TRAINING GUIDE POG Compliance Policy v6.3

THE HOME DEPOT TRAINING GUIDE POG Compliance Policy v6.3 Presented by: Space Analysis & Planogram Team

Date Changes Modified By June 2011 Updated Template Planogram Team November 2011 ID-UPC update to Common Procedures section Planogram Team T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION... 4 CREATION AND SUBMISSION PROCESS OVERVIEW... 6 STEP 1: CREATE POGS LOCALLY AT SUPPLIER SITE... 7 POG ACTION OVERVIEW... 7 METHOD A: CREATE NEW POG BUILD FROM SCRATCH... 8 METHOD B: CREATE OR UPDATE POG FROM EXISTING POG... 15 COMMON PROCEDURES... 19 LOG INTO SUPPLIER GUARDIAN... 20 FIRST-TIME USERS: ACCESSING THD RESOURCES FOLDER... 21 DOWNLOAD CURRENT PRODUCT DATA... 22 IMPORT CURRENT PRODUCT DATA TO YOUR POG... 23 VIEW CURRENT CATEGORY LIST... 26 PLANOGRAM INPUT FORM FOR SUPPLIERS... 27 USING THE PLANOGRAM INPUT FORM... 28 REQUIRED POG DATA FIELDS... 29 OPTIONAL POG DATA FIELDS... 30 DATA FIELDS OVERWRITTEN BY THD... 31 REVIEWING PRODUCT-LEVEL DATA IN ITEM DATA MANAGEMENT... 31 STEP 2: UPLOAD PSA FILES TO THD... 32 IKS ACTION MENU... 32 UPLOAD POG (PSA) FILES... 33 CHECK UPLOAD STATUS... 35 STEP 3: ASSIGN STORES... 36 STORE ASSIGNMENT PROCESS... 37 ASSIGN BY PLANOGRAM... 38 ASSIGN BY STORE... 42 POG TO BASE TABLES ALIGNMENT VALIDATION... 44 STEP 4: PDFS CREATED BY THD... 45 STANDARD PDF LAYOUT... 45 STEP 5: STORES VIEW AND SET POGS... 47 THE POG PORTAL... 48 VIEWING STORE ASSIGNMENTS... 48 PRINTING WITH THE SHOPPING CART... 49 TROUBLESHOOTING ISSUES... 50 IKS ERROR MESSAGES... 51 STORE-POG VISIBILITY ISSUES... 57 APPENDIX... 59 GLOSSARY OF TERMS... 59 SAFETY STANDARDS... 60 ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS... 60 NRS (NATIONAL RACKING STANDARDS)... 60 ALTERNATE POG DATA ENTRY METHOD... 61 PRODUCT-LEVEL DATA FIELDS... 64 ITEM DATA MANAGEMENT POG CHECKLIST... 69 T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 3

Introduction How to Use This Guide Thank you for building planograms (POGs) for The Home Depot! Your efforts help deliver a uniform store appearance and help merchants execute their merchandising strategy. This guide provides the critical information needed to successfully publish planograms for the stores. It provides: A detailed overview of the entire POG process, from supplier creation through store execution Information on completing common procedures and accessing and using THD supplier resources Troubleshooting scenarios for reference if you encounter challenges during any part of the process An appendix of helpful tools and references The Key icon is used to highlight key points in this guide. The focus of this guide is on compliance and submission of POGs to THD. Refer to this guide when building and assigning POGs to ensure that stores are able to view your POGs. Make sure you are using the most current version of this policy; discard any previous versions. POG Compliance Webinar The POG Compliance Webinar is another valuable resource for suppliers learning to navigate through the POG system. It walks you step-by-step through the process. Recorded webinars are available on HDLink and can be viewed at your leisure. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 4

Space Planning Software Training Overview of Requirements System Requirements Space Planning by Intactix Published by JDA This guide does not cover step-by-step POG creation instructions. Refer to your Space Planning software documentation and training for instructions on using the software to create and edit POGs. JDA offers training on their POG construction software and documentation is proprietary. Go to http://www.jdalearn.com/ for more information. The Home Depot s standards for all externally created POGs are detailed in this guide. These requirements ensure that stores receive consistent, safe and accurate POGs. Your files must comply with the requirements in this guide. THD is unable to accept POGs that are not in complete compliance. All POGs must adhere to THD s safety, environmental and racking standards (see Appendix sections). All POG data must comply with the specific formats and other requirements outlined in this guide. Files must be created with JDA-compatible Space Planning software and submitted in a.psa-compatible format. Flash 10 (http://www.adobe.com/) Internet Explorer 6 or above JDA (or JDA-compliant) Space Planning software 7.5 or above THD selected Space Planning by Intactix (Space Planning) published by JDA as its space management software to create POGs and perform space analysis. Space Planning is the exclusive tool used by THD s internal POG team to produce POGs. THD has negotiated pricing for all suppliers; however, all specific negotiations are between JDA and the supplier. For ordering instructions, see the current pricing list and ordering procedures on HomeDepotLink under the Related Content section: Home > Business Operations > Assortment & Space Planning > Planograms JDA-compatible POG Software Many alternative JDA-compatible POG software packages exist; if you do not use JDA Space Planning, check with your POG software vendor to find out if your software is JDA-compatible. THD makes no warranty or guarantee that file conversions from these applications will be compatible with its system. The only way to ensure files are compatible with THD is by utilizing Space Planning by Intactix, version 7.5 or above. Third-party POG Management Questions? There are also several third-party companies that many of our suppliers hire to create and manage their POGs using the appropriate software. For a current list of companies, go to HomeDepotLink under the Related Content section: Home > Business Operations > Assortment & Space Planning > Planograms Please direct questions concerning building and editing POGs to JDA (or your alternate POG software vendor). If you need assistance or have questions regarding POG submission or compliance, please e-mail the POG team at Plan_O_Gram@homedepot.com. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 5

Creation and Submission Process Overview Create POGs Locally at Supplier Site Upload PSA Files to THD Assign Stores PDFs Created by THD Stores View and Set POGs The Five-step Process Detailed Steps in Guide STEP 1: Create POGs Locally at Supplier Site (p. 7) Suppliers create POGs with their own JDA-compatible software. Suppliers have access to rich resources from THD, such as fixture libraries, product libraries and category lists that are fully compatible with Space Planning by Intactix. STEP 2: Upload PSA Files to THD (p. 32) Using Intactix Knowledge Server (IKS), suppliers submit POGs as PSA files to THD Intactix Knowledge Base (IKB). Submissions are placed in a queue for systematic validation, indicating what (if any) errors need to be corrected before resubmitting. STEP 3: Assign Stores (p. 36) Store assignments are managed through a secured, Web-based system hosted by THD. STEP 4: PDFs Created by THD (p. 39) THD's system produces PDFs nightly using a common layout file created via the POG publisher system. STEP 5: Stores View and Set POGs (p. 47) The POG portal is intuitive and easily accessible. Suppliers and THD associates use it to search for, view and print POGs. This guide provides details for each of these process steps. It also includes a chapter on several common procedures, such as logging in to Supplier Guardian, downloading current product data and using the Planogram Input Form to enter required data. Please review the section on Accessing THD Resources Folder (p. 21) before building your first POG. For additional step-by-step navigation, refer to the POG Compliance Webinars. Visit HomeDepotLink under the Related Content section: Home > Business Operations > Assortment & Space Planning > Planograms T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 6

Step 1: Create POGs Locally at Supplier Site Step 1: Create POGs Locally at Supplier Site Overview As a supplier, most of your work occurs during Step 1 of the POG process as you create your POGs. This section covers: An overview of POG types Creating a new POG (Method A) Updating an existing POG (Method B) POG Action Overview There are several ways to create or update a POG. To help simplify the process, THD developed consistent procedures to follow based on the goal creating a new POG or updating an existing POG. Based on the action required, choose the appropriate method from the table below and follow the corresponding steps. Whether creating or updating a POG, you must first download current data from THD s product library and view the current Category List. POG Process Types What do you need to do? Create New POG Build from scratch Download Product Library? Create or Download POG File? Process Flow Assign Stores? Yes Create Yes Yes Confirm/Work Maintenance?* Date of Store Visibility? POG effective date (>tomorrow) Go To Method A Process Edit from similar in same category Refresh Live POG (Add/change SKUs on existing live POG) Modify Pending POG (Not yet visible to stores) Yes Download Yes Yes POG effective date (>tomorrow) Yes Download Yes Yes POG effective date (>tomorrow) Yes Download Optional Yes POG effective date (>tomorrow) Method B Process Method B Process Method B Process Update Store Assignment only (No SKU changes) No N/A Yes Yes Immediate Section: Step 3: Assign Stores *Ensure POG to Base Tables (BT) alignment check is above the threshold via the Store Assignment Screen. If not, complete maintenance. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 7

Step 1: Create POGs Method A: Build From Scratch 12/7/2011 Method A: Create New POG Build From Scratch 1. Download Current Product Data and Category List 2. Create New PSA File Using the Fixture Library Use this process if you are creating a brand new POG by building it from scratch using a blank template. Follow these steps to build a brand new POG from a blank template: 1. Download current product data and Category List. 2. Create new PSA file using the Fixture Library. 3. Import current product data to new PSA. 4. Add SKUs to new POG. 5. Complete the Planogram Input Form. 6. Save PSA file and upload to THD. Details for each of these steps are outlined in the following sections. See Common Procedures, Download Current Product Data (p. 22) and View Current Category List (p. 22). 1. Return to Space Planning Software. Note: The steps for creating a new PSA file can be completed while the product library download is in progress. 2. On the toolbar, navigate to File > New > Project. (You can also choose Ctrl-N or click on the blank page icon.) T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 8

Step 1: Create POGs Method A: Build From Scratch 12/7/2011 2. Create New PSA File (cont.) 3. The default project name is Space Planning Project. Click OK. 3.1 Set the primary key dropdown to Both ID and UPC. Click OK 4. A pop-up window appears asking whether you want to create an initial POG. Click No. Note: Selecting No is a time saver if you utilize the Fixture Library, as intended. If you select Yes, you are adding a segment without a fixture. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 9

Step 1: Create POGs Method A: Build From Scratch 12/7/2011 2. Create New PSA File (cont.) 5. Click on Settings > User Files. 6. Under Libraries > Default fixture library click the on the right. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 10

Step 1: Create POGs Method A: Build From Scratch 12/7/2011 2. Create New PSA File (cont.) 7. Search for the fixture library in THD Vendor Resources folder you saved to your C: drive (C:\THD Vendor Resources). 8. Click on HDUS bays.psf. This adds the default path. Click OK. 9. Click OK again on the next screen. (Not shown) 10. Click on the fixture library icon or hold down Shift and click S. 11. Double-click (or click and drag) the appropriate fixture for your POG. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 11

Step 1: Create POGs Method A: Build From Scratch 12/7/2011 2. Create New PSA File (cont.) 12. If there are multiple bays, right-click on the additional appropriate fixture and drag it to the right of the existing fixture. In the pop-up window, select Merge with Active Planogram (not shown). Repeat step as necessary for additional fixtures. 3. Import Current Product Data to Your POG See Common Procedures, Import Current Product Data to Your POG (p. 23). T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 12

Step 1: Create POGs Method A: Build From Scratch 12/7/2011 4. Add SKUs to New POG Now you are ready to build your new POG. 1. In Space Planning, navigate to View > Planogram Explorer. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 13

Step 1: Create POGs Method A: Build From Scratch 12/7/2011 4. Add SKUs to New POG (cont.) 2. Click on the Products tab. Click on the + next to the project name to drill down to the product list. 3. Build your POG by dragging items from the Planogram Explorer to the POG and onto a shelf. 4. If you have signage to add to your POG, add the appropriate ninedigit SKU from the Product Library. Signage cannot be dropped onto an upright it must be placed on pegboard. Add pegboard to your fixture where the sign should appear, and then drag the appropriate sign SKU to the pegboard on your POG. Note on Clipstrips: Use this same procedure to add products (sixdigit SKUs) that are merchandised using clipstrips on beam uprights. THD POG policy is that only SKUs with permanent clipstrip homes should be planogrammed. Your merchant will provide direction on products that should be clipstripped in your POG. If your product dimensions do not look correct on your POG, doublecheck to see if your merchandising style is correct. If it is correct, your product data may be inaccurate. See the Appendix for information on how to edit product data in Item Data Management (IDM). 5. Complete the Planogram Input Form 6. Save PSA File and Upload to THD For more detailed information on creating/editing POGs, refer to your Space Planning software training and documentation. Once you have created your PSA file and added SKUs based on current product data, you are ready to complete your POG using the Planogram Input Form. See Common Procedures, Planogram Input Form for Suppliers (p. 23). Once you have completed your POG, save your PSA file to your local computer and upload your file to THD. Skip to the next chapter, Step 2: Upload PSA Files to THD (p. 27) for instructions. Note: To upload a file successfully to THD, the file must be no larger than 10 MB. If your file exceeds the limit, split your project into multiple projects (PSA files) for submission. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 14

Common Procedures Method B: Create or Update POG From Existing POG Use this process if you are: Creating a new POG by editing an existing POG (in Live or Pending status) in the same subcategory Refreshing a POG in Live status Updating a POG in Pending status Building a new POG from an existing, compliant POG can be a time saver. Make sure you rename the POG, change effective dates and review/update the Planogram Input Form. Follow these steps to create or update a POG from an existing POG: 1. Download current product data and Category List. 2. Download PSA file and save as a new file. 3. Import current product data to new PSA. 4. Make changes to POG. 5. Update Planogram Input Form. 6. Ensure that the Primary Product Key is set to Both ID and UPC 7. Save PSA file and upload to THD. Your merchant must approve access for you to download/upload files. Contact your merchant/ma to request access. 1. Download Current Product Data and Category List 2. Download PSA File See Common Procedures, Download Current Product Data (p. 22) and View Current Category List (p. 26). After downloading current product data, retrieve an existing POG PSA file from IKS by following these steps: 1. If not logged in, login to HomeDepotLink 2. Navigate to IKS by choosing Application Page > Planograms > Planogram Submission Portal. (Not shown) T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 15

Common Procedures 2. Download PSA File (cont.) 3. Select All Planograms from hierarchy by choosing the + symbol. 4. Click on the appropriate department number for the POG you want to edit, then drill down by choosing the Class number, Category name and Subcategory name. Use the information from the current Category List (see View Current Category List on p. 26). Make sure the versions (statuses) you want to be able to view in PSA format are selected. 5. Select the PSA file(s) you want to download for editing by clicking the box(es) to the left of the POG names. In the example below, multiple PSAs are selected to build a project. 6. Click THD IKS Download PSA to send the file to the queue. Note: The file size limit for downloads is 10 MB. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 16

Common Procedures 2. Download PSA File (cont.) 7. Click on Job/Document Status. 8. Your POG project appears at the top of the list with a status of Pending indicating your file is in queue. The status changes to Processing as the system works on the file. 9. Click on Refresh. When the process is complete, the status displays Completed. The processing time varies depending on the workload on the server and the size of the POG file. 9 8 7 10. Open the file on your local computer and it opens in Space Planning for editing. 10 T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 17

Common Procedures 3. Import Current Product Data to Your POG 4. Make Changes to POG See Common Procedures, Import Current Product Data to Your POG (p. 20). Now you are ready to make changes to your new POG. 1. In Space Planning, navigate to View > Planogram Explorer. 2. Click on the Products tab. 3. Create your new POG by making the appropriate deletions and additions. You can drag new SKUs from the Planogram Explorer to the POG and onto a shelf. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 18

Common Procedures 4. Make Changes to POG (cont.) 4. If you have signage to add to your POG, you can import it into your POG as you would an item. There is an import settings file (.psm) in THD Vendor Resources Folder (Import Settings Folder). Signage cannot be dropped onto an upright it must be placed on pegboard. Add pegboard to your fixture where the sign should appear, and then drag the appropriate sign ID# to the pegboard on your POG. Note on Clipstrips: Use this same procedure to add products (sixdigit SKUs) that are merchandised using clipstrips on beam uprights. THD POG policy is that only SKUs with permanent clipstrip homes should be planogrammed. Your merchant will provide direction on products that should be clipstripped in your POG. If your product dimensions do not look correct on your POG, doublecheck to see if your merchandising style is correct. If it is correct, your product data may be inaccurate. See the Appendix for information on how to edit product data in IDM. 5. Complete the Planogram Input Form 6. Save PSA File and Upload to THD For more detailed information on creating/editing POGs, refer to your Space Planning software training and documentation. Once you have edited your new PSA file based on current product data, you are ready to complete your POG using the Planogram Input Form. See Common Procedures, Planogram Input Form for Suppliers (p. 27). Once you have completed your POG, save your PSA file to your local computer and upload your file to THD. Go to the next chapter, Step 2: Upload PSA Files to THD (p. 32) for instructions. Common Procedures Overview This section is provided as a reference for the following procedures: Logging in to Supplier Guardian First-time users: Downloading/Accessing THD resources Downloading and importing current product data via the POG Portal Viewing the current Category List via the POG Portal Naming the shelves on your fixtures Using the Planogram Input Form Reviewing product data in IDM T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 19

Common Procedures Log Into HomeDepotLink To begin the POG process, always log into HomeDepotLink from the HomeDepotLink Supplier Portal. To access the planogram page, navigate to Application Page. Note: For access to HomeDepotLink, send a request with your supplier name and PVendor number to homedepotlink@homedepot.com. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 20

Common Procedures First-time Users: Accessing THD Resources Folder For step-by-step screen shots on this one-time process, refer to the POG Compliance Webinar. A ZIP file is provided in the Documentation folder that, when extracted, provides a comprehensive set of tools to assist in creating compliant POGs. These tools are provided as-is and no support is guaranteed for any problems or issues that arise from their use. 1. After logging into HomeDepotLink, navigate to Application Page > Planograms > Access Planogram Documentation. 2. Unzip the THD Vendor Resources file by clicking on the file name and following the prompts. Extract the file to your C Drive by typing c:\ when prompted for a directory. The files are extracted into a folder called THD Vendor Resources on your C Drive. You will not need to do this step again. 3. (Optional) If you would like to save THD s recommended file settings for data field names, save the.pmd and.ini files contained in the Configurations folder of the ZIP file to your Space Planning software s installation directory (C:\Program Files\JDA\Intactix\Space Planning). The contents override your pre-existing field name settings. Data fields may have different names in your version of Space Planning. Consult with your in-house Space Planning expert to determine whether our field names work for you. By saving the provided settings files (.PMD and.ini files) to this directory, your settings and field names will match THD s formats exactly, which is recommended when building POGs for THD stores. The settings files should be installed only by advanced users to ensure compatibility with your installation of JDA Space Planning. Installation of settings files overwrites any pre-existing settings files. Save a back up of these files before replacing them. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 21

Common Procedures Download Current Product Data Every time you log onto Supplier Guardian to create or update a POG, you must download current product data and import it to your PSA file. This ensures that you build POGs using the most current SKU information. Follow the steps below to download the product library through the POG Portal: 1. From HomeDepotLink, navigate to Application Page > Planograms > Access the Planogram Portal to access the Product Library screen. (Not shown) 2. Choose Product Library at the top. 3. Select your department, class and subclass. You can pull for the entire department or class, if necessary, though this is not recommended as it could impact performance. 4. Click OK. 5. The system prompts you to open or save the downloaded file. Choose Save. 6. Save the Excel file to your local computer s desktop (not shown). Your product data is now available to import to your PSA file. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 22

Common Procedures Import Current Product Data to Your POG Once you have downloaded current product data and created/downloaded a POG (PSA) file, follow the steps below to import product data to your POG: 1. Open the product library Excel file you downloaded to your desktop. (Not shown) 2. Copy all data by using Ctrl-A to Select All, and Ctrl-C to copy. (Not shown) 3. Open Space Planning software and return to the file you downloaded. 4. Navigate to Tools > Import > Products From Clipboard/Text 5. Make sure Clipboard is selected and choose Load Settings. Note: Bringing content in from your clipboard maintains the correct table format. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 23

Common Procedures Import Current Product Data to Your POG (cont.) 6. Navigate to the THD Vendor Resources folder you unzipped onto your C Drive (C:\THD Vendor Resources) and select IKB Product Library Import. 7. Click Open. Import Current Product Data to Your POG (cont.) 8. Enter 1 in the Skip lines at start field to exclude the headers in the import. Ensure Create Unmatched Products box is checked. Click OK. 1 T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 24

Common Procedures Import Current Product Data to Your POG (cont.) 9. Results will notify you of how many records: a. were in the project initially b. updated from the library if they were already in the PSA c. were created/imported into the PSA 10. Click OK. (Not shown) The import process is complete. Follow the steps in the next section to view the current Category List, and then go to Add SKUs to New POG (p. 10) or Make Changes to POG (p. 15) to continue creating your POG(s). T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 25

Common Procedures View Current Category List Follow the steps below to view the current Category List via the POG portal: 1. From HomeDepotLink, navigate to Application Page > Planograms > Access the Planogram Portal to access the Product Library screen. (Not shown) 2. Choose Category List at the top. 3. Click Download. 4. The system prompts you to open or save the downloaded file. Choose Open to view your category information. 5. The Category List opens as an Excel file. (Not shown) Find the appropriate category and subcategory information for your POG(s). You will need this information to enter into the system later. To continue the POG creation process, go to Create New PSA File (p. 8) or Download PSA File (p. 15). T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 26

Common Procedures Planogram Input Form for Suppliers The Planogram Input Form is a Space Planning table that allows you to quickly input all required POG data. This table consolidates multiple screens within Space Planning, conveniently identifying: Required data fields you must populate (shown in red) Optional data fields Fields that will be overwritten upon submission to THD Follow these steps to open the form: 1. Access the Planogram Input Form by clicking on the Tables icon in Space Planning. 2. Navigate to the THD Vendor Resources Folder downloaded from IKS and saved on your C Drive (C:\THD Vendor Resources). (Not shown) 3. Open the Tables folder and click on the file: HD Planogram Input Form Vendor v 2.0.pst. 4. Click Open. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 27

Common Procedures Using the Planogram Input Form Use the table to input POG data in the correct fields and view fields to be overwritten by THD. You always have the option of saving your work to your hard drive and returning to complete it later. Project data at the product- and POG-level fields is removed upon submission of the PSA file to THD. There is no way to retain data in fields overwritten upon submission. off Filling out the table populates the correct areas/fields within the PSA file. For example, notice how the Planogram Name field on the form populates the Planogram Properties Names field in the PSA. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 28

Common Procedures Required POG Data Fields For the current list of valid categories (value 4) and subcategories (value 1), download the current Category List (see p. 26). THD requires that suppliers complete the data fields in red on the Planogram Input Form. Enter information in all Required fields as described below: Planogram Name: POG name in this format: (Count of Bays) Bay (Bay Widths) (Other Identifying Information Designated By Merchant) For example, a 2-bay POG with 99-inch bays may be named: 2 Bay 99 West Coast. Names must be unique for a given department/class/category/ subcategory. The system rejects duplicate names at the POG submission stage. If a name appears in this field when you open it, it is based on the POG name given when the PSA file was created. o o If you are editing a Pending POG before it is visible to stores, a new name is not required. If you are updating a Live POG, you must rename it with a unique name. Value 2 (or Department Nbr): THD s department number for the subcategory to which the POG is assigned. Value 3 (or Class Nbr): THD s class number for the subcategory to which the POG is assigned. Value 4 (or Category Nbr): THD s category number for the subcategory to which the POG is assigned. Value 1 (or Subcategory Nbr): THD s subcategory number for the subcategory to which the POG is assigned. Date Effective: The POG effective date must be later than or equal to the POG submission date. This date affects when stores see the POG. o o Exception: If multiple stores are involved in a reset, enter the last date of the reset instead of the first. If you are editing an existing PSA you downloaded, make sure to change the dates. Status: Choose a valid status: Pending or Awaiting Store Assignments. This applies to POGs in Live status as well. Regardless of the status entered, the system will change compliant new POG records to Awaiting Store Assignments when uploaded to the system. Desc 9 (or POG Created by): The name of the user submitting the POG (Format: Last Name, First Name) Desc 10 (or Company Name): Submitter s company name Desc 11 (or Contact Email Addr): Submitter's e-mail address T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 29

Common Procedures Optional POG Data Fields For the most current list of valid values for POG Project Filters, go to the Planogram Viewer on the Portal and reference the drop down menu under Descriptive Attr. The next section of the form includes optional fields you may use to capture additional POG information. Optional fields may be left blank as the Planogram Checking software does not validate their contents. The contents of each optional field is described below: Date Finished: The POG set end date. If unknown, this field may be left blank. Note: The POG will drop off the portal on the date entered. Desc 4 (or Sales Cluster): Specify a Sales cluster (e.g. A Volume / High / Medium / etc.). Desc 5 (or Scope): Specify a POG Scope (e.g. seasonal, reset, new product, signage change, POG maintenance, etc.). Desc 6 (or Safety Directions): Provide specific safety information to the field relative to the POG. Desc 17 (or Additional Directions): Provide any additional information necessary for setting the POG. For example, POG requires wire mesh between beam elevations. POG Project Filters: Desc Fields 12-16 (for Attributes 1-5): These standardized fields should only be added as directed by THD, only one attribute per field. These are project-specific filters for the POG viewer, such as 2011 CR5, 2011 HOLIDAY or PROJECT 350 (see Appendix for example list). Invalid Attributes and misspelled Attributes will cause the POG to fail the compliance check. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 30

Common Procedures Data Fields The rest of the fields shown on the input form are overwritten by THD upon submission. Any information you enter into these fields will be lost. If you have entered data that you need to save, move it to an alternate location and ensure these fields are blank. Overwritten by THD Reviewing Product-level Data in IDM All product level-data is sourced through IDM. Data must match exactly or you will be unable to submit your POGs. See the Appendix of this guide for descriptions of data fields in IDM and how to review this data while creating POGs. See the IDM POG Checklist on pg. 58 for common issues and resolutions. It is critical that data in IDM is accurate. If there are SKU-level issues, such as with dimensions and product descriptions (unit, case, pack, etc.), edit the data within IDM. Note that there is a time delay for updated data to load and become effective. Data will upload during the next scheduled update that day. Once data is updated, import a new product library before building your POG, as shown in Step 1: Create POGs Locally at Supplier Site (p. 7). Refer to the Data Quality Kit available in HomeDepotLink for information on: Editing data in IDM Measuring product and capturing product dimensions T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 31

Step 2: Upload PSA Files to THD Step 2: Upload PSA Files to THD Overview Once you have created your POG in Space Planning, upload the PSA file to THD via IKS, also referred to as the POG Submission Portal. This section guides you through using the IKS Action Menu and the upload process. THD s system validates the uploaded PSA and checks for compliance by validating against a series of data-integrity checks. If it is compliant, the PSA uploads to the system and awaits store assignments. If data either does not exist or is not in the required format, your files are not saved to THD. An error report appears on the submission page directing you to what errors exist and offering, if possible, suggestions on how to resolve the errors. Trouble-shooting strategies for each error are also located in the Troubleshooting section of this guide (p. 50). Contact your merchant/ma to request the ability to upload. Merchant approval is required. Note: IKS is compatible with Internet Explorer 6.x/7.x/8.x only. The total PSA file size for submission is 10 MB. If your file(s) exceeds the limit, separate your project and submit PSA files in multiple batches. IKS Action Menu The Action Menu includes the following functionality. 1 Callout 1 Description of Function Click on (+) box to populate a listing of all departments, classes, categories and subcategories. Click on blue text to pull all POGs for that merchandising unit. 2 2 Filter to include POGs based on statuses Live visible in store now Pending passed compliance, has store assignments, future effective date Work in progress for THD internal use Historic replaced or expired Awaiting Store Assignments passed compliance, no store assignments 3 2 4 2 5 2 6 2 7 2 8 2 3 Enable/disables thumbnails (preview images) 4 Shows POGs you have selected 5 Provides access to Fixture & Product Libraries 6 Check status of/retrieve requested POGs 7 Upload files to THD s POG server 8 Check status (compliance) of uploaded POGs T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 32

Step 2: Upload PSA Files to THD Upload POG (PSA) Files For detailed steps for checking compliance first, refer to the POG Compliance Webinar. To upload POG (PSA) Files, follow these steps: 1. Navigate to IKS through Homedepotlink: Application Page > Planograms > Planogram Submission Portal. (Not shown) 2. Choose Upload Files on the left-side action menu. 3. In the Action Dropdown Box, select either THD IKS Upload or THD IKS Compliance. In either case, the system validates POG compliance to ensure all requirements are met. Choosing THD IKS Compliance first is a best practice at the beginning of a project to ensure a POG is compliant before creating additional POGs. (Not shown) 4. Click on Select Files and click on the file name of the file(s) you want to upload. 5. Click Upload Files to upload the files to THD. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 33

Step 2: Upload PSA Files to THD Upload POG (PSA) Files (cont.) 6. The Save Planograms screen appears. Choose Submit New Planogram to THD from the drop-down menu to create a completely new record, such as for a reset or to refresh a live POG. Choose Overwrite Existing POG from the drop-down menu to update an existing POG. This overwrites the existing record in the database. If you are saving a: New POG built from scratch New POG edited from a similar POG in same category Modified existing Live POG Modified Pending POG (not yet visible to stores) Then choose: Submit New Planogram to THD Submit New Planogram to THD Submit New Planogram to THD Overwrite Existing POG 7. Verify your understanding of THD s safety, environmental and racking compliance policies. Check the box and OK is enabled. Refer to the Safety, Environmental and Racking Standards Policy sections of the Appendix for general policy information. Department-specific information is provided in your THD Vendor Resources folder within the Safety Documentation folder. 8. Click OK. 7 6 8 OK T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 34

Step 2: Upload PSA Files to THD Check Upload Status To check the status of your upload, follow these steps: 1. Choose Upload Status on the left-side action menu. 2. The following screen appears with your POG submission at the top of the screen in Pending status. Click Refresh. 3. As the server checks the POG for compliance, the Status moves to Processing. (Not shown). Note: The system displays all pending POGs in order of submission. The time required to process POGs depends on system traffic. a) If POG compliance requirements are met, the PSA file moves to Approved status. Your file is saved into the database awaiting store assignments. Skip to Next Steps. b) If the file fails compliance, an error message appears and the status is Completed with error. The file must be corrected and re-uploaded. Go back to Step 1 of the Upload POG (PSA) Files section. See the Troubleshooting section of this guide (p. 50) for several common strategies for resolving errors. You can click on the notepad icon at any time to review the error message. 2 3b 1 3a Next Steps Once your PSA is uploaded and in Complete status, go to the POG portal to enter your Store Assignments, if you have access. See Step 3: Assign Stores for instructions (p. 36). T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 35

Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs Step 3: Assign Stores Overview Once POG(s) are uploaded, they must be assigned to specific stores in order to become visible to the stores. Only one POG per subcategory may be assigned to a single store. Some suppliers have the ability to assign POGs to stores for their categories. Suppliers gain access to the system with approval from their merchant, who can elect for suppliers to have read/write or no access to the system. The merchant s assistant physically grants system access via a merchantapproved SAFE request. The ability for you to assign and un-assign POGs to stores must be granted by your merchant. This section covers key actions for: Making or changing store assignments (from a POG or store-based view) Ensuring POG to Base Tables assortment match Reviewing and resolving store to POG visibility issues Note: The POG Portal, accessed through HomeDepotLink, is compatible with Internet Explorer 6.x/7.x/8.x only. For optimal viewing, the recommended screen size is 1280 x 1024 pixels. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 36

Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs Store Assignment Process To begin the Store Assignment Process, follow these steps: 1. Navigate back to Homedepotlink > Application Page > Planograms > Access the Planogram Portal to access the Assignment screen. (Not shown) 2. Choose Assignment at the top. (This option is only visible if you have been granted access.) 3. Select your department, class, category and then subcategory. Each subsequent button becomes active as you enter choices. Note: You are only able to select departments, classes and categories to which you ve been assigned by your merchant. 4. Click on Search. Store Assignment Process (cont.) 5. The system allows you to search and assign by POG or by store. The default method is by POG. You can toggle between the POG and store views by clicking the tabs. POG View: Choose POG view if you want to validate that stores are assigned to a particular POG, as with a consolidated reset. Store View: Choose the store view if you want to validate that POGs are assigned to a particular store, and to verify that all stores have POG assignments. 5 T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 37

Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs Assign by Planogram Adding Store(s), BYO or Markets to a POG To assign stores to a POG, follow these steps after entering your department, class, category and subcategory: 1. Select the POG name for which you want to add store assignments. Stores populate on the right if there are any stores currently assigned to that POG. 2. Click on Add to add stores to the POG. 1 2 Assign by Planogram (cont.) 3. The store pop-up appears. Type in the boxes on the right to add a single BYO, market or store(s). 4. Click OK. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 38

Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs To add multiple stores, complete steps 2 4 multiple times or check the boxes from the dropdown tree, as shown below. When finished, click OK. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 39

Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs Assign by Planogram (cont.) 5. When you are finished making your assignments, click Submit on the main screen to save your changes. A summary page pops up for you to review (not shown). Click OK. 5 6. The POG-BT assortment validation screen appears. Click OK. For information about the POG-BT assortment match threshold, see the POG to Base Tables Alignment Validation section (p. 44). T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 40

Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs Assign by Planogram (cont.) Changing Stores on a POG To change stores assigned to a POG, follow these steps after entering your department, class, category and subcategory: 1. Select the POG name for which you want to change store assignments. Stores populate on the right if there are any stores currently assigned to that POG. 2. Select one or more stores (using the Ctrl key) on the right pane. 3. Select Edit under the store column. 1 2 3 4. The Add/Edit Assignment Information popup appears. Select the correct POG for these stores (as indicated in the Planogram selection box). Note: To remove a store from the POG assignment, choose the blank option in the Planogram selection box. 5. Click OK. The stores are automatically unassigned from the old POG and assigned to the POG in the selection box. 7 BAY-99-STR(1802) 7 BAY-99-STR(1802) 7 BAY-99-STR(1802) 5 4 6. When you are finished changing your assignments, you return to the main screen. Click Submit on the main screen to save your changes. (Not shown) 7. A Summary of Change screen pops up with a summary of changes to occur and validation results. Click OK. (Not shown) You can copy assignments from one POG to the next in the same way, but you start the process by clicking Copy under the Store column. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 41

Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs Assign by Store Choose the Assign by Store view instead of Assign by Planogram if you want to validate that POGs are assigned to a particular store, and to verify that all stores have POG assignments. With the Assign by Store method, you can see whether a POG s assortment in Base Tables matches the assortment established by the POG-store assignment. Specific filters exist to help you identify critical POG-store deficiencies, namely Show Stores > With No Live Planogram and Show Stores > With No Pending Planogram. Adding/Editing Stores To assign POGs, follow these steps from the Assignment screen: 1. Select your department, class, category and subcategory. 2. Select the store you want to add or edit. To adjust active/future assignments for a group of stores to a single POG, select multiple stores by holding down the Ctrl key during selection. 3. Select Edit. 1 2 Edit 3 T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 42

Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs Assign by Store (cont.) Note: You can only assign one POG per store per subcategory. If you select multiple stores with varying (different) POG assignments, a warning text box appears (as shown below). Confirm that you want the stores assigned to a new POG by clicking OK. 4. Choose live (current) or pending (future) assignment to modify. 5. Choose the new POG you want applied to that store. 6. Click OK. 7. When you are finished making your assignments, click Submit on the main screen to save your changes. A summary page pops up for you to review (not shown). Click OK. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 43

Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs POG to Base Tables Alignment Validation To ensure set integrity and reduce confusion, POG visibility is aligned with the correct maintenance i.e., the SKU status and availability in Base Tables. To change the status of a SKU, the merchant should edit the SKU record in Base Tables using the Assortment Management Tool (AMT). POGs must meet a category-specific Base Tables assortment match threshold percentage. This threshold indicates if the assortment/pog to which you are attaching a store lines up with the SKU-to-store relationship in our system. The View/Assignment screen shown below indicates whether a POG is visible to the store. It also provides a detailed error list of any issues preventing the POG from being visible to the store. 1. A green Y in the Active POG-BT Match column indicates a successful match between the POG and Base Tables. The POG moves into a Pending or Live status (based on the Begin date), and a PDF of the POG is generated overnight. 2. A red N in the Active POG-BT Match column indicates a failure between the POG and Base Tables. Click on the percentage in the column to get a detailed error list you can use to correct maintenance issues. Troubleshooting Store-POG Visibility Issues Next Steps Please go to the Troubleshooting section of this guide (p. 50) for a complete list of potential store visibility issues and resolution. Once stores are assigned to the POG and the maintenance is aligned, a batch process runs nightly to generate a PDF of the new POG. See Step 4: PDFs Created by THD (p. 45) for the standard POG layout. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 44

Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs Step 4: PDFs Created by THD Overview Once POGs have been uploaded and assigned to stores successfully, THD uses a standard layout file to generate PDFs for publication to these stores. The PDF layout is generated during the nightly batch process and becomes visible to the appropriate stores on the POG s effective date as early as tomorrow. If the POG is an existing PDF, and the only change is store reassignments, it becomes visible to stores immediately. To provide stores with a consistent POG look, THD will not accept supplier-generated layout files or PDFs under any circumstances. Standard PDF Layout The PDF includes the detailed information needed for stores to set the POG correctly. Following are examples of page 1 and 2. Page 1 The Safety Directions and Additional Directions fields are populated by the information entered on the Planogram Input Form. If you would like to include information in these fields, use the optional fields on the form before submitting your PSA file for validation. Any nine-digit signage SKUs included on the POG appear as sign order number(s) in the epop Listing section. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 45

Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs Page 2 T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 46

Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs Overview As the final step in the process, the POGs become visible to the appropriate stores. Reset companies hired by THD and Merchandising Execution Team (MET) associates are responsible for setting POGs according to instructions and safety policies. MET and store associates are responsible for maintaining the sets. The following section walks you through the key actions of: Viewing store assignments (either from a POG or store-based view) Printing individual or multiple POGs at one time using the shopping cart function T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 47

Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs The POG Portal You can view POGs from the POG Portal. Access the portal by following this path: 1. Log into HomeDepotLink. 2. Navigate to Application Page > Planograms > Access the Planogram Portal. This area allows you to review your current POGs and store assignments. The portal is compatible with Internet Explorer 6.x/7.x/8.x only. The recommended screen size for optimal viewing is 1280 x 1024 pixels. Viewing Store Assignments To view POGs from the main POG viewing screen, follow these steps: 1. Select your department, class and category from the drop down menus. You can also search by SKU or Store. 2. Click on Search. The viewer displays all POGs for the level chosen. For example, if you select Department and click Search, the viewer displays every POG for that department in Pending and Live status. 1 2 T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 48

Step 5: Stores View and Set POGs Printing with the Shopping Cart The POG Shopping Cart Screen enables you to view and print single or multiple PDFs. Follow these steps: 1. To view/print a single PDF, click on the POG name. The POG opens in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Print if necessary. 2. To view/print multiple PDFs, click on the shopping cart icons next to the POGs to add (or remove) POGs from the shopping cart. Note: The cart next to the POG name turns red when added to the cart and green when removed. 2 1 3. The PDFs you selected are now in your cart. Click View/Print All to view or print your selected PDFs. 3 T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 49

