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How to find similar products in a schedule

Find alternatives to a product in your schedule at any time, review them, then add or replace. Works in new and legacy schedules.

Written by Gail Esterhuyse

Note: This guide applies to both new Schedules and legacy Schedules. Where the steps differ, it says so.

Use Find similar products to look for alternatives to a product in your schedule. You can search at any time, before you send a selection to your client or whenever you want to compare options. Your client doesn't need to reject the product first.

1. Start a search

  1. Open your project and schedule.

  2. Find the product you want alternatives for. Check that it has a product name and an image.

  3. Move your pointer over the product and select the Find similar products icon.
    In new Schedules, you can also right-click the product and select Find similar products.

  4. The side panel opens and shows the search progress.

NOTE: On a product your client has rejected, you may see View alternatives instead. This opens the same search and results.

Keep working while the search runs

Select Keep working in schedule to close the panel. Closing the panel doesn't cancel the search.

The search status shows below the schedule. Select it to reopen the panel. When results are ready, the status shows how many alternatives were found. The panel doesn't open by itself.

If you run several searches, some statuses may be grouped in a menu next to the ones you can see.

2. Review the suggestions

Results can include products from your studio's Product Library and from the web.

  1. Select a suggested product to open its details.

  2. Check the images, specifications and price.

  3. For a web result, open the product website to check the current listing.

  4. Select Go back to return to the results.

A similar product may not meet every project requirement. Check dimensions, finish, price, availability and lead time before you use it.

3. Add or replace a product

Select Use product, then choose an action:

  • Replace current product: replaces the original product with the suggestion.

  • Add to schedule: adds the suggestion as another product in the same section. The original stays in place.

  • Not interested: removes the suggestion from the results. The original stays in place.

After you add or replace a product, select View in Schedule in the confirmation message to find it. If you made a mistake, select Undo while it's still showing.

To run another search, select Search again in the results panel.

4. Check the product before your client sees it

  • Review the new product's details, cost and client price. The RRP shown in a suggestion doesn't mean your client price is complete.

  • Adding or replacing a product doesn't approve it for your client.

  • When it's ready for a decision, set it to Client Review and let your client know.

Troubleshooting

I can't see Find similar products

Move your pointer over the product to show its actions, or right click the product row, or in classic view click the ... icon. On a rejected product, look for View alternatives instead.

If neither option shows, contact us through live chat so we can check access for your studio.

I can’t start a search for a product

If Find similar products is greyed out, or you see “Add a product name and an image to this item to search for alternatives”, the product is missing one of these. Programa needs both to find matches.

  1. Open the product.

  2. Add a product name, an image, or both.

  3. Select Find similar products.

My search finished but found no similar products

The search finished but found no suggestions. Select Search again, or continue sourcing and add a product yourself.

My search failed with an error

The search couldn't complete. Select Try again in the panel. If it fails again, contact us through live chat with the project, schedule and product name, and a screenshot of the message.

I added a suggestion but can't see it in my schedule

Select View in Schedule in the confirmation message to the bottom right of your screen. If your schedule has filters on, check they aren't hiding the new product.

A suggested product isn’t right or is missing details

Select Use product > Not interested to dismiss it, or select Search again. For web results, check the supplier's listing and confirm any missing details with the supplier.

I added or replaced the wrong product

Select Undo in the confirmation message to the bottom right of your screen. Undo only shows for a short time. If it's gone, check the schedule before you make more changes, or contact us for help.

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