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FAQ

Short answers to common questions about Mermaid Diagrams for Confluence and Jira, with links to the full details.

General questions​

What is Mermaid?​

Mermaid is a widely used way to describe diagrams as text. You write A --> B, and Mermaid draws two boxes and an arrow. GitHub, GitLab, Notion and the Mermaid Live Editor all draw Mermaid, so the same code works in many places.

Why are there two separate apps - one for Confluence and one for Jira?​

Atlassian Forge apps are built for one product. Both apps draw the same diagram types and share the same editor, but each one fits its product: a macro in Confluence, a panel in Jira.

Do I need to purchase both apps?​

Only if you want diagrams in both Confluence and Jira. Each app has its own license. See Licensing.

Does Mermaid Diagrams work in Jira Service Management?​

Yes. The Mermaid Diagrams panel works on work items in Jira Service Management spaces too. Add it from View app actions > Mermaid Diagrams. See Add diagrams to a Jira work item.

Is there a limit on how many diagrams I can create?​

No. There's no limit per page, work item, user or site. A macro or panel can hold several diagrams. For import and code-block limits, see Known limitations.

Does Mermaid Diagrams support all Mermaid diagram types?​

Yes, every type in Mermaid 12.1, from flowcharts and Gantt charts to architecture diagrams with icons, Kanban boards and Venn diagrams. See Supported diagram types.

Which Mermaid version does the app use?​

Mermaid 12.1, the same version as the official Mermaid Live Editor. Code you copy from mermaid.live draws the same in the app, and the other way round.

Why do my diagrams look different since October 2026?​

The app moved to Mermaid 12, which has a new default look and layout for flowchart, sequence, class, state, ER and requirement diagrams. Two lines of code bring back the previous look. See My diagram looks different after the update.

Can I set a theme for all diagrams at once?​

No. Each diagram carries its own settings in its code, so it looks the same wherever it's copied, including mermaid.live. A diagram without a theme follows each reader's light or dark mode. See Themes, looks and layouts.

Can I export diagrams as images?​

Yes, in both products. Hover over a diagram and select Export to copy a PNG to the clipboard, or download a PNG or SVG file. See View and export diagrams.

Who can see and edit diagrams?​

Confluence and Jira permissions decide. Anyone who can view the page or work item sees its diagrams. People who can edit the page, or who have Edit work items in Jira, can change them. See Permissions.

Can AI write diagrams for me?​

Yes. Draft with AI in the editor opens Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini with a prompt that teaches it the app's syntax. An AI assistant connected to Confluence can even create whole pages with diagrams on them. See AI.

Is Mermaid Diagrams app available for Atlassian Data Center or Server?​

No. Mermaid Diagrams is available for Atlassian Cloud only.

Confluence questions​

Do diagram edits create a new page version?​

No. Diagrams are stored as attachments of the page, so editing one doesn't create a page version. Restoring an older page version keeps the newest diagrams. Earlier versions of a diagram stay in the page's attachment history.

Turning code blocks into macros with Mermaid diagrams on this page is different: it saves one new page version, which you can undo.

Can I use Mermaid diagrams in Confluence templates?​

No. Diagrams are stored with a page, so the macro can't load in a space or page template and shows "This diagram can't be loaded here". Add the macro after you create the page from the template.

Do diagrams show in PDF and Word exports?​

Yes. Confluence's PDF and Word exports show each macro's first diagram as an image.

Can guests and anonymous visitors see diagrams?​

Yes, on the pages they can view. They can also open diagrams full screen and export them.

Jira questions​

Why don't I see the Mermaid Diagrams panel?​

Jira shows an app's panel only after someone adds it to the work item. Select View app actions > Mermaid Diagrams, or open the panel's ••• menu and select Show for all work items. See The Mermaid Diagrams panel isn't on a work item.

We paste Mermaid code into descriptions. Do we need the panel?​

No. The app draws Mermaid code blocks in descriptions and comments in a Mermaid Diagrams section in the right-hand column, and lets you edit them in place. See Edit Mermaid code blocks in Jira.