How to Install and Use the Gliffy Confluence Plugin: A Complete Guide

How to Install and Use the Gliffy Confluence Plugin: A Complete Guide

Overview

Gliffy is a diagramming tool that integrates with Confluence to create flowcharts, UML, wireframes, org charts, and more directly inside pages. This guide covers installation (Cloud and Server/Data Center), creating and editing diagrams, embedding and versioning, permissions, and troubleshooting.

Installation

Confluence Cloud

1. Open Confluence admin: Go to Settings → Find new apps.
2. Search: Enter “Gliffy Diagram” in the Atlassian Marketplace search.
3. Install: Click Get app (or Install) and follow prompts.
4. Verify: Open a page, click the “+” or “Insert more content” → Gliffy Diagram to confirm availability.

Confluence Server / Data Center

1. Download or install: In Confluence Admin → Manage apps → Find new apps → search “Gliffy Diagram” and choose Install, or download the add-on .jar/.obr from the Marketplace and upload.
2. License: Apply your Gliffy license (Confluence Admin → Manage apps → Gliffy → Enter license key).
3. Restart if required: Some versions require a Confluence restart—follow prompts.
4. Verify: Create/edit a page and insert a Gliffy diagram.

Creating and Editing Diagrams

1. Insert a diagram: Edit a Confluence page → click + (Insert more content) → Gliffy Diagram.
2. Choose template or blank canvas: Select from templates (flowchart, UML, network) or start blank.
3. Use the editor: Drag shapes from the palette, connect with arrows, add text, and format shapes/colors.
4. Save: Click Save in the Gliffy editor to embed the diagram in the Confluence page. Edits auto-update the embedded diagram.

Embedding & Display Options

• Inline embedding: Diagram appears directly on the page and resizes to fit.
• Thumbnail: Use page attachments view or macros to show a thumbnail that expands.
• Links to diagrams: Diagrams stored as attachments—link directly to the attachment for download or opening in the editor.

Collaboration & Versioning

• Concurrent editing: Confluence handles page-level edit conflicts; check Gliffy version for real-time collaboration support (Cloud typically better).
• Version history: Each save creates a diagram revision stored as a page attachment—use Confluence page history or Gliffy’s built-in revision tools to restore earlier versions.
• Comments: Use Confluence inline comments on the page; Gliffy may also support comments depending on version.

Permissions & Access

• Confluence permissions govern who can view/edit pages and attachments. Ensure users have space/page edit rights to create or modify diagrams.
• Gliffy-specific settings: Admins can configure global settings, allowed file types, and licensing access via Manage apps.

Troubleshooting (Common Issues)

• Editor not loading: Clear browser cache, ensure third-party cookies enabled, try incognito or another browser.
• Permission errors: Confirm Confluence space/page permissions and that the Gliffy app license is valid.
• Performance issues: Large diagrams can be slow—break into multiple diagrams or simplify shapes.
• Compatibility: Ensure Gliffy version matches Confluence Server/Data Center compatibility matrix; on Cloud, the Marketplace listing indicates compatibility.

Tips & Best Practices

• Start with templates to speed diagram creation.
• Use layers and grouping for complex diagrams.
• Name diagrams clearly — filenames become attachments.
• Keep diagrams small for performance; split large flows across multiple pages.
• Export formats: Export as PNG, SVG, or VDX for sharing outside Confluence.

Useful Links

• Gliffy on Atlassian Marketplace (search within your Confluence admin)
• Gliffy documentation and support pages (from the Marketplace listing)

If you want, I can:

• provide step-by-step screenshots for Cloud or Server, or
• write a short how-to you can paste into your Confluence space as instructions. Which would you like?