When to use search
While the eight category browser works well when you know exactly where an item sits, there are times when a search is faster — when the category is ambiguous, when you know the product code, or when you want to see every product from a particular manufacturer in one list.
Ensign provides three search methods, each suited to different situations.
Advanced search
If you are unsure which of the eight categories an item falls into, use the Advanced Search button at the top of the item panel.
Advanced search displays every manufacturer in the software in a single list, removing the category layer entirely. Select a manufacturer to see all of their available products across all categories. This is often the quickest way to find items when the category is ambiguous — cable glands, for example, could reasonably appear under Cable, Cable Management, or Accessories.
Some users find the advanced search easier to navigate than the category browser for everyday use, since it eliminates the question of which category an item falls into. Try both approaches and use whichever suits your workflow.
Component type search
Within advanced search you can also search by component type. Rather than browsing by manufacturer, you search for a type of product across all manufacturers.
For example, searching for "cable cleats" returns every cable cleat in the database regardless of manufacturer. This is useful when the specification does not mandate a particular supplier and you want to compare options.
Description and product code search
Use the search bar in the top-right corner of the takeoff screen, or the Description or Code Search option within advanced search. Both work the same way — type a term and press Enter.
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Type a product code (e.g. "K2747") or a description keyword (e.g. "slotted channel") and press Enter.
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The software returns all matching items. Assemblies appear alongside individual products in a distinct red colour so you can tell them apart. If you only want to see assemblies, tick the Assemblies checkbox at the bottom of the search results screen.
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Double-click an item to view its full details — unit labour hours, trade price, discount, and net rate.
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Enter the quantity and press Confirm to add it to the current section. Press Confirm and Reselect to stay in the search results and continue adding items.
Search tips
- Product codes are the most precise way to find an item. If you have a specification with product codes listed, typing them directly is usually faster than browsing.
- Partial descriptions work well too. For example, typing "M8" will return all M8 fixings, then you can use the description filter box at the bottom of the results to narrow down to "nut", "rod", or "spring" as needed.
- Thread sizes and sizing terms (e.g. "50mm", "2.5mm") can be combined with product types to quickly find what you need.
When searching for spring channel nuts (sometimes called Zebedees in the trade), search for "spring channel nut" — the trade nickname will not return results.