An intranet based comprehensive ordering system that allows authorized employees to simultaneously search many different vendor's catalogs that are stored in a server on a company's intranet. The present Electronic Stockroom and Catalog (ESAC) allows vendors to download their catalogs to the system for storage, browsing and possible purchase by authorized employees. ESAC also allows vendors to update catalogs that may already be in the system. ESAC stores the catalogs and provides the employee with the ability to easily search all of the vendors catalogs for desired items. Thus, employees have access to a wide variety of items. The present system is an attempt at providing the company with one-stop-shopping for every item that every employee will ever need in the course of their employment. If the desired item is available on-site i.e., in one of the stockrooms of the company, then ESAC informs the employee and provides location information relating to the desired item. If the desired item is not available on-site, then the item can be electronically ordered from a vendor. Generally speaking, the ESAC operates within the security of a company firewall and access is not available to unauthorized personnel or to the general public that may try to access ESAC via the Internet.