Getting Started with Tooling Catalogs+

Overview

What Is Catalogs+?

Catalogs+ is Helios's industrial product catalog library. It gives members access to thousands of supplier and manufacturer product catalogs in PDF format, organized by brand. Browse, search, filter, save, and open catalogs directly in the portal using the built-in document viewer, making it easy to research products, compare specifications, add annotations, and reference technical documents without leaving the platform.

Who Is It For?

  • Businesses - find supplier catalogs, research tooling options, and share references with your team. Replace scattered PDFs and vendor websites with one searchable library inside Helios.
  • Experts - reference product specs and build client recommendations without leaving the platform. Organize bookmarked pages by client or project for instant access during engagements.

Key Features

  • Browse 800+ brands and thousands of catalogs in one place
  • Full-text PDF search - finds part numbers, specs, and product names inside catalog pages, not just titles
  • Annotate, highlight, and comment directly on catalog pages using the document viewer
  • Bookmark pages and organize them into collections by project or client
  • Save catalogs to Helios Drive for team access
  • Request or upload catalogs that aren't in the library yet
  • PageWeaver - compile bookmarked pages from multiple catalogs into a single custom PDF

Key Terms

  • Catalog - A document published by a manufacturer or supplier listing their products, specifications, and technical data.
  • Brand - A manufacturer or supplier whose product catalogs are hosted in the Catalogs+ library.
  • Brands Directory - The alphabetical index of all brands available in Catalogs+.
  • Catalog Listing - A specific catalog entry showing cover image, title, year, product category count, and brand name.
  • Collection - Catalogs you have starred for quick access.
  • Saved to Drive - Catalogs you have saved to your Helios Drive for continued reference within the portal.
  • Document Viewer - The built-in file viewer used to open and interact with catalogs. Supports navigation, zoom, annotations, highlights, text notes, bookmarks, search, and printing.
  • Annotation - A markup added to a page in the document viewer, such as a text box, highlight, underline, strikethrough, shape, or sticky note.
  • Bookmark - An orange ribbon icon visible in the top-right corner of any open page. Clicking it saves that specific page to your Bookmarks section for future reference.
  • Request or Upload - A feature allowing users to request a missing catalog or upload one for review.

How to Access Catalogs+

  1. Log in to Helios.
  2. In the left navigation panel, click Catalogs+ to expand the submenu.
  3. Click Brands to browse the brand directory, or click Listings to browse all catalog PDFs directly.

How to Browse Brands

  1. Click Brands under Catalogs+ in the left navigation.
  2. The Brands directory loads showing 800+ brands in a grid layout.
  3. Use the alphabetical tabs (A–Z) at the top to jump to brands starting with a specific letter.
  4. Use the Search brands field to search by manufacturer or supplier name.
  5. Toggle between List view and Grid view using the icons in the upper right.
  6. Click the Star icon on any brand card to add it to Favorites.
  7. Click a brand's logo or name to filter the Catalog Listings to show only catalogs from that brand.

Understanding the Page Layout

Catalogs+ Listings is accessed via Catalogs+ → Listings in the left navigation. Three tabs run across the top: All Catalogs (the full directory), Collection (your starred catalogs), and Saved to Drive (catalogs saved to your Helios Drive). A search icon, filter icon, sort icon, grid/list view toggle, and Request or Upload button appear in the top-right.

How to Browse and Filter Catalog Listings

  1. Click Listings under Catalogs+ in the left navigation.
  2. The Catalogs+ page loads showing all available catalogs.
  3. Use the All Catalogs, Collection, and Saved to Drive tabs to filter your view.
  4. Click the Filter icon to narrow results by brand, category, year, or other criteria.
  5. Click the Sort icon to change the sort order (for example, by Posted Date).
  6. Each catalog card shows: cover image, title, year, number of product categories, and brand logo.
  7. Click the Star icon on a card to add it to your Collection.
  8. Click the Save to Drive icon (document with arrow) to save the catalog to your Helios Drive.

Catalog Card Layout

Each catalog card in Grid view displays: a cover image preview, the catalog name, the brand/series (for example, Catalogs | 2024), the number of product categories, the brand logo, and three action icons: a star (add to Collection), a Save to Drive icon, and an Open button to launch the catalog in the document viewer.

How to Open a Catalog in Document Viewer

  1. Find the catalog you want to view.
  2. Click the Open button on the catalog card.
  3. The catalog opens in the document viewer.
  4. The viewer has three main areas: Left panel (thumbnail strip, table of contents, bookmarks) / Main document area (where PDF pages are rendered) / Top toolbar (annotation, zoom, navigation, and sharing tools).

How to Navigate Within a Catalog

  1. Use the left panel to navigate: click the thumbnail tab (grid icon) to browse page thumbnails; click the list/TOC tab to view the table of contents; click the bookmark tab to view bookmarked pages.
  2. Use the zoom slider in the left panel to adjust thumbnail size.
  3. Use the fullscreen button (dotted square) to expand the viewer to full screen.
  4. Use the layout toggle to switch between single-page view and side-by-side double-page view.
  5. Use the Zoom In button (magnifying glass with +) in the toolbar to increase zoom on the document content.
  6. Use the back arrow in the top toolbar to go back to the Listings page.

