---
title: DREL for Repeatable Sections
description: This topic describes which DREL expressions are compatible with Repeatable Sections and how you can configure them.
meta_tier: Essentials-Advanced-Enterprise
source_file: Published/217831408.html
url: https://docs.truecontext.com/1374411/Content/Published/217831408.html
last_updated: '2026-03-18'
word_count: 556
---

# DREL for Repeatable Sections

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- [About](#About)
- [Reference one question in a repeatable section](#Answers)
- [Reference all questions in a repeatable section](#Sections)
- [Reference all questions in a nested repeatable section](#Nested)
- [Reference specific answers in a repeatable section](#Spec)
- [Reference a subset of questions in a repeatable section](#Strings)
- [Reference all questions in one line item of a repeatable section](#Strings)
- [Reference a question's text](#QuestText)

## About

Forms with repeatable sections will have multiple answers to the same question. DREL has additional functions to allow referencing answers in Repeatable Sections.

The [**Data Reference Expression Language**](../Features/DREL/DRELIntroduction.md) can be used to build a string using properties from the Data Record, including answer data. DREL is most commonly used for:

- [Data Record Naming](217499868_CustomizeNamingInMobileApp.md) (controls the naming of Inbox, Draft and Outbox items on mobile devices)
- [Data record Document Filename Expressions](217500858_ChangeHowFormSubmissionsAreNamed.md) (controls the naming of files routed by a data destination)
- [Custom filter rules in Data Destination Filtering](217500038_ApplyingFilteringtoDataDestinations.md#CustomRules) (filter rules determine if a data destination will execute or not)
- DREL is also used for functions specific to some data destinations, like mapping data and metadata.

### Reference one question in a Repeatable Section

Reference: **%a**[UniqueID][n]

- This reference is used to insert answers with Unique IDs matching the text in [ ]. These labels are found in the **Pages & Questions** tab in the Web Portal:
- [n] will return the numbered answer where the row sequence starts at 0, i.e., %a[UniqueID][1] will return the second answer, and %a[UniqueID][0] will return the first.
- Example: **%a**[Make] - this will display all answers to this question.

### Reference all questions in a Repeatable Section

Reference: **%e**[Repeatable Section ID]

- This reference is used to insert all data or answered questions from the section matching the text in [ ].
- Section labels can be found on the **Pages & Questions** tab in the Web Portal:
- Example: **%e**[TireInspection] - this will display all entered data or answered questions within this section.

### Reference specific answers in a Repeatable Section

Reference: [**n**]

- Each answer to a repeated question or section is given an index number. You can use this reference to pull a particular answer out of the repeated section.
- Note: Reference numbers start at 0, so the first answer in a repeated section would be called using [0].
- Example: **%e**[Equipment][**0**][**%a**[Make]: **%a**[Model]]

### Reference Nested Repeatable Sections

Sometimes forms will have a repeatable section nested within another repeatable section. This requires a particular syntax to pull answers to questions.

- **%e**[Parent Repeatable Section ID][Child Repeatable Section ID]

### Reference a subset of questions in a Repeatable Section

Using %a[UniqueID] will give you all the answers to that question, and %e[Section ID] will give you all the answers to all questions within that section. While this can be useful, it is more common to need to limit your answers further. You can do this by making a string of references. You can also add delimiters between answers, such as punctuation or other symbols.

- Example: **%e**[Labor][**%a**[Technician Name]: **%a**[Tech Sub-total]][, ]

### Reference a Question's Text

Reference: **%q[Unique ID]**

This reference is used to insert the text of a question with a Unique ID that matches the text in [ ]. *[Learn more about Unique IDs](360020428732.md).*

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