Switch between draft and published

Overview

A workflow with a final state differentiates between content in a draft state, content in the final state, and the final state version.

Adding a final state to your workflow supports same-space publishing of content. The workflow treats the published version differently from the draft (unpublished) versions.

By default

  • users with view-only permission will only see the most recently published version - the final state version. They also can't see draft content versions

  • users who have edit or admin permission can see all versions, and easily switch between the latest published and draft versions using link breadcrumbs added to the page

In same-space publishing, the published version is the version created on a transition into the final state in the workflow.

Editing of content in the  final state will create a new version but the final state version will remain as the version created on transition into this state.

This is why it is good practice to transition out of the final state if the content is changed, for example by adding an updated transition to the  final state.

Byline links

The byline breadcrumbs on a page depend on whether the currently viewed version is in a draft state, the final state, or the final state version.

Visibility of these byline breadcrumbs and links is based on the Confluence user permission.

Draft state

If both published (final state) and draft versions are available, you will see an additional link, in parentheses, on the workflow status bar.

  • the link with the state indicator circle( Review ) - the version you are currently viewing

    • this is the content draft state

  • the link in brackets, ( view “Published ) takes you to the published version of the page

    • this is the version created on the last transition to the final state in the workflow - the final state version

Final state

final state will be, by default, displayed on the page subtitle with a green state indicator circle (or green lozenge in workflow builder)

The transition to the final state sets the workflow final state version. When the content is in any other state in the workflow the content will be treated as draft content.

Editing of content in the final state will create a new version but the final state version will remain as the version created on transition into this state. No link will to the final state version is added to the byline on the content in the final state.

Final state version

In the published final state version, the status bar displays an additional link if the content is being edited in a draft state.

This is a view of the final state version and is NOT a view of the content in the final state.

  • the name of the final state is displayed in the byline for information. This is not a link and does not access the workflow popup

  • the current content is in the draft state shown in the link in brackets (view "Review")

In the default app configuration, only users with are space admins or page editors (Confluence 'edit and view' or 'admin' permission) will see these status bar links. 

URL for published content

When switching between draft and published content, the URL may change.

For example, if the draft content was at the following URL:

https://confluence.yourcompany.com/display/SPACEKEY/Some+Page

The published content is found at:

https://confluence.yourcompany.com/display/public/SPACEKEY/Some+Page

The published page includes  /public in the URL. 

The two URLs are required to differentiate between which version of content they are looking at. This only applies to users with Confluence edit or admin permission.

Ordinary users, with view-only permission, always see the normal URL.

App configuration

Setting

Where

Notes

Setting

Where

Notes

Workflow Activity and Drafts Visibility

Determines which users can see unpublished drafts.

Default View

Determines whether published or draft content is seen by default.

Published View Macro Transform

Determines whether the macros

  • {include}

  • {excerpt-include}

display most recently published version or, regardless of workflow state, the latest version of content.

See also

User Guide:

Workflow Authoring Guide: