Answer references

Q&A Coordinators and Answer Drafters can add references to their answers. A reference can be an existing folder or file, or a new file you upload.

You can link references that are already in the Data Room or upload new ones to support your answer. Uploaded files can either be added as answer attachments—visible to the buyer group once the answer is disclosed—or placed in the Documents section, where visibility depends on folder permissions.

Adding answer references

Follow the steps below to add a reference to your answer.

1. In the Q&A section, select the question you want to answer. Navigate to the Answer references at the bottom of the page and click Add references.

2. Choose how you want to add answer references:

• Link existing
  Browse through the Index or Other folders, tick the box next to the folders or files you want to link, and click Link. The linked references will appear under the answer field.

• Upload new
  Choose Add as answer attachment for the files that should only be visible to the users with access to the answer once it’s disclosed. You can drag and drop or select up to 5 files to upload, and set view and download permissions by clicking on the Permissions field.
  
  Choose Upload to Documents if you want to add files to a folder in the Documents section. Everyone with access to the selected folder will see them immediately after uploading. You can view folder permissions and change the folder if needed. The uploaded files will automatically be linked to the answer.

3. Click Upload. The answer references will appear under the answer field. Files added as answer attachments will only be visible in the answer.

4. If you’re a Q&A Coordinator, you can Disclose the answer to the question group. If you are an Answer Drafter, you can choose to Answer the question or Assign it back to another Answer Drafter or a Q&A Coordinator. Both Q&A Coordinators and Answer Drafters can Save as draft to work on the answer later.

Viewing and managing answer references

Before the answer is disclosed, Q&A Coordinators and Answer Drafters can still manage the linked answer references and the ones added as answer attachments.
Click the three dots menu to choose the action:

• Unlink a reference that was linked or uploaded to Documents
  
  
  
• Choose to Edit permissions, Rename, Download, or Delete for answer attachments
  

Note: If the buyer group has no access to the answer reference, an orange icon will appear next to the file or folder.

Only Admins or Managers with sufficient permissions can manage buy side access to folders and documents.

Access and permissions for answer attachments

Answer attachments are visible to sell side users with access to the drafted or disclosed answer. Buy side users will only see them once the answer is disclosed.

Buy side users with the appropriate permissions can view online, download secured PDF, or download original answer attachment.

Answer attachments are included in the archive if they’re available for the selected perspective.