Frequently Asked Questions

General

Does PDF Exporter work on Confluence Server or Data Center?

No. PDF Exporter for Confluence is a Confluence Cloud app only. It is built on Atlassian Forge and requires Confluence Cloud.

How do I open the exporter?

Click Export to PDF under the page title, or open the ··· (More actions) menu on any Confluence page and select PDF Exporter for Confluence. You can also open it from Apps in the Confluence navigation.

Is there a limit on how many pages I can export at once?

A merged PDF holds up to 500 pages, and a ZIP of separate PDFs up to 2,000. Exports built on the server also count against the site's 10,000 server pages a month; exports built in your browser don't. See Background Exports.

Where is my exported file saved?

Exports built in your browser download straight to your browser's download folder and aren't stored anywhere else. Exports built on the server are kept in My exports for 7 days by default (your admin can change this), in Atlassian's own storage. Scheduled and API exports can also be attached to a Confluence page.

Templates

What templates are available by default?

Three templates are seeded on install: Default (clean with page numbers), Report (cover page + TOC + section breaks), and Minimal (content only, no chrome).

Can I create my own templates?

Yes, but only admins can create templates. Admins access template management from Confluence Settings → PDF Exporter. Custom templates are then available to all users.

Can I duplicate a template?

Not directly — there is no duplicate button. To create a similar template, create a new one and configure it with the same settings manually.

What happens if a template is archived?

Archived templates are hidden from the user-facing template dropdown. They remain saved and can be restored by an admin at any time. Archiving is non-destructive.

Export Output

Why don't some images appear in my PDF?

Images embedded via external URLs (not hosted on Atlassian) may fail to load if those external servers block requests or require authentication. Images uploaded as Confluence attachments always export correctly.

Can I export private or restricted pages?

You can only export pages you have permission to view. The exporter uses your Confluence session — pages you cannot access will not appear in the page tree and cannot be exported.

Does the PDF preserve internal Confluence links?

In a merged PDF, links between pages that are part of the same export jump to the right place inside the PDF, and same-page heading links work too. Links to Confluence pages that are not in the export point back to Confluence. External links (http/https) stay clickable.

What order are pages exported in for multi-page exports?

Pages are exported in the order they appear in the Confluence page hierarchy. The parent page appears first, followed by children in their configured order.

Cover Page & Formatting

Can I use my company logo on the cover page?

Yes. When configuring a template, enable the cover page, then upload a logo image (PNG, JPG, or SVG). The logo will appear on every export that uses that template.

Can I change the accent color per export, or only per template?

Per template only. The accent color is a template setting. To use different colors, create separate templates with the desired colors.

Why does my watermark look too prominent?

The default watermark opacity is 0.15. If it looks too strong, reduce the opacity in the template settings. Values between 0.08 and 0.12 are typically subtler.

Scheduled Exports & API

Can PDF Exporter send email?

Yes, through Confluence. Scheduled exports and API exports can @mention people in a comment on the archive page; Confluence then emails them as it does for any mention. The app doesn't send email itself, so nothing leaves Atlassian.

Does every scheduled run add a new comment?

No. Each schedule posts one comment on its archive page and adds every later run as a reply, so the page keeps a single thread. If someone deletes that comment, or the schedule's archive page changes, the next run starts a new thread.

Why is my export waiting?

Server exports run one at a time per site. If someone else's export, a scheduled run or an API export is running, yours waits in line and starts by itself. The card shows how many exports are ahead of yours.

What time do scheduled exports run?

Once on their scheduled day (in UTC), at a time Confluence picks. Use Run now to run one immediately.

Why did my schedule pause itself?

A schedule pauses at once when its archive page or exported space was deleted, or its owner is no longer active, and after three failed runs in a row. The schedule's card shows the reason. Fix it and click Resume.

Does the REST API return the PDF?

No. A request starts the export and returns 202 accepted. The file appears in the token owner's My exports, and on the attachTo page if you gave one. This keeps all data inside Atlassian.

Pricing & Access

Is PDF Exporter for Confluence free?

Yes. PDF Exporter for Confluence is completely free — no trial, no license required, and no credit card needed. Install it from the Atlassian Marketplace and start exporting immediately.

Can I restrict which users can export PDFs?

There is no per-user restriction on export access. Any user who can view a Confluence page can export it. Template management is restricted to site admins only.

Support

How do I report a bug or request a feature?