Markdown to ADF Converter

Expert assistance for converting Markdown content to Confluence's ADF (Atlassian Document Format).

When to Use This Skill

• Converting README.md to Confluence
• Creating Confluence pages from Markdown documentation
• Updating Confluence with Markdown content
• User mentions: convert, markdown, ADF, format
• User wants to publish Markdown to Confluence

What is ADF?

ADF (Atlassian Document Format) is Confluence's JSON-based document format. It represents content as a structured tree of nodes.

Basic ADF Structure

{
  "version": 1,
  "type": "doc",
  "content": [
    {
      "type": "paragraph",
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "text",
          "text": "Hello world"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Conversion Reference

Text Formatting

Markdown → ADF

Bold:

**bold text**

{
  "type": "text",
  "text": "bold text",
  "marks": [{"type": "strong"}]
}

Italic:

*italic text*

{
  "type": "text",
  "text": "italic text",
  "marks": [{"type": "em"}]
}

Code (inline):

`code snippet`

{
  "type": "text",
  "text": "code snippet",
  "marks": [{"type": "code"}]
}

Strikethrough:

~~struck text~~

{
  "type": "text",
  "text": "struck text",
  "marks": [{"type": "strike"}]
}

Underline:

<u>underlined</u>

{
  "type": "text",
  "text": "underlined",
  "marks": [{"type": "underline"}]
}

Combined marks:

***bold italic***

{
  "type": "text",
  "text": "bold italic",
  "marks": [
    {"type": "strong"},
    {"type": "em"}
  ]
}

Headings

# Heading 1
## Heading 2
### Heading 3

{
  "type": "heading",
  "attrs": {"level": 1},
  "content": [
    {"type": "text", "text": "Heading 1"}
  ]
},
{
  "type": "heading",
  "attrs": {"level": 2},
  "content": [
    {"type": "text", "text": "Heading 2"}
  ]
},
{
  "type": "heading",
  "attrs": {"level": 3},
  "content": [
    {"type": "text", "text": "Heading 3"}
  ]
}

Note: Confluence supports heading levels 1-6.

Paragraphs

This is a paragraph.

This is another paragraph.

{
  "type": "paragraph",
  "content": [
    {"type": "text", "text": "This is a paragraph."}
  ]
},
{
  "type": "paragraph",
  "content": [
    {"type": "text", "text": "This is another paragraph."}
  ]
}

Lists

Unordered (Bullet) List

- Item 1
- Item 2
  - Nested item 2.1
  - Nested item 2.2
- Item 3

{
  "type": "bulletList",
  "content": [
    {
      "type": "listItem",
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "paragraph",
          "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Item 1"}]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "listItem",
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "paragraph",
          "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Item 2"}]
        },
        {
          "type": "bulletList",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "listItem",
              "content": [
                {
                  "type": "paragraph",
                  "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Nested item 2.1"}]
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "type": "listItem",
              "content": [
                {
                  "type": "paragraph",
                  "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Nested item 2.2"}]
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "listItem",
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "paragraph",
          "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Item 3"}]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Ordered (Numbered) List

1. First item
2. Second item
3. Third item

{
  "type": "orderedList",
  "content": [
    {
      "type": "listItem",
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "paragraph",
          "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "First item"}]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "listItem",
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "paragraph",
          "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Second item"}]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "listItem",
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "paragraph",
          "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Third item"}]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Links

[Link text](https://example.com)

{
  "type": "text",
  "text": "Link text",
  "marks": [
    {
      "type": "link",
      "attrs": {
        "href": "https://example.com"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Code Blocks

```python
def hello():
    print("Hello world")

```json
{
  "type": "codeBlock",
  "attrs": {
    "language": "python"
  },
  "content": [
    {
      "type": "text",
      "text": "def hello():\n    print(\"Hello world\")"
    }
  ]
}

Supported languages: javascript, python, java, go, rust, typescript, sql, bash, json, xml, html, css, and many more.

