Welcome

The tutorial covers: How you "find it" using one of MSC's nine search
engines, how to view product detail information through detail view and
catalog view, and how to order products.

MSC's Electronic Catalog has been organized to be fast, convenient and easy
to use; and to provide lots of ways to view the products.

This button takes you to the next screen (click it now!):


Welcome

This button marks the end of a section, and takes you back to the table of contents (click it now!):

Note: Windows 3.1 or NT users must click the Help Topics button to return to the table of contents.


New Features

E-mail Enhancement

Order History Search Enhancement

Order History Search Print Enhancement


New Features

Save an order by clicking the "Email" button. You must name the file and save it to your desktop, or any folder on your PC.


New Features

You can create an e-mail from your own e-mail software (your e-mail package must support attachments). Attach the saved order file and send it to MSC at the following address: cdorders@mscdirect.com


General Search Information

This module is about the elements common to all search functions.

The "Find It!" button will always bring you to MSC's electronic catalog search engine.


General Search Information

"Detail View" brings you to the product detail screen. Sort each column by clicking on the column, or resize columns.


General Search Information

Double click on the line item to bring you into "Detail View."


General Search Information

Double clicking on the green number in the product detail view brings up the "Open Order" dialog box or adds the product to your current open order.


General Search Information

Clicking on the "Catalog Ad" tab displays the actual ad from the printed catalog.


General Search Information

Click on the green MSC part number and click the "Order" button to add the item to your current order. Double click on the green MSC part number and the product detail view for that item will appear.


General Search Information

The next large button on the top panel is the "Order Form" button.  It will take you to your current order.


General Search Information

"Front Page" will always take you to the front page of the MSC Electronic Catalog.


General Search Information

"Back" and "Forward" take you to the screen you were on before or after the current screen.


General Search Information

All the way to the right are three icons that will take you to this "Tutorial," to MSC's text "Help" function, and will allow you to "Exit" the catalog.


General Search Information

To access "Help," click on the yellow question mark.


General Search Information

Highlight a product and click on "Order." The product will be added to your order or you will be asked  to create a new order.


General Search Information

Select an item and click "Hot List" to add it to your "Hot List." Click "OK" to confirm your choice. Use the delete button to remove items. This is one way MSC lets you create your own custom catalog.


General Search Information

Select an item and click "Own Number."  A requester screen appears asking for your own part number, which will be linked to MSC's part number. This will make it possible for you to use the "Own Number" search engine.


General Search Information

Click "Print" to get a printout of the "Product Details" area or a reproduction of the catalog ad.


Building an Order

This module is about how to order MSC products you've found.

First, highlight the product you want to order.


Building an Order

Click "Order."


Building an Order

Click on "New Order" to start a new order. If you already have a purchase order open you'll be taken directly to the next screen.


Building an Order

An "Edit Quantity" window will appear that allows you to enter the quantity you desire (if a quantity discount is available it will also appear in this window). Then click "Order."


Building an Order

To view your current order click the "Order Form" button, which allows you to order these items or request a quotation.


Building an Order

There's also a "Notes" box for you to record your comments.


Building an Order

The "Bill To/Ship To Info" button is located to the left. This button allows you to select or type in where the order should be billed, as well as where the products should be shipped.


Building an Order

Your default shipping and billing address should appear in this window if you entered the information during the CD's installation. If you need to add a new shipping and/or billing address, click on the "New" button. Please note that any information previously entered for other addresses has been saved.


Building an Order

Indicate whether the new address is for billing, shipping, or both.


Building an Order

To select the shipping address for the current order double click the address you desire in the shipping window.


Building an Order

To select the billing address for the current order double click the address you desire in the billing window.


Building an Order

Click on the "Edit" button to go to the Edit Address screen to change an address.


Building an Order

Don't forget to choose your shipping and payment method at the bottom of the "Bill To/Ship To" screen.


Building an Order

If you choose "MSC Open Account" enter your account number in the space provided. If you do not know your account number, please call MSC at 1-800-645-7270.


Building an Order

Click "Order Entries."


Building an Order

To save your order click "Save." To save your order with a different name or number, click the "Save As" button and enter the new name.


Building an Order

The "Print" button prints the current order. If you would like to print a different order click "Open" and choose your desired order. Then follow the steps above.


Building an Order

For more information on ordering, click on "Help."


Category Search - Product Group

There are two ways to search for an item by product category.


Category Search - Product Group

Either click on the large icons using the scroll bar on the right side of the screen to display more categories, or…


Category Search - Product Group

Click on the "Down" arrow in the word box to activate the drop down list.


Category Search - Product Group

You can also customize your view of the Electronic Catalog by clicking on "Custom Pages" and selecting only those categories which interest you.


