Getting Started with Comala Boards

Comala Boards is Data Center and Server compatible

Getting started with boards

How can I use boards?

Once you have installed Comala Boards, you can

• Create a new page with a board using a Comala Boards Blueprint

• Add a board to a page

• Create your own board

• Add page-cards and pages to your board

• View space labels in 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.

Open

A board consists of columns into which you can add containers.

Each container has these attributes

• the container name

• the container description

• the labels defined for each container

All the board templates available when adding a board to a page can be viewed in the documentation Boards Exchange.

SWOT Analysis Board

The SWOT Analysis board has four containers - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

Open

Board cards

Within each container, you can add one or more cards. 

Once added to a board, a card can be moved to different containers on the board.

Choosing a card displays any labels for the current container and any additional card content.

Board page-cards

Each board can be configured to allow a card to be added as a simple card or as a page card.

Adding a card as a page card automatically creates a linked Confluence page.

The linked page is displayed in the sidebar navigation.

• 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) are allowed on the board, any existing card on the board can be converted to a page card.

The converted card is displayed on the board as a link to the newly created child page.

Moving the page card location to a different container on the board 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. 

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

• choose the number of rows and columns for your new board by 'scrolling to select' across the displayed grid

• 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.

Users can add cards and card pages to the board on the page.

Customizing the board

A board can be customized using the board editor. Choose the options from the board dropdown menu.

• 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 or card-pages or both

  • hide or show container descriptions

  • notification of watchers

• Board filters to

  • display content based on labels, spaces and/or parent

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

Several tool icons in the board editor allow you to customize the design of the board.

Customizing a board container

In the board editor Design board option.

• choose Click to edit in container to add or edit the container name and label(s)

• choose More...  to add a container description

If you later change a container name you will have to manually edit the 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

Choose Apply to save any changes to the container.

Choose Update to add your updated board to the published page.

Setting Board Properties

Edit the properties of the board in the Edit Board dialog box.

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.

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.

This report displays a visual list of pages in the current space with added boards.