Using Templates
When contributing to the UConn Knowledge Base in Confluence, one of the most effective ways to produce consistent, well-structured content quickly is to use a page template. Templates provide a pre-built starting point so you can focus on writing your content rather than building a layout from scratch.
This article explains what templates are, how to access and use them when creating a new page, and how to get the most out of them when contributing to the Knowledge Base.
What Is a Template?
A template is a pre-formatted page that serves as a reusable starting point for new content. Rather than beginning with a blank editor every time, a template gives you a structure to follow with headings, sections, instructional placeholder text, and sometimes macros or tables already in place.
In the UConn Knowledge Base, templates help ensure that articles of the same type (such as how-to guides, FAQs, or service descriptions) look and feel consistent to readers, regardless of who wrote them. They also reduce the time it takes to get a new article published by eliminating guesswork around formatting and organization.
Creating a New Page Using a Template
To create a new page from a template:
Go to the space and parent page where your new article should live.
Click the Create button in the top navigation bar, or hover over the parent page in the sidebar and click the "+" icon that appears beside it.
A dialog box will appear prompting you to choose a template. You will see a list of available templates.
Browse or search for the template that best fits the type of content you're creating. Click on a template name to preview its structure on the right side of the dialog.
Once you've selected the right template, click Use Template to open the editor with the template pre-loaded.
Replace the placeholder text with your own content, keeping the suggested structure as your guide.
Add a clear, descriptive title at the top of the page.
When you're finished, click Publish to make the page live.
Choosing the Right Template
Using a template is only helpful if you choose the one that fits your content. Here are some common Knowledge Base article types and the templates typically suited to them:
How-To / Procedural articles walk readers through completing a task step by step. Look for a template that includes numbered steps, a prerequisites section, and perhaps a troubleshooting section at the end.
FAQ articles present a series of common questions and their answers. A good FAQ template will include a repeating question/answer structure, often using headings for each question.
Service or system descriptions explain what a tool, system, or service is and how to access or use it. Look for templates with sections for Overview, Access, Key Features, and Related Resources.
Policy or reference articles document rules, definitions, or reference information. These typically have a simpler structure with an introduction, clearly labeled sections, and links to related policies or contacts.
Best Practices
Always start with a template when one is available. Using a template as your foundation is faster than building from scratch and helps maintain consistency across the Knowledge Base.
Don't publish with placeholder text still in place. Before clicking Publish, read through your entire article and confirm that all template placeholder text has been replaced with real content.
Follow your space's naming and labeling conventions. A well-chosen template gets you most of the way to a consistent article, but pairing it with correct page titles, labels, and parent page placement completes the picture.
Provide feedback on templates. If a template is missing a section that almost every article of that type needs, or if the placeholder text is unclear, let your space administrator know. Templates improve over time with input from the people who use them.