DistiStock requires the following:

• Windows XP with Service Pack 3, or Windows Vista, or Windows 7, or Windows 8
• Internet Explorer 7 or higher
• Internet Connection

- OR -

• Windows Server 2008
• DistiStock configured to run in Windows XP (Service Pack 3) compatibility mode.

  To configure compatibility mode in Windows Server 2008 (you must be logged in as an administrator):

  1. Install DistiStock.
  2. Open Windows Explorer.
  3. Navigate to the folder where you installed DistiStock. If you used the defaults this will be C:\DistiStock.
  4. Navigate to the bin subfolder.
  5. Right-click on Dististock4.exe. A context menu will pop up.
  6. In the context menu that pops up, click Properties. The Properties dialog box will open.
  7. In the Properties dialog box, click on the Compatibility tab.
  8. Place a checkmark in the box beside Run this program in compatibility mode for:
  9. In the drop down list below the check box select Windows XP (Service Pack 3).
  10. Click the OK button. The Properties dialog box will close.
  11. Close Windows Explorer.
  12. Start using DistiStock.

Yes. If you prefer you may install DistiStock manually. The following packages need to be downloaded and installed in order to use DistiStock. Download and install them in the order indicated:

1. Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 - Full
   Click here to download the Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 - Full
    
2. Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)
   Click here to download the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)
    
3. DistiStock Windows Installer Package
   Click here to download the DistiStock Windows Installer Package
    

Please refer to DistiStock Enterprise Technical Information for an explanation

The distributor names change color to inform you that the distributor returned information.
A yellow background means that the distributor's information is unavailable at this time. This may be a result of momentary network congestion or maintenance at the distributor's end. You may click on the "Repeat No-Response Distis" button that will appear next to the Search button in the toolbar, to search again, yellow backgrounded Disti's only.

The following shortcuts can be used to quickly move between and inside screens.

• Click on a green-colored distributor name in the Distributors Panel to jump
  to that distributor's results.
• Click on a red X'ed distributor name in the Distributors Panel to open that
  distributor's home page.
• Double click anywhere inside a distributor's results to jump to that
  distributor's row(s) in the Summary Page.
• Click anywhere on the Separation Bar to go back to the top of the Results Page.
• Click on a distributor's logo to open that distributor's home page.

Click on the red minus button in the top right corner of the Distributors Panel to collapse it. Then you'll see a green plus button in the same corner. Click on this button to expand the Distributors Panel.

Click on the column header marked "Price Each".

All rows with pricing information are placed at the top of the Summary for easy comparison. The results are sorted from least expensive to most expensive. If you click on the same column header again, the order changes from most expensive to least expensive.

Regardless of how the price is sorted, the parts with price information are always displayed at the top of the summary.

When you first install DistiStock prices are shown in US dollars. If you prefer to use a different currency:

1. Click on the drop down menu at the top right of the toolbar labeled "Change Currency".
2. In the drop down list, click on the currency you prefer to use.
3. To see the prices in the original published currency, click on "AS IS" at the bottom of the drop-down list.

DistiStock will continue to use your chosen currency until you select another one.

Click on the column header marked "In Stock".

All distributors that show quantity in stock are moved to the top of the Summary. The quantities are sorted from highest to lowest. If you click on the same column header again, the order changes from lowest to highest.

Double-click anywhere on a row in the Summary Page to go directly to the same distributor in the Results Page.

There are two exceptions.

• Double-clicking on the Part Number starts a new search for that particular Part Number.
• Clicking on one of the buttons in the Buy column goes to the distributor's web site.

Often distributors report prices for several price breaks. If you want to compare prices from several distributors for the same quantity, here's how:

1. Click on the drop down menu labeled "Change Filter" in the toolbar.
2. Click on "Desired Quantity Pricing"
3. In the dialog box that opens, enter the quantity you want to see pricing for.
4. Press Enter or click the OK button.

The summary changes to show the available prices for the closest quantity to the quantity that you have specified. To find the distributor that has the best price for that quantity, click on the column header marked "Price Each". The distributor with the lowest price will be at the top of the summary.

DistiStock reports the information that the distributors make available. If some information is not supplied then DistiStock leaves the corresponding cells blank.

You may adjust when the lead times are shown in bold red by going to the Preferences Page and adjusting the lead time tolerance. If the lead time is longer than your setting, it will show in bold red. This will alert you when the reported lead times are longer than your tolerance.

The order of the columns in the Summary Page can be changed by a drag-and-drop operation.

1. Position the mouse pointer on the column header for the column you wish to move.
2. Click and hold down the mouse pointer.
3. Start dragging the column header. An outline will appear around the column header.
4. Move the column header to where you want to position the column. As you move the column header, a dark vertical blue line appears showing where the column will be inserted.
5. When the blue line is positioned where you want to move the column, release the mouse button.

The column will appear in its new position.

In addition to changing the order of columns, you can also change the width of an individual column. Here's how:

1. Position the mouse pointer on the right side of column header for the column you wish to move. When the pointer is positioned correctly it changes to a double headed arrow.
2. Click and hold down the mouse pointer. An outline appears all the way down the right edge of the column.
3. Drag the mouse left or right, to decrease or increase the width of the column.
4. When the column is the width you want, release the mouse button.

The column width adjusts to the width you have set. Alternatively, you can also "autosize" the column. To do so:

1. Position the mouse pointer on the right side of column header for the column you wish to move. When the pointer is positioned correctly it changes to a double headed arrow.
2. Double-click.

The column width adjusts so that the column can display all the text in the widest cell of the column.

The column width and positions can be reset back to their default size and location as follows:

1. Go to the Preferences Page.
2. Click the button labeled "click here" at the end of the line that begins with "You can resize and move columns ... "

The column widths and positions are restored to their default settings.

Many times distributors report part numbers that are not what you searched for, but are possible alternatives to the part you need. If you want more information about the new part number double-click on it. A new search begins for the part number you clicked on.

Minimum order quantities can be compared by clicking on the "MOQ" column header.

Rows for which the distributor stated a minimum order quantity are moved to the top of the summary with the lowest MOQ at the top. If you click the column header again the rows will be sorted into descending order, with the highest MOQ at the top.

The log is to help you keep track of your searches and to repeat past searches easily by double-clicking on a part number.

No.

No.

Click on the button for your preferred region. You may add or subtract individual distributors by clicking on them. All subsequent searches will retain your preference until you change it. Program updates will retain your preference until you change it.