Troubleshooting Issues Troubleshooting Issues Overview Use this section to help troubleshoot issues during your POG creation and submission process. It covers specific IKS error messages and resolutions as well as potential store visibility issues and resolutions. Additional information will be added to this resource as needed. For the most recent version, go to HomeDepotLink under the Related Content section: Home > Business Operations > Assortment & Space Planning > Planograms > T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 50

Troubleshooting Issues IKS Error Messages Msg # Error Message(s) and Resolution 1001 The effective date is invalid. Please choose a date that is greater than, or equal to, today. If you are doing a reset, the effective date should correspond to the date the last store is being reset. Resolution: The POG s effective date must be greater than or equal to today. Ensure this logic is correct, and that you have not made a typographical error. The field is a date field, so an acceptable entry will be in the format of MM/DD/YYYY. Please note that a severity 1 message is a warning and the save will complete. Severity 0 message is an error and the process will not be completed until it is fixed. 1002 The finish date is invalid. Please choose a finish date greater than the effective date. Resolution: The POG s finish date must be greater than or equal to the effective date. Ensure this logic is correct, and that you have not made a typographical error. The field is a date field, so an acceptable entry will be in the format of MM/DD/YYYY. 1003 The Planogram Name cannot be blank. Please update this field with a valid Planogram Name. Resolution: Enter the POG name in this format: (Count of Bays) Bay (Bay Widths) (Other Identifying Information Designated By Merchant) Names must be unique for a given department/class/category/ subcategory. The system rejects duplicate names at the POG submission stage. 1004, 1005 1004: Department, Class, Category, & Sub-Category Combination is Not Valid. Please refer to the Category List. 1005: Class or Department is not valid. Resolution: Department: Enter the correct department number in the appropriate Planogram Input Form field. The correct department number is two digits and corresponds to your category. Locate the correct department number from the Resources section of the supplier portal or by contacting your merchant s assistant. The department number is related to the class and category for that department; if those numbers are misaligned, you can receive this error. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 51

Troubleshooting Issues IKS Error Messages (cont.) Msg # 1004, 1005 (cont.) 1006, 1007, 1008, 1009, 1010 Error Message(s) and Resolution Resolution: Class: Ensure the class number is in the correct format and that you have access to modify POGs for this class. Enter the correct class number into Value 3 (Planogram-level field). The correct class number is numeric and corresponds to your category. Locate the correct class number from the Resources section of the supplier portal or by contacting your merchant s assistant. The class number is related to the department and category for that class; if those numbers are misaligned, you can receive this error. Category: Download the current Category List from the POG portal. Enter the correct POG Category number into Value 4 (Planogram-level field). The correct category number is numeric and corresponds to your class. The POG Category number is related to the department and class for that category; if those numbers are misaligned, you can receive this error. Subcategory: Enter the correct subcategory number into Value 1 (Planogram-level field). The correct subcategory number is numeric and corresponds to your category. You can locate the correct subcategory number from the Resources section of the supplier portal or by contacting your merchant s assistant. The subcategory number is related to the class and category for that department; if those numbers are misaligned, you can receive this error. 1006: The selected Project Filter "&D12&" is invalid. Please ensure that there are no typographical errors. Please refer to the complete list of valid Project Filters on our Portal. 1007: The selected Project Filter "& D13&" is invalid. Please ensure that there are no typographical errors. Please refer to the complete list of valid Project Filters on our Portal. 1008: The selected Project Filter "& D14&" is invalid. Please ensure that there are no typographical errors. Please refer to the complete list of valid Project Filters on our Portal. 1009: The selected Project Filter "& D15&" is invalid. Please ensure that there are no typographical errors. Please refer to the complete list of valid Project Filters on our Portal. 1010: The selected Project Filter "& D16&" is invalid. Please ensure that there are no typographical errors. Please refer to the complete list of valid Project Filters on our Portal. Resolution: On the Descriptions tab of the POG Properties screen, Desc Fields 12-16 (for Attributes 1-5) are standardized fields that should only be added as directed by THD, only one attribute per field. These are project-specific filters for the POG viewer, such as 2011 CR5, 2011 - HOLIDAY or PROJECT 350. Invalid Descriptive Attributes and misspelled Attributes will cause the POG to fail the compliance check. For the most current list of valid values for POG Project Filters, go to the Related Content section: Home > Business Operations > Assortment & Space Planning > Planograms T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 52

Troubleshooting Issues IKS Error Messages (cont.) Msg # Error Message(s) and Resolution 1011 The POG is non-compliant due to an incorrect Manipulations setting. Please uncheck the "Allow floating positions" box on the Manipulations tab under Settings. Resolution: Navigate to Settings > Manipulations in Space Planning software. Make sure the check box named Allow floating positions" is not checked. 1012 The POG is non-compliant due to floating positions. Please ensure that all products are attached to a fixture. Resolution: All the SKUs in the POG must have a position or location associated with a fixture (e.g. shelf, pegboard, etc.). You cannot submit a POG with SKUs that exist in the POG but that do not have a place on the shelf. 1014, 1015 1014: The POG Status does not match the database. Please select Pending as the Status when saving back to the database. 1015: The POG Status does not match the database. Please select Awaiting Store Assignments as the Status when saving back to the database. Resolution: Before a POG is uploaded, the status must be Pending or "Awaiting Store Assignments." This may be a common error when creating a new POG from an existing POG that is live. Change the Live status to one of the valid statuses. 1018 ID is invalid. Please ensure that the SKU is valid in IDM. If the SKU is not in IDM, please add it and then resubmit the POG for validation. Resolution: The SKU must be in IDM for your POG to be accepted by the system. In addition, the SKU dimensions from IDM must match the SKU dimensions in the POGs you are submitting. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in your POGs failing the compliance check. See IDM POG Checklist on pg. 58 for common issues and resolutions. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 53

Troubleshooting Issues IKS Error Messages (cont.) Msg # 1019-1036 Error Message(s) and Resolution 1019: Unit Height for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1020: Unit Width for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1021: Unit Depth for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1022: Tray Height for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1023: Tray Width for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1024: Tray Depth for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1025: Tray Total for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1026: Case Height for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1027: Case Width for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1028: Case Depth for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1029: Case Total for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1030: Display Height for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1031: Display Width for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1032: Display Depth for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal 1033: Alternate Height for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1034: Alternate Width for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1035: Alternate Depth for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. 1036: Alternate Total for this product does not match IDM, please update product library from our portal. Resolution: The SKU dimensions from IDM must match the SKU dimensions in the POGs you are submitting. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in your POGs failing the compliance check. Check product-level data in IDM. If there are SKU-level issues, edit the data. See the Data Quality Kit available on IDM for information on editing data, measuring product and capturing product dimensions at Home > Business Operations > Item Management > Related Content: Contact the IDM Support Line at (877) 355-5839 (ext. 87583) or at idm@homedepot.com with any issues or questions. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 54

Troubleshooting Issues IKS Error Messages (cont.) Msg # Error Message(s) and Resolution 1037 The POG Name already exists in the database. Please ensure that you have input a unique Planogram Name. Resolution: Enter the POG name in this format: (Count of Bays) Bay (Bay Widths) (Other Identifying Information Designated By Merchant) Names must be unique for a given department/class/category/ subcategory. The system rejects duplicate names at the POG submission stage. 1038 The current POG you are trying to save did not come from the database. When uploading the POG to THD, please select "Submit New Planogram to THD" in order to save to the database. 10101-011 Resolution: When uploading a new POG to THD: Choose Submit New Planogram to THD from the dropdown menu to create a completely new record, such as for a reset or to refresh a live POG. Choose Overwrite Existing POG from the drop-down menu to update an existing POG. This overwrites the existing record in the database. Unit Dimensions cannot equal zero for a product with Merchstyle 0 (Unit). Please update unit dimensions in Item Data Manager, or select a Merchstyle with valid dimensions. Tray Dimensions cannot equal zero for a product with Merchstyle 1 (Tray). Please update package dimensions in Item Data Manager, or select a Merchstyle with valid dimensions. Case Dimensions cannot equal zero for a product with Merchstyle 2 (Case). Please update case dimensions in Item Data Manager, or select a Merchstyle with valid dimensions. Alternate Dimensions cannot equal zero for a product with Merchstyle 4 (Alternate). Please update pallet dimensions in Item Data Manager, or select a Merchstyle with valid dimensions. Resolution: The SKU dimensions from Item Data Management must be valid to match the SKUs merchandising style in the POGs you are submitting. Merchandising a product as a case requires valid case dimensions in Item Data Management. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in your POGs failing the compliance check. Check product-level data in Item Data Management. If there are SKU-level issues, edit the data. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 55