Category Search - Product Group

Click and drag the selected category to the top of the screen to make it appear first. Drag and drop the other categories in the order you wish for them to appear.


Category Search - Key Word

To view only the categories that contain your desired products click on "Search" and enter key words about your desired product. You will be told how many product categories match your criteria. Click "OK" and the categories that match your criteria will be displayed.


Category Search - Key Word

If "View Only Search Result" is checked you will only see the product categories that contain your search criteria. To view all the product categories, click "View Only Search Result" to clear the check box.


Category Search - Key Word

To browse a product category click on one of the product category images. For example, find and click the "Safety" icon.


Category Search - Key Word

This will bring up a screen that breaks down the category into subcategories. An example in Safety is "Eye Protection."


Category Search - Key Word

Use the scroll bar on the right to see more product categories. Find "Eye Protection" and click to see its subcategories.


Category Search - Key Word

Once you are on the last subcategory you will be presented with product attributes to help narrow your search.


Category Search - Key Word

To enter criteria for a product attribute, click on "Select" and a list drops down giving you all the valid values for that product listed in the MSC Catalog.


Category Search - Key Word

Select your criteria and notice that the screen will update the Found number for the products that match your criteria. Click on "List Search Result" to see the matching items. Note: you can enter search criteria for all the product attributes or you can enter values for one or more of them.


Category Search - Key Word

The results are displayed below. Double clicking an item will display its product detail view.


Key Word Search

To find products by description, MSC has developed a keyword search.


Key Word Search

Click on the "Enter Search Words" box and the cursor will appear.


Key Word Search

Enter your criteria in this box. For example, type "Drill."


Key Word Search

The word appears here in the "Available Words" box. Multiple words can be entered, separated by a space. For each word entered, the "Available Words" box will search to find if the next word is available. Entering multiple words improves your search results.


Key Word Search

Type in "1/4 drill solid carbide."


Key Word Search

Then click "Search."


Key Word Search

Items matching your search words will appear in the results area.


Key Word Search

You can also use "wild cards" such as an * after the first few characters of the keyword. The search will display all of the words that begin with those characters.


Cross Reference

This search allows you to cross-reference an MSC part number with a manufacturer's or competitor's part number.


Cross Reference

For instance, enter a competitor's part number.


Cross Reference

Click the "Search" button and the matching MSC part numbers are displayed.


Cross Reference

You can also use "wild cards" such as an * after the first few characters of the part number. Enter "52355*" and click "Search."


Cross Reference

The result will display all of the part numbers that begin with those characters.


Cross Reference

Double click on an entry to view its product details.


MSC Part Number Search

To initiate a Part Number search enter the eight-digit MSC part number into the text box.


MSC Part Number Search

You can also use "wild cards" such as an * after the first few characters of the part number.  Enter "916*" and click "Search."


MSC Part Number Search

The result will display all of your part numbers that begin with those characters.


Hot List Search

The "Hot List" feature allows you to create your own custom catalog of favorite items by product categories.


Hot List Search

Please note that you must have created your own "Hot List" using another search engine before you can use "Find By Hot List."


Hot List Search

Double click to see the product detail view or look at the catalog ad.


Browse History Search

Browse History gives you a list of the last 100 items you have viewed while using the CD-ROM.


Browse History Search

Select an item and double click to be taken to the product detail view.


Find by Own Number

You can search by your own part number, once you have built your own list of part numbers, using one of the other search engines.


Find by Own Number

You can either click on the "List All" button or you can search by entering your part number.


Find by Own Number

If you use "wild cards" such as an * after the first few characters of your part number, the search will display all of your part numbers that begin with those characters.


Order History Search

"Find By Order History" allows you to find products you have ordered while using the CD-ROM.


Order History Search

Click the "Advanced" button.


Order History Search

Enter your search criteria in the available fields (MSC Part #, Start Date, End Date, User Part #, Ordered By, Job Number, P.O. Status, or Account) and click "OK."


Order History Search

Click "Search" to retrieve the matching orders.


Order History Search

Double click on the order to enter the product detail view.


Order History Search

Click on the "Print/Save" button.


Order History Search

Select the order in which you would like to save or print the columns.


Order History Search

Select "Print/FAX," "Save," or "Both" and click OK to perform the action. Selecting "Print/Fax" will print your order history or, if you have fax software installed, this option will send the order history to your faxing software. Selecting "Save" will allow you to save your order history as a text file for your records. Selecting "Both" will print your order history and save it as a text file.


Find by Page Number

Enter a page number from the current 1999/2000 Big Book Catalog to use the "Find By Page Number" search engine. For example, enter 900.


Find by Page Number

The search returns all products displayed on page 900.


Find by Page Number

Select and double click for the product detail view.