"After uploading catalogs, the items will be available for users to search for and purchase through SAP Ariba Buying. In this unit we look at the ways to use the searching options within the catalog interface."
Search Box
The search box shown below is where you can search all items in the catalog. You can search based on name, description, part number, supplier name, and more.
The system uses different functions to make the catalog search more efficient.
Stemming
Search for battery
Results: battery, batteries
Boolean
"or" operator allows you to search two or more options.
Exclude operator "-" will exclude terms from results.
Example: paperor plastic bags
Example: cable -USB
Partial Word
Trailing wildcard searching is automatic.
Want to search for polyethylene
Just type poly
Fuzzy Spelling
Similarly spelled results will be returned.
Search for Moniter
Results: Monitors
Below you have an example of search results and also information on how the search engine works.
Searching for Batteries
Search and Relevance
- Relevance determines the display order of items
- Catalog re-indexing updates the relevance
- Higher ranked items display depending:
- How closely words in the catalog match the search terms
- Lowest relevance field value of the item in the catalog file
- Items from preferred suppliers
- The line item number in the catalog file
Refining Search Results
- Accessible on left side of page
- Selections in effect until changed
- Custom catalog fields are selectable through this menu
- Provides guidance for the search process
- Refinement counts help to provide "sense of what is in catalog"
- Narrows a search result set
- Supports parametric types
Sorting Search Results
You can sort your search results by:
- Relevance (how closely result matches your search results) – this is the default sorting method
- Price
- Best selling
- Name