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Introduction to Balsamiq Wireframes for Confluence


This page contains usage instructions for Balsamiq Wireframes for Confluence Data Center (DC) or Server.

Confluence Administrators: the Balsamiq Wireframes for Confluence Admin Guide is for you.


Balsamiq Wireframes for Confluence provides very similar functionality to the other versions of Balsamiq Wireframes.

The main difference is that the Balsamiq project files are stored and managed as Confluence attachments.



Adding a New Project to a Confluence Page

Adding a new Balsamiq Wireframes project to a wiki page is very similar to adding an image:

Edit the page, position the cursor where you’d like your wireframe to be, then click on the Insert menu and select “Balsamiq Wireframes” from the list.

This will launch the Balsamiq Wireframes editor, where you can create your wireframes (or import existing ones). This will also create a new Balsamiq Project file (.bmpr file extension) attached to your wiki page containing all the resources that belong to a project (wireframes, symbols, images, icons).

If you do not see the menu item, please check with your Confluence administrator that the Balsamiq Wireframes for Confluence app is installed and that you have editing permission on the current page.


Using the Balsamiq Wireframes Editor

The Balsamiq Wireframes editor allows you to create wireframes just like our other products. Start with the application overview to learn more about using the editor.


Collaborating with Other Users in Real Time

Balsamiq Wireframes for Confluence supports real-time collaboration between users. You only need to have everyone launch the editor on the same project. Everyone’s changes are shared in real-time with all your collaborators.

The other users connected will be shown in the top right corner of the editor. Hovering over their picture shows their Confluence username.


Copying or Moving Wireframes between Projects

Sometimes you might want to copy or move a wireframe (or a few) from one project to another. Here is how to do it:

  1. Open the two projects (each in its own browser tab or window)
  2. In the source project, select the wireframe(s) you want to copy or move
  3. Copy the wireframe(s) (CTRL/+C)
  4. In the target project, paste your wireframe(s) (CTRL/+V)

That’s it! You may now delete the wireframe(s) from the source project if you wish.

This method works across all our Balsamiq Wireframes products.


Importing from Other Versions of Balsamiq

If you have a project created in another Balsamiq product (using the .bmpr extension), the easiest way to import it is to create a new project and use the "Project Menu > Import > Import from BMPR.." option.


Exporting to Other Versions of Balsamiq

You can export a project to another Balsamiq product by using the Project > Export... menu option and selecting the File tab from the dialog.

Selecting Everything will make an exact copy of your project and its resources.

Selecting Current Wireframe will create a BMPR file with only one wireframe.

Selecting A set of wireframes can be used for a few different reasons:

  • To clean up a project by removing all the unused resources (no extra assets, symbols, or unwanted resources in the trash)
  • To get feedback about specific wireframes, without sending the whole project which might be distracting
  • To split a project into smaller ones that will be easier to manage

Saving the Project

All the changes made on your project in the editor are always autosaved and visible by the collaborators that are editing the same project in real time.

However, the changes made in editing mode (i.e. inside the Balsamiq Wireframes editor) will not be flushed to the official version that is attached to the Confluence page until the project is expressly saved.

This can be done by selecting the Project > Save Project option or by closing the editor.


Returning to Confluence (Closing the Editor)

When you are done editing your wireframes, you can exit the editor by pressing the Back to Confluence button in the Top Bar of the editor.

This will also save the current project and update the version that will be now visible in the Balsamiq Wireframes macro.


Using the Balsamiq Wireframes Macro

Once you have created a new project, the Balsamiq Wireframes macro will appear on your Confluence page.

The macro looks like a plain image, but hovering it will reveal a control bar that allows you to launch the editor on the selected wireframe or review and comment in Full Screen.


Editing Existing Wireframes

There are two ways to open the Balsamiq Wireframes editor:

  1. Click the "edit" icon that next to the wireframe name in the macro or Full Screen viewer.

  2. Edit the wiki page, then double-click the macro or click the "Edit" button.


Using the Balsamiq Wireframes Macro Editor

Once you have created a new project, the Balsamiq Wireframes macro editor will be accessible from the Confluence page editor. Edit the Confluence page, click the macro and press Config.

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The macro editor lets you configure the views of the Balsamiq Wireframes project that will be shown in the Confluence wiki page.

You can chose to show a thumbnail grid or, if you are using the single wireframe view, you can configure the initial wireframe, its size and alignment. You can also launch the Balsamiq Wireframes Editor and continue to edit your project.

To add multiple views on the same project, just add more macros and select a different wireframe in the Starting Wireframe pulldown.


A Couple of Little Treats for You!

Built-in Background Music

For years we've been suggesting people use headphones when working on wireframes, to help get in the creative zone. So we asked ourselves: why not give our awesome users a built-in, get-in-the-zone-inducing track to listen to? And so we did!

Just go to the View menu, click "Play Background Music", and get to work!

The track is called Ascension, by Dr. Christopher Lloyd Clarke B.Sc, Msc.D. Meditation music composer and founder of Royalty Free Meditation Music.com.

We cut the track down to 25 minutes, added a Zen bell, then added 5 minutes of nature sounds recorded by our own Michael Angeles in his hikes around Marin County, CA. We then made the resulting 30-minute track loop 4 times.

Why the (25 + 5)*4, you ask? Because this way you can use the music to time your Pomodoros, of course!

What Should I Make for Dinner?

We know how it is. It's 5pm, and you've just had a glorious day of work, creating awesome wireframes for your next project.

And then it hits you: what should I make for dinner tonight?

That's where we come in.

Go to the Help menu and select "What Should I Make for Dinner?". You'll be taken to this page.

Lots and lots of easy, every-day recipes straight from the Balsamiq team's kitchens, in super-quick video format you can watch while you put your jacket on to leave the office.

Just browse through the list of videos, pick one that looks good, jot down the ingredients and run out the door.

Nothing fancy here, this is what we cook for ourselves when we don't know what to make.

Buon appetito! 🙂