Troubleshooting Issues IKS Error Messages (cont.) Msg # Error Message(s) and Resolution 1039 The Primary Key for this psa file does not match the IKB database. This files primary key is: " & IKSDocumentPrimaryKey & ". Please adjust project settings Primary Key dropdown to equal: " & CorrectPrimaryKey & ". PrimaryKey Legend: 0 = UPC, 1 = ID, 2 = Both UPC and ID. N/A Resolution: Change the primary key in the project settings to Both UPC and ID. Go to Settings>Project>General tab and adjust the Primary key dropdown in the bottom left corner to Both ID and UPC The product dimensions do not look correct on the POG. Resolution: First, verify that your merchandising style is correct. A common error is that Merchandise on Shelf is not checked. If the merchandising style is correct, your product data may be inaccurate. Check product-level data in HomeDepotLink. If there are SKU-level issues, edit the data. See the Data Quality Kit available on IDM for information on editing data, measuring product and capturing product dimensions at Home > Business Operations > Item Management > Related Content: Contact the IDM Support Line at (877) 355-5839 (ext. 87583) or at idm@homedepot.com with any issues or questions. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 56

Troubleshooting Issues Store-POG Visibility Issues 1. Issue: There is no current POG visible for a store. Resolution: From the Assignment screen, ensure there is a POG in Live status assigned to the store. In the example shown below, stores 110, 111 and 116 do not have active POGs assigned to them. To assign a POG, go to the Assignment screen and select the correct POG for the store(s). The begin date for the POG you select must also be appropriate, e.g., the Begin date is equal to today. Ensure the Active POG to Base Tables Match is over the threshold percentage. In this example, the POG 2 Bay 99 South Low Volume should be visible to store 105, but it is not since the threshold percentage is too low. A successful match between POGs and Base Tables is indicated by a Y in the Active POG-BT Match column. 2 Bay 99 South Low Volume 2 Bay 99 South Low Volume 2 Bay 99 South Low Volume 2 Bay 99 South Low Volume 2. Issue: The wrong POG is available for the store. Resolution: Ensure the active POG for the store on the Assignment screen is correct. In the example shown above, the POG named 2 Bay 99 South Low Volume should be visible to store 115. If that POG is incorrect, then assign the correct POG via the Assignment screen. Note: You may only assign POGs in Live status to the store. Ensure the Live POG to Base Tables Match is over the categoryspecific threshold percentage. In the example shown, the POG named 2 Bay 99 South Low Volume should be visible to store 105, but it is not since the threshold percentage is too low. A successful match between POGs and Base Tables is indicated by a Y in the Live POG- BT Match column. To raise the percentage match to Base Tables, review and work the maintenance by contacting your merchant. Your merchant or merchant s assistant can help edit the answer key and execute maintenance on Base Tables. Once the maintenance is aligned, a batch process runs nightly and makes the POG visible to the store the next day. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 57

Troubleshooting Issues Store-POG Visibility Issues (cont.) 3. Issue: I do not want the stores to see the reset POG before the reset date, but I want the reset teams to be able to execute the reset. Resolution: For all Consolidated Reset (CR) POGs: Set the effective date to the LAST day of the reset, not the first. As long as future dates are correct, the system blocks store users from viewing reset POGs before the set date. However, third-party reset teams (including SSC users, suppliers and merchandising execution managers) have access to future-dated POGs. Work closely with your POG manager to determine if any additional steps are necessary to facilitate the reset team s ability to set the POG for example, adding a CR description to the POG Descriptive Attribute field is required. 4. Issue: The future POG will not be visible due to a low Base Tables match and I don t want centralized automated replenishment (CAR) to order items early. Resolution: This specific issue cannot be resolved just by focusing on planograms. It is advisable that you contact your merchant and/or merchant's assistant and CAR analyst to coordinate the appropriate time when you want these SKUs to be made active and replenishment to begin. 5. Issue: The SKUs on my POG are in Clearance, or Inactive status, and this is preventing the POG from being visible (due to a low POG to Base Tables match). Why is this happening? Resolution: To ensure set integrity, all SKUs on a POG should be active and available for replenishment in Base Tables. This means store exceptions must be properly set and SKUs are active. Similar to AMT, the POG system considers active SKUs to be in Active, Out of Season and In Season. If you have a valid reason that prevents you from achieving the above goal, please work with your POG manager for assistance with the issue. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 58

Appendix Revised 12/7/2011 Appendix Glossary of Terms The following is a list of THD-specific terms and acronyms that may be helpful as you review this guide. Term AMT Base Tables (BT) CAR CR THD IDM IKB IPR Planogram Submission Portal (IKS) POG POG Portal PSA HomeDepotLink Supplier Portal Supplier Guardian Definition Assortment Management Tool; assists merchants with maintenance execution Master-of-record for the status of a SKU in a given store. SKU-Store relationships are maintained using the SKU setup process. Centralized Automated Replenishment: System-generated ordering process based on established thresholds and requirements Consolidated Reset The Home Depot, Inc. A Web-based tool for supplier partners to setup and store product information Intactix Knowledge Base: A database-driven POG management solution offered by JDA. Inventory Planning and Replenishment: An internal THD team that uses CAR. Intactix Knowledge Server: A web-based portal for interacting with an IKB database. Abbreviation for Planogram A Web-based portal for viewing POGs and assigning them to stores. Assignment is visible only if a supplier has been granted access for this function. Sometimes referred to as POG Viewer Portal or Store Assignment Portal. File extension used colloquially to denote a data file created using Space Planning (Planogramming software used by THD). https://homedepotlink.homedepot.com: A public site for accessing supplier-focused information related to THD. Technology used for secure access to supplier POG functions. Suppliers login from the HomeDepotLink Supplier Portal home screen. Those without access can request access by sending an email to supplier_performance@homedepot.com. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 59

Appendix Revised 12/7/2011 Safety Standards Environmental Standards NRS (National Racking Standards) Because the safety of our associates and customers is of paramount concern to The Home Depot, the following requirements have been implemented. These must be followed very closely or a POG submission will be considered non-compliant and will not be posted for distribution to the stores. When submitting a POG, suppliers must click on a disclaimer indicating their acknowledgement of having thoroughly followed the safety, environmental, and National Racking Standards (NRS) requirements for creating the Planogram: By marking X, I have agreed to THD s Safety and Environmental standards as outlined in the Planogram Compliance Policy. I have read the terms and conditions as outlined and do comply with them. I should not mark X, if I have not read nor comply. I understand that all externally created Planograms without an X will not be eligible for posting to the intranet or store execution. By marking X, I have agreed to THD s National Racking Standards as outlined in the Planogram Compliance Policy. I have read the terms and conditions as outlined and do comply with them. I should not mark X, if I have not read nor comply. I understand that all externally created Planograms without an X will not be eligible for posting to the intranet or store execution. Please refer to the extensive safety information found in the Safety Documentation folder in the THD Vendor Resources folder accompanying this compliance policy. Every department has specific and important guidelines to be followed. If you require any assistance or clarification, please don t hesitate to contact THD s Safety Department at: safety_support@homedepot.com. In addition to the safety requirements outlined above, there are a number of environmental requirements that must be met. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in submitted POGs being returned. If you have any questions, please direct them to the Environmental Department at: environmental_programs@homedepot.com. All POGs submitted to THD must comply with the NRS. Please refer to the documentation in your THD Vendor Resources folder for further details. The key requirements as they pertain to POGs are: For installation and evaluative purposes, all POGs must illustrate the full height of the bays including the configuration of the overhead area. The first page of the POGs must show the size and location of all beams and decking. If steel changes on the POGs, you must ensure that it meets NRS requirements. Please direct any NRS questions to Store Planning at store_planning_support@homedepot.com. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 60

