe macro, and at minimum define the width and height. Box instructions for embed widget.

Also, the Iframe Macro doesn't seem to support full screen. It should have a field or checkbox for "allowfullscreen". 

Please support Box.com with the Widget Connector! It is crucial for the workflow of any company using Box.com for file storage.

[TomC]

Hi, I'm not from Atlassian so can't response to your request for support of native Confluence support in the Widget Connector but give a +1 to it.   We paste the Box embed link in the HTML macro, so that's another alternative for you to consider, though the steps to set it up are similar to the ones you provided for the iFrame macro. 

I agree that Box's critical mass is to the point that it should be given a nod for native support in Confluence - it's in over 50,000 organizations and over half the Fortune 500, etc.  For companies that have both, providing this could help with adoption of Confluence in other corners of the organization - we like the fact that Confluence can give 'context' to embedded Box folders, whereas Box gives mobile users like sales reps mobile access to files that can be easily shared internally or externally without worrying about Confluence space permissions.

It's a real win-win - especially when you consider that Box folders/files have potentially more business-specific content than youtube links and other currently native supported links in the Widget Connector.

[Chris Zach]

Thanks for sharing these great business arguments for supporting Box!

[Tim]

Hey Chris,

We also noticed the lack of support for Box and given Atlassian aren't currently planning to integrate it we decided to build an integration add-on for Confluence Cloud.

Currently it lets you paste a document or folder’s shared link from Box into Confluence and will automatically turn it into a macro widget on the page showing a preview of the document or listing of the folder – incredibly simple for the less tech savvy 

Would you like to try it out? It's in private beta currently, so if you're keen just send an email to beta@addonengine.com and we'll email back an install link. It'll be free during the beta period and you wouldn't have to give any feedback, although we'd love to hear your thoughts so we can launch a great add-on people want.

Hope it helps!

Tim