Gliffy

For users that want an easy way to create diagrams in Confluence, Gliffy is a good choice. Users can create network diagrams, organizational charts, general flowcharts and many others. Users do not have to attach an external flowchart and debate whether to embed the file or list it on a page. Once users save and close the plugin's interface, the diagram appears on the selected page.

Adding and Configuring

As usual, a Confluence administrator must add the plugin. Depending on your version of Confluence, there are a few options:

• Download the .jar file and upload through the Plugin Repository or Universal Plugin Manager.

• Use the Universal Plugin Manager to search for and intall the plugin.

This plugin also has specific configuration settings, including the ability to open the Gliffy editor in its own window and set the autosave interval.

Cost

Gliffy provides a 45-day trial license and allows users to test the plugin on its website. A yearly commercial license for one node ranges from free for 10 users to $6,000 for an unlimited amount of users. The academic price for unlimited users costs $3,000. The number of Gliffy licenses must match the number of Confluence users. For specific prices, see their Purchase page.

Use

Here are a few images to show basic functionality.

Add
Select Type
Save and Close
View

Documentation and Support

User documentation for this plugin is an online manual. Be sure to select the Gliffy Confluence Plugin option to see relevant information. After taking a glance at the documentation, it seems clear and useful for a beginner.

So far, in two years of use, I have not contacted Gliffy for support. No one company-wide (about 20 regular users) has either. I usually try all known options before contacting them. Gliffy support options include:

• help with installation,
• help with Gliffy troubleshooting problems and
• help with identifying work-arounds.

If you want usage help, see the online manual. Also, try their forums site.

Issues

I hear very few complaints from my coworkers, and rarely do people ask for help with how to use Gliffy. From my own experience, the most frustrating thing has been moving pages containing Gliffy diagrams. On more than two occasions, they have disappeared from the page. Most of the time, I found them again using Gliffy's Use an Existing Diagram option. On another occasion, I had to pull one out of a space backup. (Luckily, I had the space backup.) Always back up the page or space before moving a page containing a Gliffy diagram. While backing up can be a pain, and most of the time not used, you will be very thankful on the day you need it. (I do now know whether this is a Gliffy issue or an issue with our servers.)

Conclusion

I still prefer Visio to Gliffy. I rarely need to back up my diagram because I create it on my computer then upload it to Confluence. Visio also has other features (rulers, place-able guides, certain right-click options, zooming features, ...) that are very helpful. But if you're looking for something easy to use and integrated into Confluence, Gliffy is an excellent tool.

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If only I could write this blog using Confluence markup. Those images would totally be clickable thumbnails.