Manage Content Categories and Metadata

The content of a page can be enriched with Metadata. For that, a number of Metadata fields is collected in a Content Category. Such a Content Category is always linked to a Confluence page template. When using one of those templates while creating a new page, the connected Content Category will be assigned to the page and Metadata can be provided.
Since Content Categories are linked to global page templates they are also globally available in all spaces.

Content Categories overview

The starting point for managing Content Categories and their Metadata is the Content Categories overview page which can be reached in the Confluence administration area. There look for an entry named “Metadata Content Categories” in the left navigation menu under “Apps” and select it.

The overview page allows you to create new Content Categories and lists all the existing ones which can be edited or deleted by choosing the appropriate action. Further details for these tasks can be found in the next sections.

Create a Content Category

To create a new Content Category just click the button “Create new Content Category“ in the overview and you will be taken to a new page.

Here you can give it a name, a short description and link it to a page template.

You can choose to either create a new global page template or use an existing one. If you decide for a new template, it will be named like the Content Category and receive the provided description. In case you go for the second option the title and the description of the selected template will be updated to match those values of your Content Category. This way, you and your users can easily find the template belonging to this Content Category when creating a new page.

Metadata

In the last section of the form, you can add Metadata fields to your Content Category. Those fields will store the additional information which you want to add to a Confluence page. As an administrator, you have the authority to determine which Metadata fields are mandatory for users to complete within this Content Category page, simply by selecting the checkbox. You can mark a Metadata field as not required at any time.

For adding a new field just click “Add Metadata field”, give it a title and select its type. Depending on the type different data can be assigned as a value to the field.
Currently, the following types are available:

• Text: allows users to provide arbitrary text

• Multi select: allows users to select one or more items from a predefined list of options. The options can be configured by admins when adding or editing fields of this type.

• Single select: allows users to select only one item from a predefined list of options. The options can be configured by admins when adding or editing fields of this type

• Page link: allows users to select one or more Confluence pages

• User: when creating a User field, the admin can choose between a Single user and a Multi user field. Later, only a Single user field can be converted to a Multi user field. As a value, users can select all available Atlassian users who have site access.

• Date: allows users to select a date from the past or the future. Every user can easily recognize the formatting of the date, as it is based on the user’s account locale.

When you are done with the definition of the Metadata press “Create” to finish your work. The new Content Category will be listed in the overview and can already be used when creating a new page. To find out how, please have a look at Create a Content Category page. You can of course also assign this Category to existing pages and enrich them with Metadata. More information on this topic can be found in Assign a Content Category and Metadata to an existing page.

Edit a Content Category

To edit an existing Content Category use the “Edit” action of that Category on the overview page. This will lead you to a new page where you can change its title, description and Metadata fields.
The fields can be modified or removed and new ones can be added.
Each field has a drag handler icon. You can use it to easily reorder the Metadata fields via drag-and-drop.

Once you are finished click the “Save” button to save your changes.

The selected order of the fields will be reflected in the Metadata dialog and Display Metadata macro.

When renaming the Content Category and changing its description, the name and description of the linked template will also be updated with the new values.

Delete a Content Category

If a Content Category isn’t needed anymore you can use the “Delete” action on the overview page to remove it. When doing so you can decide if the linked template should be kept or deleted as well.