Comparing Items

About Comparing Items

The Compare functionality enables you to compare records in a results list, which were obtained during either an item or a company search.    This operation allows you to compare the differences that exist between the item attributes and the company details that are defined for each of the selected items.  When comparing items, a thumbnail image of the item being compared is also available for quick reference.  By selecting the base item for comparison, you are able to compare item and supplier information by viewing the highlighted portions of the item details being compared against the base item.  The Compare functionality gives you the ability to make intelligent choices in your part selection process by giving you the tools to select the most appropriate item for your design from a list of similar parts. 

When Comparing Items

  • When selecting items for comparison, the first item displayed in the list is automatically defined as the base item for comparison by default.  To change the base item designation, select the option button positioned above the item in the Compare window.  The selected item will become the base item for the comparison.
  • The information displayed during the comparison of items or companies will differ depending on the selected form being applied to the view.

Accessing the Compare Command

Within CES, there are many methods of accessing the Compare command. To complete the scenario below, select one of the following methods to access the Compare window:

 
If You Are Using the... Then...

Search Results window

  1. Follow the steps to search for an object.

  2. In the Search Results window, select the objects that you want to compare.

  3. Right-click the object and select Compare from the shortcut menu.

Relationship Navigator

  1. From the Relationship Navigator window, select the objects that you want to compare.

  2. Right-click and select Compare from the shortcut menu.

How To Compare Items

This task explains how to Compare Items:
  1. From the Search Results window, select two or more items that you want to compare.  Right-click, and select Compare from the drop-down menu.  The Sourcing Compare window appears with the two items listed.

     

  2. Notice that the first item listed in the Search Results window is automatically designated as the base item for comparison, which is identified by the selected Base Part option.  As a result, the second item is now the differentiating item - or the item that is different from the base item.  Therefore, the attributes of the second item that are different from the base item are highlighted for easy comparison.  If you want to change which item is designated as the base item, you simply need to select the option button over the desired part, and the comparison will update accordingly.

The Sourcing Compare Window

This table describes the fields displayed in the Sourcing Compare window:

Fields Description
Internal Organization Usually an organization that belongs to the hierarchy of organizations.
Mfr Item Description A unique name identifier of the manufacturing item.
Manufacturer An external organization that manufactures items.
Currency Something that is in circulation (coins, treasury notes, and bank notes) as a medium of exchange.
Internal Item No An item used (consumed) internally by an internal organization.  This item may be used to construct Bills of Materials (BOMs) managed by the internal organization.
Manufacturer Item No A item from a manufacturer, usually defined by a unique manufacturer identifier number.
Supplier Item Description A unique name identifier of the supplier item.
List Price UOM How the price is calculated in bulk quantity.
Supplier An external organization that supplies items.
Supplier Item No An item from a supplier, usually defined by a unique supplier identifier number that may be related to more than one manufacturer item number.
Internal Item Description A unique name identifier of the internal item.
List Price Displays all the list/fixed prices associated with the selected item.

This table describes the buttons displayed in the Sourcing Compare window:

Buttons Description
Designates the base item from which the compare functionality launches its item comparison.
Designates the compared item from which the compare functionality launches its base item comparison.