Blockquotes

> This is a quote
> Multi-line quote

{
  "type": "blockquote",
  "content": [
    {
      "type": "paragraph",
      "content": [
        {"type": "text", "text": "This is a quote"}
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "paragraph",
      "content": [
        {"type": "text", "text": "Multi-line quote"}
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Horizontal Rules

---

{
  "type": "rule"
}

Tables

| Header 1 | Header 2 | Header 3 |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Cell 1   | Cell 2   | Cell 3   |
| Cell 4   | Cell 5   | Cell 6   |

{
  "type": "table",
  "content": [
    {
      "type": "tableRow",
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "tableHeader",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "paragraph",
              "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Header 1"}]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "type": "tableHeader",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "paragraph",
              "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Header 2"}]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "type": "tableHeader",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "paragraph",
              "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Header 3"}]
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "tableRow",
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "tableCell",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "paragraph",
              "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Cell 1"}]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "type": "tableCell",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "paragraph",
              "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Cell 2"}]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "type": "tableCell",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "paragraph",
              "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Cell 3"}]
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "tableRow",
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "tableCell",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "paragraph",
              "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Cell 4"}]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "type": "tableCell",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "paragraph",
              "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Cell 5"}]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "type": "tableCell",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "paragraph",
              "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Cell 6"}]
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Images

![Alt text](https://example.com/image.png)

{
  "type": "mediaSingle",
  "content": [
    {
      "type": "media",
      "attrs": {
        "type": "external",
        "url": "https://example.com/image.png",
        "alt": "Alt text"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Task Lists (Checkboxes)

- [x] Completed task
- [ ] Incomplete task

{
  "type": "taskList",
  "content": [
    {
      "type": "taskItem",
      "attrs": {
        "state": "DONE"
      },
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "text",
          "text": "Completed task"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "taskItem",
      "attrs": {
        "state": "TODO"
      },
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "text",
          "text": "Incomplete task"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Confluence-Specific Extensions

Info Panel (Callout)

> ℹ️ **Info**
> This is important information

{
  "type": "panel",
  "attrs": {
    "panelType": "info"
  },
  "content": [
    {
      "type": "paragraph",
      "content": [
        {"type": "text", "text": "This is important information"}
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Panel types: info, note, warning, error, success

Expand/Collapse

<details>
<summary>Click to expand</summary>
Hidden content here
</details>

{
  "type": "expand",
  "attrs": {
    "title": "Click to expand"
  },
  "content": [
    {
      "type": "paragraph",
      "content": [
        {"type": "text", "text": "Hidden content here"}
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Status Badge

Status: `DONE` or `IN_PROGRESS`

{
  "type": "status",
  "attrs": {
    "text": "DONE",
    "color": "green"
  }
}

Colors: neutral, purple, blue, red, yellow, green

Mentions

@username

{
  "type": "mention",
  "attrs": {
    "id": "user-account-id",
    "text": "@username"
  }
}

Emojis

:smile: :+1: :rocket:

{
  "type": "emoji",
  "attrs": {
    "shortName": ":smile:",
    "text": "😀"
  }
}

Complete Example

Markdown Input

# Project Documentation

## Overview

This is a **sample project** with `code examples`.

