Migrate to Confluence Cloud
1. Overview
To migrate from a hosted instance, use the Atlassian Confluence Cloud Migration Assistant (CCMA) to transfer spaces, users, and groups. It includes a migration pathway for Comala Document Management workflow-related data and your hosted app space workflows.
However, there are differences between the features and functionalities of the hosted and cloud versions of Comala Document Management. You can check the differences on the Product comparison page.
The supported migration pathway for Comala Document Management migrates:
Current workflow state and state-related data, including expiration date, approvers, and their status.
Global workflows, including details of the spaces where the global workflows are linked
Space workflows, taking into account labeled workflows, and maintain the hosted instance workflow order in the Cloud when the space includes global scope and space scope workflows
Workflow parameter values are defined at the space level.
Document metadata and page parameter values
Full workflow events and activity history (as an auditable record, but not accessible by the Comala workflow in the cloud).
After the migration, the workflow state is automatically applied when the workflow is activated in each space. User and user group references (within any macro) are automatically replaced with the corresponding cloud IDs, preserving workflow functionality.
Ensure that you are using the latest version of Comala Document Management for Data Center before starting the migration. The minimum supported version for a successful migration is v7.8.0.
2. Prerequisites
Before you review the Confluence Cloud platform features and the apps needed in the cloud, ensure the following:
Install the latest app versions
You must update your Confluence Data Center instance with the latest Comala Document Management for Data Center app versions and the Atlassian Confluence Cloud Migration Assistant (CCMA).
We recommend upgrading to the latest versions of both our apps before migrating to Confluence Cloud.
Review app functionality in the Cloud
You can review the product comparison for our cloud and data center apps. We also recommend installing and exploring our app in Confluence Cloud.
When migrating to Confluence Cloud, existing space workflows are migrated, but the functionality of some features can differ in the cloud.
Before migration, in your data center app, you can use the Workflow Translator for Cloud tool to convert each hosted app workflow to a cloud-compatible workflow template and add it to Confluence Cloud to review workflow functionality.
In some cases, when you have multiple workflows, consider undertaking a test migration and exploring your migrated space workflows in Confluence Cloud.
Page workflows are not migrated, but you can consolidate a page workflow as a labeled space workflow in each space to include in the migration.
3. Pre-migration assessment
You can review your current usage of Comala Document Management in your hosted instance to check your workflow usage.
Go to Confluence Global Administration > Comala Document Management > Workflow Usage to generate the following pre-migration reports as downloadable CSV files:
Space Workflows Report
Page Workflows Report
Page Restrictions Report
Global and space workflows are migrated to the cloud. Page workflows are not migrated; however, before migration, they can be consolidated into a labeled space workflow.
Import these CSV files into Excel, Google Sheets, or other compatible applications to easily filter and analyze the data.
4. Pre-migration steps
Before starting a migration, ensure that you have installed and are using the latest version of the Comala Document Management app in both your hosted data center instance and your cloud site.
You should then complete the following to prepare your instance:
4.1 Set up your Confluence Cloud site
You must create a Confluence Cloud site and install Comala Document Management for Cloud, as well as and other necessary cloud-based apps. You must have administrator permission for the site when creating and running a migration.
4.2 Remove page restrictions
Restricted pages in your hosted instance can block migration of Comala workflow data. You can then remove these page restrictions before the migration, either
Delete only the restrictions for pages with an applied workflow, then restore them in the cloud
You can find all the pages with restrictions by:
Running the Page Restrictions Report in the hosted app’s Workflow Usage screen, or
4.3 Convert page workflows to space workflows
Page workflows are not migrated to the cloud. If required, you can consolidate these as space workflows in two ways:
Manually in each space - More info here
Scripted - Bulk consolidation using a script
In both cases, each page workflow is consolidated as a label space workflow.
5. Production migration
We recommend migrating a production instance in several smaller groups of spaces, instead of all at once. This makes it easier to review results and fix any issues.
During migration:
Global workflows are translated automatically
Space workflows are translated automatically.
If a space workflow contains links to global workflows, the space includes
The name of the linked global workflow
A flag indicating that this space workflow has
scope:global
Hardcoded users are mapped to their Cloud user IDs.
The current workflow state of each page is preserved.
Full workflow history is migrated with each page.
The migrated workflow history is accessed in the cloud using the “View Historical Activity” option on each document report page.
This migrated historical workflow activity is viewable for audit purposes and is not accessible by the applied Comala workflow, and does not merge with the document activity.
Remember, the latest versions of both our Data Center and Cloud apps should be installed before migrating.
5.1 Migration process steps
Step 1 - Assess and prepare your migration in the Confluence Cloud Migration Assistant
Step 2 - Migrate your data using the Confluence Cloud Migration Assistant
5.2 Atlassian EAP Cloud-first migration
Atlassian is rolling out an EAP for creating migrations from the Data Center to the Cloud for your cloud organization. You must apply to opt into this Atlassian EAP. It lets you create migrations from your cloud organization and is currently designed for organizations with fewer than 10,000 users.
5.3 Migration of complex instances
Some factors can increase the complexity of your migration, and you may need assistance with planning. For example, if the migration involves
Large amounts of data or users
Several products and apps
The Atlassian Migration Guide includes a range of resources and guides.
If you have any questions or require assistance, contact Appfire support.
6. Resources
Need support? Create a request with our support team.