As organizations increasingly transition from Confluence Data Center to Confluence Cloud migration, many face challenges with migrating Aura macros. AppAnvil, a leading provider of tools designed to enhance the functionality and user experience of Atlassian products, has observed a rise in support requests related to the Aura nested macro issue. This highlights a key pain point in the Confluence migration to cloud process. To address this, AppAnvil has developed a specialized solution, available exclusively through a partnership with Seibert Solutions, an Atlassian Cloud migration specialized partner. This article explores the migration challenge, the complexities of the cloud transition, and Seibert’s Confluence Cloud migration assistance tailored for a smoother transition.
Overview of AppAnvil’s On-Prem Product: Aura
Aura is an add-on available for Atlassian’s Confluence, compatible with both on-premise and Cloud versions of Confluence. Developed by AppAnvil, Aura enables users to build visually appealing, structured pages within Confluence. One of Aura’s key features is the ability to nest macros, which enhances page layouts by creating dynamic and organized content. However, the macro structure in Confluence Cloud differs significantly from its on-premise counterpart, making the Confluence migrate to cloud process complex, particularly for nested Aura macros.
The macro structure of the Tab Group and Tab macro differs depending on your version, On-prem or Cloud. Here are two examples:
Why does the structure differ? While nested body macros are commonly used in the Data Center version of Confluence, Atlassian does not permit their use in Confluence Cloud. It is because of this difference that the problem arises when moving from on-prem to the cloud.
Problem: Why It’s Difficult to Move to Cloud
The migration challenge primarily arises from differences in how text is edited and stored in the two environments:
- On-Premise Version: Text is edited within the macro’s body, which supports nested structures.
- Cloud Version: Macros do not contain a body; instead, text is directly edited in the macro editor using the
cloudTextattribute.
When moving from Confluence Data Center to Confluence Cloud migration, nested macros are removed, resulting in broken page formatting, loss of content organization, and the need for additional manual effort to restore the intended design.
Solution: Seibert’s Migration Service Offerings
When designing Aura for the cloud, a solution was required to address this limitation while still allowing users to configure individual tabs and host various types of content. For the cloud, the content is positioned between the individual tab macros.
To ensure a seamless transition, Seibert Solutions provides exclusive Confluence Cloud migration assistance tailored to handle the Aura nested macro issue. The migration service, powered by a dedicated app, transforms the content between the individual tab macros.
Available Solution Packages
Aura Consulting Package
- The specialized app is utilized to separate tab groups.
- The app serves as an implementation tool rather than a standalone product; it is not available for purchase in the Atlassian Marketplace
- Improve the page layout post-migration to ensure optimal presentation, depending on the number of affected pages.
Licensing Partner
- By selecting Seibert Solutions as your dedicated Atlassian licensing partner, we are able to offer the Aura Consulting Package at a reduced cost. Seibert Solutions will work together with your organization to un-nest the Aura tab groups, making your Atlassian migrate to cloud strategy feasible.
Enterprise Approach
- For larger sites with numerous pages containing nested macros, Seibert Solutions can handle the entire migration process, including solving the Aura nested macros problem and facilitating your move to the Atlassian Cloud.
While ensuring that page formatting remains intact is a crucial part of the migration process, Seibert Solutions’ migration service offers several other advantages that make the transition to Confluence Cloud smoother and more efficient:
1. Significant Time Savings
Manually adjusting each affected page after migration can be incredibly time-consuming, especially for organizations with a large number of nested macros. Seibert’s specialized migration tool automates much of this process, reducing the hours or even days of manual work required to fix broken layouts.
- Automated processing: The app quickly converts nested macros into a cloud-compatible format.
- Minimal downtime: Employees can continue working with minimal disruption, ensuring business continuity.
- Scalability: The service is designed to handle migrations for both small teams and enterprise-scale organizations.
2. Reduction in Manual Errors
Manually restructuring nested macros introduces the risk of formatting inconsistencies, missing content, and broken links. Seibert’s migration solution ensures a consistent, error-free transition by:
- Maintaining content integrity: No data loss during macro transformation.
- Consistent page structure: Preserves the logical flow and readability of Confluence pages.
- Fewer post-migration adjustments: Reduces the need for teams to manually clean up and verify content accuracy.
3. Future-Proofing for Confluence Cloud Updates
Atlassian regularly updates Confluence Cloud, and on-prem macros may not be optimized for future changes. Seibert Solutions ensures that migrated content remains adaptable by:
- Using cloud-compatible structures: Ensuring macros are set up in a way that aligns with Atlassian’s best practices.
- Providing ongoing support: Organizations benefit from continued assistance if updates impact their pages.
- Ensuring long-term stability: Migration is not just a one-time fix but a step toward a sustainable cloud infrastructure.
4. Seamless Integration with Other Cloud Features
Migrating with Seibert’s help ensures that pages remain compatible with other Confluence Cloud functionalities, such as:
- Cloud automation tools: Easily integrate migrated pages with Jira, Trello, and other Atlassian Cloud services.
- Enhanced collaboration: Ensuring that macros work seamlessly in the cloud enhances teamwork and knowledge sharing.
- Performance optimization: Cloud-native macros improve page load times and overall usability.
By choosing Seibert Solutions, organizations not only ensure a smooth migration but also position themselves for improved efficiency, reduced maintenance efforts, and long-term compatibility with Atlassian Cloud.
Seibert’s Proven Six-Phase Migration Approach
With decades of Atlassian expertise, Seibert takes a structured yet flexible approach to migrations. Our six-phase methodology ensures clarity, minimal disruption, and long-term success.
1. Assess – Understand the Landscape
We start with a full system audit, app inventory, and stakeholder alignment. Security, legal, and compliance requirements are reviewed, and we deliver a clear roadmap with timelines, risks, and strategies.
2. Plan – Build the Strategy
Next, we design a tailored migration plan—whether lift-and-shift or phased. We align vendors, allocate resources, and prepare a detailed migration runbook.
3. Prep – Get Ready to Move
Before migration, we clean up redundant data, configure identity and access (SSO, SAML, IdP), and run integration checks. The runbook is finalized with pre-migration testing.
4. Test – Validate Before You Commit
We perform trial migrations, reliability checks, and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) with stakeholders. Feedback helps refine the final runbook.
5. Migrate – Execute with Confidence
Our team follows the runbook step by step, choosing phased or full migration based on complexity. Real-time monitoring and troubleshooting ensure smooth execution, with transparent updates to stakeholders.
6. Launch – Support and Empower Teams
After migration, we confirm data integrity, access, and performance. We also provide training and workshops, ongoing support, and adoption guidance—so your teams thrive in the new environment.
Why Seibert? Cloud Specialization & Enterprise Trust
Seibert Solutions is one of the few partners worldwide recognized with Atlassian Cloud migration specialized partner status, awarded only to solution partners with proven excellence in complex cloud migrations.
By combining:
- Exclusive Aura migration tooling
- A structured six-step process
- Decades of Atlassian expertise
Seibert ensures your Confluence migration to cloud is not just a technical transition, but a strategic enabler of collaboration, efficiency, and scalability.
Streamline Your Confluence Migration
Migrating Aura macros from Confluence Data Center to Confluence Cloud migration presents unique challenges due to structural differences in macro formatting. However, with Seibert Solutions’ exclusive Confluence Cloud migration assistance, organizations can navigate these challenges efficiently. Seibert Solutions offers tailored solutions to ensure a smooth migration experience. Reach out to us to get help with your Confluence migrate to cloud project.