### Features

- Feature 1
- Feature 2
  - Sub-feature A
  - Sub-feature B

### Installation

```bash
npm install my-package

For more info, visit our website.

Note: This is still in beta.

Command	Description
start	Start server
test	Run tests

### ADF Output
```json
{
  "version": 1,
  "type": "doc",
  "content": [
    {
      "type": "heading",
      "attrs": {"level": 1},
      "content": [
        {"type": "text", "text": "Project Documentation"}
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "heading",
      "attrs": {"level": 2},
      "content": [
        {"type": "text", "text": "Overview"}
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "paragraph",
      "content": [
        {"type": "text", "text": "This is a "},
        {
          "type": "text",
          "text": "sample project",
          "marks": [{"type": "strong"}]
        },
        {"type": "text", "text": " with "},
        {
          "type": "text",
          "text": "code examples",
          "marks": [{"type": "code"}]
        },
        {"type": "text", "text": "."}
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "heading",
      "attrs": {"level": 3},
      "content": [
        {"type": "text", "text": "Features"}
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "bulletList",
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "listItem",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "paragraph",
              "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Feature 1"}]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "type": "listItem",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "paragraph",
              "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Feature 2"}]
            },
            {
              "type": "bulletList",
              "content": [
                {
                  "type": "listItem",
                  "content": [
                    {
                      "type": "paragraph",
                      "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Sub-feature A"}]
                    }
                  ]
                },
                {
                  "type": "listItem",
                  "content": [
                    {
                      "type": "paragraph",
                      "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Sub-feature B"}]
                    }
                  ]
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "heading",
      "attrs": {"level": 3},
      "content": [
        {"type": "text", "text": "Installation"}
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "codeBlock",
      "attrs": {"language": "bash"},
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "text",
          "text": "npm install my-package"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "paragraph",
      "content": [
        {"type": "text", "text": "For more info, visit "},
        {
          "type": "text",
          "text": "our website",
          "marks": [
            {
              "type": "link",
              "attrs": {"href": "https://example.com"}
            }
          ]
        },
        {"type": "text", "text": "."}
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "panel",
      "attrs": {"panelType": "note"},
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "paragraph",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "text",
              "text": "Note",
              "marks": [{"type": "strong"}]
            },
            {"type": "text", "text": ": This is still in beta."}
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "table",
      "content": [
        {
          "type": "tableRow",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "tableHeader",
              "content": [
                {
                  "type": "paragraph",
                  "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Command"}]
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "type": "tableHeader",
              "content": [
                {
                  "type": "paragraph",
                  "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Description"}]
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "type": "tableRow",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "tableCell",
              "content": [
                {
                  "type": "paragraph",
                  "content": [
                    {
                      "type": "text",
                      "text": "start",
                      "marks": [{"type": "code"}]
                    }
                  ]
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "type": "tableCell",
              "content": [
                {
                  "type": "paragraph",
                  "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Start server"}]
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "type": "tableRow",
          "content": [
            {
              "type": "tableCell",
              "content": [
                {
                  "type": "paragraph",
                  "content": [
                    {
                      "type": "text",
                      "text": "test",
                      "marks": [{"type": "code"}]
                    }
                  ]
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "type": "tableCell",
              "content": [
                {
                  "type": "paragraph",
                  "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "Run tests"}]
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Common Patterns

README.md to Confluence

1. Extract title from first H1
2. Convert sections to H2/H3
3. Preserve code blocks with language tags
4. Convert tables for command reference
5. Add info panels for warnings/notes
6. Link to external resources

API Documentation

1. Endpoint sections as H2
2. Parameters as tables
3. Code examples with language highlighting
4. Response schemas as code blocks
5. Status codes as tables

Architecture Docs

1. Diagrams as images
2. Decision records with info panels
3. Component lists as bullet lists
4. Tech stack tables

Limitations and Workarounds

Not Directly Supported

Markdown feature → Workaround:

• HTML tags → Convert to ADF equivalent or plain text
• Footnotes → Use numbered references in text
• Definition lists → Use tables or headings
• Complex nested structures → Flatten or use expand sections

Confluence Enhancements

Add these Confluence-specific elements to improve readability:

1. Info panels for important notes
2. Expand sections for optional details
3. Status badges for project status
4. Task lists for checklists
5. Color coding in tables

How I'll Help

When converting Markdown to ADF, I will:

1. Parse the Markdown: Understand structure and content
2. Convert to ADF: Build proper JSON structure
3. Enhance for Confluence: Add panels, badges, etc.
4. Validate: Ensure valid ADF format
5. Create/Update: Use /confluence-create-page or /confluence-update-page
6. Preview: Show you what will be created

Example Interaction

You: "Convert my README.md to a Confluence page"

Me: "I'll convert your README.md to Confluence ADF format.

[Reads README.md]

I see:

• Title: "My Project"
• Sections: Overview, Installation, Usage, API Reference
• Code blocks in bash and javascript
• A table of CLI commands
• Some warnings/notes

Converting to ADF with enhancements:

• Converting code blocks with proper language tags
• Tables for command reference
• Info panels for warnings
• Links preserved

Ready to create the Confluence page. Which space should I use?"

You: "Space 123456"

Me: [Uses /confluence-create-page with converted ADF] "Created page 'My Project' in space 123456! Link: https://your-domain.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/123456/pages/..."