Use metadata to increment a content version

Overview

Different events can be used to increment a composite version number.

The workflow uses the following trigger actions

• initialize a metadata version value using set-metadata macro
• increment the metadata version value using the increment-metadata macro using different triggers for each element of a composite version number

You will need to refresh the page content to view changes in the metadata value if you use the get-metadata macro on the page to display the metadata value.

Composite major-minor version content

{workflow:name=Increment a Metadata Version 1}
    {description}
        A simple approval workflow with use of increment-metadata macro to set the major and minor versions. Major version incremented on approval of content, minor version on any update on the approved content
    {description}
    {pageheader}
        ||Type|| Version||Version Number||
        |Page metadata|content-version value|@currentversion@|
        |Confluence metadata|Confluence version value|@version@|
    {pageheader}
    {state:Review|approved=Approved|taskable=true}
        {approval:Review}
    {state}
    {state:Rejected|submit=Review|taskable=true}
    {state}
    {state:Approved|final=true|updated=Review|hideselection=true}
    {state}
    {trigger:pagecreated}
        {set-metadata:currentversion}0.1{set-metadata}
    {trigger}
    {trigger:statechanged|state=Review}
        {increment-metadata:currentversion|increment=0.1}
    {trigger}
    {trigger:pageapproved|approval=Review}
        {increment-metadata:currentversion|increment=1.0}
    {trigger}
{workflow}

In our example, applying the space workflow to existing pages will not initialize the currentversion metadata value and subsequent use of the currentversion metadata in the increment-metadata macro will not work. 

The get-metadata macro can be added to a page to retrieve and display the current metadata values.

Here's how each trigger action works. 

An individual reviewer rejection decision on its own does not impact the metadata content-version value. 

The metadata value is linked to a page not a Confluence page version so when viewing a previous page version this will show the current metadata value.

For example, viewing the final Approved state content whilst content is in a draft state would display the current metadata value NOT the metadata value when the content was published.

Manage composite major-minor-patch version of the content

Additional triggers may be useful to initiate major-minor-patch value changes.

This second example below uses an increment-metadata macro to support the custom versioning of a page using a composite numeric metadata value.

The elements of the composite version are incremented when different specific events occur.

{workflow:name=Composite Increment Metadata}
    {state:Draft|submit=Review}
    {state}
    {state:Review|approved=Approved}
        {approval:Review|assignable=true}
    {state}
    {state:Approved|final=true|submit=Draft}
    {state}
    {trigger:pagecreated}
        {set-metadata:comp-version}
            0.0.1
        {set-metadata}
    {trigger}
	{trigger:pageupdated}
        {increment-metadata:comp-version|increment=0.0.1}
    {trigger}   
    {trigger:statechanged|state=Review}
        {increment-metadata:comp-version|increment=0.1.0}
    {trigger}   
    {trigger:statechanged|state=Approved}
        {increment-metadata:comp-version|increment=1.0.0}
    {trigger}
{workflow}

Only works if this example workflow is applied as a space workflow.

The metadata name and initial value are set on the creation of the page using a trigger macro and the set-metadata action macro.

{set-metadata:comp-version}0.0.1{set-metadata}

A version change will occur:

• for every page edit (a PATCH version change)
• on a state change to the Review state(a MINOR version change).
• on a state change to the Approved state (a MAJOR version change).

Metadata value initialization

Page creation creates the metadata comp-version and sets the initial value as 0.0.1

{set-metadata:comp-version} 0.0.1 {set-metadata}

Minor element value update

A state change to the Review state will update the second numeric element (MINOR element)of the version by  1.

The workflow uses a trigger macro on the statechanged event for state=Review and the increment-metadata action macro.

{increment-metadata:comp-version|increment=0.1.0}

This also resets the final numeric element to zero e.g. a version value 2.1.3 will change to 2.2.0.

Major element value update

A state change to the Approved state will update the first numeric element (MAJOR element) of the version by  1. 

The workflow uses a trigger macro on the statechanged event for state=Approved and the increment-metadata action macro.

{increment-metadata:comp-version|increment=1.0.0}

This also resets the second numeric element and the final numeric element to zero e.g. version 2.2.5 will change to 3.0.0.

Patch element value update

A page edit will increase the final numeric element (PATCH element)of the version using a trigger macro on the pageupdated event and the increment-metadata action macro.

{increment-metadata:comp-version|increment=0.0.1}

The final numeric element of the version will increment by 1 for a page edit in any of the workflow states.

Related examples

• Requiring a parameter on an approval transition to set a condition for the trigger to increment metadata for one of major, minor or patch composite version