Mastering the Art of Selective Sharing

Sharing made simple: exclude content with ease

Hey there, fellow Confluence enthusiasts! Do you ever find yourself needing to share a Confluence page with someone outside your organization, but there’s just that one piece of sensitive information you’d rather keep under wraps? Well, fear not! Today, we’re diving into the magical world of the “exclude content macro” in the External Share for Confluence add-on. Get ready to become a selective sharing maestro!

The Exclude Content Macro

A Quick Overview The “exclude content macro” is your secret weapon for keeping certain parts of your Confluence content on a need-to-know basis, without compromising the rest of the page. By following some simple steps, you’ll be able to cloak specific sections from prying eyes and maintain full control over your content. However, it’s important to be aware of some limitations when it comes to editing and searching, which we’ll cover below. Now, let’s jump into the nitty-gritty details!

How to Use the “Exclude Content Macro” in 4 Easy Steps

  1. Open up your Confluence page (either create a new one or edit an existing one) and spot the content you’d like to keep top-secret.

  2. Summon the “exclude content macro” by typing /exclude content, and then pick the macro from the dropdown menu that magically appears.

  3. Select the type of macro (start, end) in the macro configuration to properly wrap the content you want to exclude.

    • Please note that “end” type is optional, if end type is absent all the content after “Start” type will be excluded.
  4. Hit “Save” and create an external share link. Preview the page as an external user to make sure your secret content remains hidden. Voilà!

GIF of exclude macro

Crucial Limitations & Considerations

While the “exclude content macro” is a powerful tool for selective sharing, there are certain situations where hidden content may still be exposed to external users. Keep these critical points in mind to avoid any accidental leaks:

  • If “Allow Editing” is enabled for the share, external users can access edit mode, which will display hidden parts and allow them to edit the content.

  • In edit mode, external users can remove the “exclude content macro,” revealing the hidden parts.

  • Excluded content may appear in search excerpts, potentially exposing sensitive information to external users.

Safeguarding Your Sensitive Information

To avoid revealing sensitive information to external users, consider disabling the “Allow Editing” and the search feature for the share. Always double-check your settings and preview the page as an external user to ensure your secret content remains concealed.

Wrapping Up

Understanding and managing the potential risks associated with using the “exclude content macro” is crucial for maintaining the security of your sensitive information. By considering these key points and implementing additional security measures, you can confidently share your Confluence content with external users, knowing that your sensitive data is well-protected.


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