--- title: "Get started with Comala Boards for Confluence for Data Center" canonical: "https://support.appfire.com/space/CBCSL/641996375/Get%20started%20with%20Comala%20Boards%20for%20Confluence%20for%20Data%20Center" format: markdown --- > Macro (aura-html) Comala Boards is Data Center compatible ## **Get started with boards** ### **How can I use boards?** Once you have installed [Comala Boards](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/641896935), you can - [Create a new page with a board using a Comala Boards Blueprint](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/641963196) - [Add a board to a page](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/642486290) - [Create your own board](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/642191088) - Add [page-cards](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/641997364) and [pages](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/641997364) to your board - [View space labels](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/642452985) in the board layout ### What is a board? A Comala Board is a fast and effective way for you to brainstorm and visualize your content and ideas.  A board is embedded into either - an existing page by adding the boards macro, or - a new page when creating a page using a Comala Boards blueprint Several board templates can be used to help you get started, such as the SWOT Analysis board. ![image](media://67c39215-492c-4353-8bc4-03017568f33b) A board consists of columns into which you can add containers. Each container has the following attributes - Container name - Container description - The labels defined for each container All the board templates available when [adding a board](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/642486290) to a page can be viewed in the documentation: see [Boards Exchange](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCEL). ### SWOT Analysis Board The SWOT Analysis board has four containers - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. ![image](media://b6e3fdf2-5840-4c2a-9772-be3bccb23686) ### Board cards Within each container, you can add one or more [cards](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/642225086).  Once added to a board, a card can be moved to different containers on the board. > ℹ️ This is done without the need to edit the Confluence page. Choosing a card displays any labels for the current container and any additional card content. ![image](media://4b369668-508e-414a-8d30-185001a73e8e) ### Board page-cards Each board can be configured to allow a card to be added as a simple card or as a page card (a card that is linked to another page) ![image](media://50f37d3d-8e0c-4d64-b270-811ead15ed94) Adding a card as a page card automatically creates a linked Confluence page. ![image](media://dc062ad8-be69-4754-9359-ffa2044a5456) The linked page is displayed in the sidebar navigation. ![image](media://ade04bb9-7c23-42c0-aeb0-5caea5ed1385) - The page name is the same as the page card on the board - The Confluence page is created as a child of the page containing the source board - Any board content for the page card, such as the description, is added to the new Confluence page - The board container labels are added as Confluence page labels If [pages (page cards)](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/642225211) are allowed on the board, any existing card on the board can be [converted to a page card](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/642224817). ![image](media://07102020-b441-4c6b-8ab6-2de01835ee7f) The converted card is displayed on the board as a link to the newly created child page. ![image](media://046cf276-00f7-4293-ab08-32050eba963d) Moving the page card location to a different board container automatically changes the labels to those of the new board container. The labels change for **BOTH** the **page card** on the board and the **linked Confluence page**.  > 📝 If you > 📝 > 📝 - **Remove** the **page-card** from the board; this does not delete the child page > 📝 - **Delete** the **Confluence-linked page;** this removes the board page-card from the board ### Adding a new board to a page You can create your own customized Comala Board - Choose **Edit** your page - Add the **board macro** to your page - Choose** Create a new board **to [add a new board](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/642486290) ![image](media://d283e611-52cf-4f1f-843c-f0f7d5f54b2d) - choose the number of rows and columns for your new board by 'scrolling to select' across the displayed grid ![image](media://e69dd9b4-24db-449a-98bf-1659939d59eb) - choose **Insert** This board macro, currently configured as a single cell board, is saved to the Confluence page by choosing **Update **(or **Publish** if creating a new page). The new board is displayed on the published page. ![image](media://4dce8f7b-d18e-40f6-912f-16a97717c6d8) > ℹ️ In this example, the board has a single container in a single row and a single column Users can add cards and card pages to the board on the page. > ✅ The design and layout of the board can be customized using the [board editor](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/642191303). ### Customizing the board A board can be customized using the board editor. Choose the options from the board dropdown menu. ![image](media://3b0fdd32-a7c7-44cb-8bb4-02304ca9518c) - **Design board** to - Edit rows, columns, headers, and footers - Board containers and their colors - **Board properties** to - Edit board name, board description - Match cell heights across rows and/or columns - Choose to add cards, card-pages, or both - Hide or show container descriptions - Set notifications for watchers - **Board filters** to - Display content based on labels, spaces, and parent > ℹ️ Experienced users can also view and edit the board markup. ### Customizing the new board layout The initial board is a single row, single column with one unnamed container. The layout of the board is customized using the tools in the **Design** option in the board editor. - Choose **Edit** the Confluence page - Choose **Edit** the board macro to open the board editor ![cdbdc_editboard_newboard.png](media://2870f846-8862-48c3-bbb0-d25001f10c58) Several tool icons in the board editor allow you to [customize the design of the board](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/641897581). ### Customizing a board container In the board editor **Design board** option. - Click to edit in the container to add or edit the name and label(s) ![image](media://4729bd18-8d48-4926-a62e-8095e2b57c28) - Choose **More... ** to add a container description ![image](media://85bdbfae-bf83-49e3-82f9-dfa0bd389d3d) > ℹ️ Adding a container name automatically adds the name as a label for the container. If you later change a container name, you must manually edit the container label to reflect the new name. You can also utilize the **board design** tools and the **board properties** option to add - Row and column headers - A container color scheme - An emoji for the board using the design tools - Add a name for your board in the board properties ![cbdc_editboard_newboard_onecontaineradded_onerow.png](media://639e85e0-1603-4332-8c0f-63b3059ccf7f) Choose **Apply** to save any changes to the container. Choose** Update** to add your updated board to the published page. ![image](media://d5c9a767-9a48-4aca-b87a-6a25f0e7fbcb) > ✅ If there are multiple rows or columns, containers can be dragged and dropped to different cells in the board table. You can also have more than one container in a table cell. ### Setting Board Properties Edit the properties of the board in the **Edit Board** dialog box. ![image](media://07f2bf89-ca18-460a-98b1-5aec457726db) In board properties, you can - Add or amend the name of the board - Add or edit the board description - Enable or disable checkboxes for card types that can be added to the board - Choose a default page template for the creation of linked board pages - Constrain the number of cards per container The **board properties toolbox icons** are used to - Set the board alignment on the published page as - centre, or - left aligned - Match cell heights - across the rows, or - across the board - Hide or display container descriptions on the published page - Hide or display multiline text in board cards - Manage notifications to page watchers for board change You can create a range of individual boards with different containers. ![image](media://5906d371-c514-4e61-83e9-cc1172b59ff8) ### Reporting Comala Boards in a space An overview of all the Comala Boards being used on pages in a space can be displayed using a shortcut menu in the Confluence sidebar. ![image](media://486dba3d-713c-4408-b2bd-18286e81d7c9) This report displays a visual list of pages in the current space with added boards. ![image](media://e68990b2-1552-41cb-85b7-c19ace91acba) **Related links** - [https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/642485706](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCSL/pages/642485706) - [https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCEL](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CBCEL)