Answer references are documents or folders linked to a Q&A answer to provide supporting information, clarification or additional context.
These help the sell side provide comprehensive responses, whilst maintaining a clear audit trail of all materials shared with the buy side.
For example:
- A question requires supporting documentation that doesn't yet exist in the Documents section
- You want to direct the buy side to specific existing documents or folders
- You need to provide new information that should be visible only after the answer is disclosed
- An answer requires multiple documents
Q&A Coordinators and Answer Drafters can add answer references in three ways:
- Link an existing folder or file in Documents section
- Upload in Documents section - visibility based on folder and document permissions
- Upload answer attachments* - visible to the buyer group upon disclosure
*feature is managed by Admins in the Q&A configuration
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.
- 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.
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.
In addition, answer attachments are available in a dedicated filterable list, making them easier to find and review, and in the Index report. Answer attachments are also included in the archive if they’re available for the selected perspective.