Catalogue information can be obtained directly from suppliers in text or Excel format. On occasion Microhouse is supplied with nationally distributed Price Lists by customers or the suppliers. When this happens the price list information will be converted to a format ready for COSTAR and distributed via email with instructions. This help file covers the steps you need follow do when you receive a catalogue file from Microhouse.

Step 1 – Save the Catalogue File

The file/s attached to the email received need to be saved to the hard drive of your Costar Server. Depending on the version of MS Windows you are running, the folder you need to save the attachment to on the Costar Server will either be:

• C:\Program Files\COSTAR\Server\CatImport, or
  
• C:\Program Files (x86)\COSTAR\Server\CatImport
  

Step 2 - Delete Previous Catalogue

If you already have an older catalogues in Costar that one needs to be removed before importing the new catalogue. This will avoid having old stock and prices in your system.

• From Costar & go to Inventory >> Setup Inventory Items
  
• Click on the + to the left of the appropriate supplier and click on the Delete Catalog buttons for the appropriate manufacturers. If this catalogue is for the entire supplier’s catalogue then the Delete Catalog button can be deleted without clicking the + button.
  

Step 3 – Import Catalogue

Now you are ready to import the new catalogue

• From Costar & go to Inventory >> Catalog Import
  
• Select the catalogue with the latest effective date and click on Import
  
• Catalogue Pricing Translations – Click on the drop down arrows under Catalogue Pricing and match up the price/s in the Catalogues to your system and then click Next
  
• Catalogue Supplier Translations – Select the appropriate Supplier in Our Supplier then click Next
  
• Catalogue Manufacturer Translations - Select the appropriate Manufacturer in Our Manufacturer and then click Next
  
• Catalogue Type & Model Translations - Ensure that the appropriate import tick boxes and product types have been selected for every item then click Next
  
• When the Done message appears the catalogue has been imported.
  
• Click the Back button to go back to the main menu.
  

If you use the Price Rules or Price Matrix to apply pricing formulas then you do not need to complete steps 4 and 5. Both apply automatically when the catalogue is imported and therefore the inventory and catalogue files are now up to date.

• Click on Inventory
  
• Click on Item Pricing
  
• Click on Pricing Formulas
  
• Click on the relevant pricing formula icon you use to calculate your costs for this catalogue (Note – if this is the first time you have done this you may need to contact the National Support Desk for help – Aust 1800 819 984, NZ - 0800 100 913)
  
• Click the Prepare button.
  
• Select the relevant catalogue from the drop down list and then click the Preview button
  
• Review the pricing and if you are happy with the results, close the report and click on Apply
  

Step 5 – Update Inventory from Catalogue

• Click on Inventory
  
• Click on Item Pricing
  
• Click on Update Inventory from Catalogue
  
• Click on the relevant icon, and then click on Prepare. To create an icon click the New button and fill out the relevant catalogue and supplier fields and then click OK and then click Prepare.
  
• Select Inventory from the pull down menu and then click Preview
  
• Close the report window by clicking on the cross in the top left hand corner of the screen
  
• Click on the Apply button
  
• Click on OK
  
• Close the Update pricing window by clicking on the cross in the right hand corner of the window.
  

The inventory & catalogue files are now updated.