Merge Tags and Piped Text
Whether you’re sending your message via email or Canvas message, you have the option of uploading merge tags to use for piped text. To do so, follow these steps.
Create your merge tags file
Step 1: Export your grade roster from your Canvas course site.
Navigate to the grade book within your Canvas course site.
Click the Export dropdown menu and select “Export entire grade book.”
Step 2: Edit your merge tags file.
Download the file you exported and open it.
Delete any unnecessary columns, but leave the “ID” column, as that is the Canvas ID that allows Terracotta to work.
Your file must contain the LMS ID (column header: ID). Other fields are optional.
You may want to include students' names for use in your message. There may be other information you would like to pipe in, like a first name, or other relevant information related to your students and their work. You decide what the column header should be; Terracotta will pick up the header and add it to the “Insert piped text” menu that pops up when you hover over the field.
Upload your file
Step 3: Create your message in Terracotta
Open your experiment in Terracotta and create your message. Set up the message type, send date and time, and then click “Save & Close.” Then click “edit,” and upload your merge tags csv.
Set up piped text
Type your message into the message field, inserting piped text where you want it.
Once you’ve written your message, you can preview it as different students to be sure it’s populating as expected.