How to Bookmark a Page

  1. While viewing a catalog, navigate to the page you want to save.
  2. Click the orange bookmark ribbon icon in the top-right corner of the document area.
  3. Type the bookmark name and select the destination folder/collection.
  4. Click Create Bookmark.
  5. The page is saved to your Bookmarks. Access it from the bookmark tab in the left panel, or from the Bookmarks section in the left navigation.

How to Annotate a Catalog

Document Viewer provides a full set of annotation tools in the top toolbar. Annotations are personal markups visible only to you.

  1. Add a text note: Click the T (Text) tool in the toolbar. Click anywhere on the document to place a text box and type your note.
  2. Draw a shape: Click the Rectangle tool (red square outline) to draw a bounding box around an area of interest.
  3. Highlight text: Click the Highlight tool (yellow A icon) then click and drag over text to apply a yellow highlight.
  4. Underline text: Click the Underline tool (A with red underline) then drag over text.
  5. Strike through text: Click the Strikethrough tool (A with a line through it) and drag over text.
  6. Add a Callout: Click the Callout tool (speech bubble icon) and click on the page to place a comment bubble.
  7. Insert an image: Click the Image tool (mountain/landscape icon) to insert an image onto the page.
  8. Change annotation color: Click the Color Picker (palette icon) to select a different color, text style, font size, stroke, or opacity for your annotations.
  9. Undo / Redo: Click the Undo (left curved arrow) or Redo (right curved arrow) buttons to reverse or reapply the last annotation action.

How to Search Within a Catalog

  1. Click the Search icon (magnifying glass) in the top-right area of the toolbar.
  2. A search input will appear. Type the keyword or product name you are looking for.
  3. The viewer will highlight matching text within the document and allow you to jump between results.

How to Print a Catalog

  1. Click the Print icon (printer) in the toolbar.
  2. Your browser's print dialog will open. Select your printer settings and print the desired pages.

How to Request or Upload a Catalog

  1. Click the Request or Upload button in the upper right of the Catalog Listings page.
  2. Follow the prompts to either submit a request for a catalog that is missing from the library, or upload a catalog PDF for review and inclusion. Maximum file size: 400 MB.


Frequently Asked Questions

How many brands and catalogs are available in Catalogs+?+
Catalogs+ currently hosts 800+ brands and thousands of individual catalog PDFs covering tooling, abrasives, fluids, safety equipment, raw materials, and more.
Are my annotations saved and visible to others?+
Annotations in the document viewer are personal markups. They are intended for personal reference and are not visible to other users viewing the same catalog.
What is the difference between Collection and Saved to Drive?+
Collection is a starred favorites list for quick browsing access on the Catalogs+ page. Saved to Drive stores the catalog in your Helios Drive folder, making it accessible from your Drive view alongside other documents.
Can I download catalogs to my computer?+
Catalogs can be saved to and downloaded from your Helios Drive within the portal.
How do I search for a specific product inside a catalog?+
Open the catalog in the document viewer and click the Search icon (magnifying glass) in the toolbar to search for keywords within the document.
I need a catalog that is not in the library. What can I do?+
Click the Request or Upload button on the Catalogs+ Listings page to submit a catalog request. The Helios team will work to source and add it.
Are all catalogs free to access?+
Yes. All catalogs in the Catalogs+ library are freely accessible to registered Helios members.


Troubleshooting

A catalog is not loading in the viewer.+
Try refreshing the page. If the issue persists, check your internet connection or try a different browser. Large catalogs may take additional time to render on slower connections.
I cannot find a brand I am looking for.+
Use the Search field on the Brands page to search by exact name. If the brand is not in the directory, use Request or Upload to submit a request.
My Saved to Drive catalogs are not appearing in Helios Drive.+
Navigate to Helios Drive in the left navigation and check your folders. If the catalog still does not appear, try saving it again from the Catalogs+ page.
The filter shows 0 results even though I know catalogs exist.+
You may have an active brand or category filter applied. Click Reset next to the filter bar to clear all active filters and reload the full listing.
My annotations aren't saving.+
Make sure you're clicking away from the annotation tool after adding text or shapes. Some annotations require a click to confirm before they're saved. Refresh the page and reopen the catalog if the issue continues. If it persists, report it through the Helios Support modal.
I placed an annotation but it has disappeared.+
Annotations may not persist across sessions depending on your session state. If you need to preserve notes permanently, consider writing them in a Helios Drive document alongside the saved catalog.


Tips for Getting the Most Out of Catalogs+

  • Use Collections to group catalogs you reference frequently by project or material type so you can find them quickly without re-browsing the full directory.
  • Save to Drive puts a copy of the catalog in your Helios Drive for archived access, while Collection is a lightweight shortcut that links to the live catalog.
  • Use the Year filter when you need the most current product specifications. Older catalog editions may have outdated pricing or part numbers.
  • The Brands page (Catalogs+ → Brands) lets you browse manufacturers alphabetically and see all their available catalogs in one place.


Smart Bookmarks →

Secure Helios Drive →

Instant Global Search →

Share an Idea or Feedback

or join our Ideas to Impact program

peopl-with-lightbulb-icon-2026-01-07-23-53-47-utc copy.jpg

Help us improve Helios, uncover new opportunities, and build what matters most. Share your idea, feedback, suggestion, or recommendation.