What does the Subsection Rating Text merge string include in my report?

The Subsection Rating Text merge string does more than display the subsection feedback. In a single merge string, it outputs two different kinds of text in order:

1. The subsection rating text, selected from the rating band the respondent scored for that subsection.
2. The answer report text for each answer the respondent selected within that subsection.

This means you do not need a separate merge string for every answer. A single {RatingSubsection.RatingText[SectionNo=2]} pulls through the subsection commentary plus all of the answer feedback for that section. This is why most of the body of a feedback report is usually built from the Subsection Rating Text merge string rather than from many individual answer-level merge strings.

The merge string

Replace the section and subsection numbers with your own. In the Merge Manager, select the merge type Rating Text by Subsection and choose the section or subsection from the dropdowns.

What gets included, and in what order

For each subsection covered by the merge string, the engine outputs:

1. Subsection rating text first. This is the text entered against the rating band the respondent's subsection score fell into. It is left-aligned and is not affected by list formatting applied to the merge string.
2. Answer report text next. For every answer the respondent selected in that subsection, the report text entered against that answer is added.

Why use one merge string instead of many

If you wanted to show the answer feedback for, say, questions 5, 10, and 15 in a section, you do not need a separate merge string for each one. Entering the feedback as answer report text on those answers and inserting a single Subsection Rating Text merge string pulls all of it into the report automatically. This keeps the template simple and means new questions added later are included without editing the template.

Set it up

1. Enter answer report text on the answers that need feedback. Open the question in the Assessment Builder, select the answer, and use the Report Text tab. See Add and Manage Questions and Answers.
2. Enter the subsection rating text (optional, but usual) on each rating band in the subsection dialogue box. See Managing Assessment Subsections.
3. Insert the merge string in your Word template at the position where the subsection feedback should appear.
4. Generate a test report to confirm the subsection text, answer text, and question text all appear as expected.

Formatting the output as a list

To present the answer report text as a bullet list, apply bullet formatting to the merge string itself. The engine iterates through the answers, adding a new bullet point for each piece of answer report text. The subsection rating text remains left-aligned at the top. Any formatting inside the report text (for example, a nested bullet) is subordinate to the formatting of the merge string, so it will be indented further.

Why is my answer text not showing?

• No report text was entered on the answer. The merge string only outputs answer report text that exists. Confirm the text is entered on the Report Text tab for the selected answer, not only as answer text.
• Rating Text 1 is empty. If you are using Rating Text 2 to 5 and nothing displays, the cause is usually an empty Rating Text 1. Open Rating Text 1, enter a single space, and save. This resolves the issue.
• The wrong section or subsection number is referenced. Confirm the SectionNo (and SubSectionNo, if used) in the merge string matches the section you intend to report on.

Related articles

• Configuring Ratings-Based Text
• Add and Manage Questions and Answers
• Managing Assessment Subsections
• What is a merge string, and how do I use one?
• How do I show different text in the report based on a respondent's score?