Appendix Revised 12/7/2011 Alternate POG Data Entry Method If you prefer, you may enter all data fields manually via the multiple tabs on the Planogram Properties screen rather than using the Planogram Input Form. When you have your POG open for editing/creating in Space Planning, go to Settings > Planogram. The Planogram Properties screen appears: 2 3 4 1 T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 61

Appendix Revised 12/7/2011 Alternate POG Data Entry Method (cont.) For the most current list of valid values for POG Project Filters, go to the Planogram Viewer on the Portal and reference the drop down menu under Descriptive Attr. Enter data for the following tabs of the POG Properties screen: 1. General Tab Name: POG name in this format: (Count of Bays) Bay (Bay Widths) (Other Identifying Information Designated By Merchant). 2. Descriptions Tab Desc 4 (or Sales Cluster): Specify a Sales cluster (e.g. A Volume / High / Medium / etc.). Desc 5 (or Scope): Specify a POG Scope (e.g. seasonal, reset, new product, signage change, POG maintenance, etc.). Desc 6 (or Safety Directions): Provide specific safety information to the field relative to the POG. Desc 9 (or POG Created by): The name of the user submitting the POG (Format: Last Name, First Name) Desc 10 (or Company Name): Submitter s company name Desc 11 (or Contact Email Addr): Submitter's e-mail address Desc 17 (or Additional Directions): Provide any additional information necessary for setting the POG. For example, POG requires wire mesh between beam elevations. POG Project Filters: Desc Fields 12-16 (for Attributes 1-5): These standardized fields should only be added as directed by THD, only one attribute per field. These are project-specific filters for the POG viewer. Valid values for these fields as of December 2010: POG Project Filters 2010 - CR4 2010 - CR5 2011 - CR1 2011 - CR2 2011 - CR3 2011 - CR4 2011 - CR5 2011 - CR6 2011 - Spring 2011 - Fall 2011 - Holiday Front Apron RAT Think Big D30 Window Reduction Plug - n - Play Project 350 T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 62

Appendix Revised 12/7/2011 Alternate POG Data Entry Method (cont.) 3. Values Tab Value 1 (or Subcategory Nbr): THD s subcategory number for the subcategory to which the POG is assigned. 4. Dates Tab Value 2 (or Department Nbr): THD s department number for the subcategory to which the POG is assigned. Value 3 (or Class Nbr): THD s class number for the subcategory to which the POG is assigned. Value 4 (or Category Nbr): THD s category number for the subcategory to which the POG is assigned. Created by: The name of the user creating the POG (Format: Last Name, First Name) Date effective: The POG effective date must be later than or equal to the POG submission date. This date affects when stores see the POG. Exception: If multiple stores are involved in a reset, enter the last date of the reset instead of the first. Status: Choose either Pending or Awaiting Store Assignments. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 63

Appendix Revised 12/7/2011 Product-level Data Fields It is critical that data in IDM is accurate. If there are SKU-level issues, edit the data within IDM. See the Data Quality Kit available on IDM for information on editing data, measuring product and capturing product dimensions at Home > Business Operations > Item Management > Related Content: Contact the IDM Support Line at (877) 355-5839 (ext. 87583) or at idm@homedepot.com with any issues or questions.editing data in IDM Measuring product and capturing product dimensions To review product-level data from the Planogram screen in Space Planning, click on the SKU number you want to view from the SKU list on the left side of the screen: T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 64

HEIGHT Appendix Revised 12/7/2011 Product-level Data Fields (cont.) The Product Properties screen appears, displaying the product level attributes as they exist in IDM: If SKU data is not correct in IDM, your POG will not be accurate. Product-level Data: Required Field Descriptions These required data fields MUST be complete and accurate. The data that appears in these fields represents the following information as it exists in IDM: ID: THD s SKU Number as six digits without a dash (e.g. 534201, not 534-201) Height: Individual product s height Width: Individual product s width Depth: Individual product s depth FACING Status: A SKU may not appear on a POG if it is in corporate Delete (600) DEPTH status. By using THD s product library, you should not encounter status issues WIDTH (acceptable statuses are: active, in season, out of season, inactive and clearance). Dimensions are as the product is merchandised on the shelf in other words, from the customer's perspective facing it. Indicate the merchandising style of the product (e.g., merchandised vs. a sellable unit) by checking the appropriate box in IDM. For more information, see IDM POG Checklist on pg. 58. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 65

Appendix Revised 12/7/2011 Product-level Data: May Be Required Field Descriptions Product-level Data: Optional Field Descriptions Fields flagged as (May Be Required) indicate that the fields may be left blank based in particular circumstances. For example, no Alternate Height/Width/Depth/Total Number data is required if the SKU is not merchandised as a pallet. This equally applies to Display, Tray and Case merchandise styles. Data in these fields represents the following information as it exists in IDM. Alternate Height: Height of a product s pallet Alternate Width: Width of a product s pallet Alternate Depth: Depth of a product s pallet Alternate Total Number: Quantity of individual units in a pallet Display Height: Fully assembled product s display height Display Width: Display width of a fully assembled product Display Depth: Fully assembled unit s display depth Tray Height: Product s inner pack height Tray Width: Product s inner pack width Tray Depth: Product s inner pack depth Tray Total Number: Qty of individual units included in an inner-pack Case Height: Product s carton height Case Width: Product s carton width Case Depth: Product s carton depth Case Total Number: Qty of individual units included in a carton/case Fields flagged as (Optional) may be left blank. Data in these fields represents the following information as it exists in IDM. Description 15: SKU Additional Info where supplier may input any product information desired (e.g. EcoOptions); populates in the Additional Info column next to the SKU on page 2 of the PDF generated for the POG Value 16: Display SKU Number associated with the standard SKU number Flag 8: Indicates whether a SKU should have a position label printed on a layout T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 66

Appendix Revised 12/7/2011 Product-level Fields Overwritten by THD Data in these fields represents the following information as it exists in IDM. THD overwrites this data. Supplier: Manufacturer s name YNesting: From IDM s vertical nesting increment field Desc 1: Department name based on the department number associated with the SKU Desc 2: Class name based on the department and class numbers associated with the SKU Desc 3: Subclass name based on the department, class and subclass numbers associated with the SKU Desc 4: SKU Type (e.g. NORMAL, LUMBER, COMMODITY, etc.) associated with the SKU Desc 5: Kit Name (applicable only for epop products) Desc 17: Item V number (applicable only for epop products) Desc 18: Eco Option Desc 20: Kit Number (applicable only for epop products) Value 1: Department number associated with the SKU Value 2: Class number based on the department and class numbers associated with the SKU Value 3: Subclass number based on the department, class and subclass numbers associated with the SKU Value 4: GTIN associated with the individual unit Value 5: GTIN associated with the display unit Value 6: GTIN associated with the carton/case unit Value 7: GTIN associated with the palleted unit Value 8: Special Order SKU number associated with the normal SKU number (Optional) Value 9: Vendor Number (Optional) Value 10: (epop Records Only) KIT Number (Optional) Value 11: (epop Records Only) V Number (Optional) Values 12-14: Restricted for use by THD Flag 1: Selected when a pallet is indicated in IDM as being merchandisable on a shelf Flag 2: Selected when a tray/innerpack is indicated in IDM as being merchandisable on a shelf Flag 3: Selected when a case/carton is indicated in IDM as being merchandisable on a shelf Flag 4: Selected when a pallet is indicated in IDM as being merchandisable on a shelf Flag 5: Selected when a case can be stacked as indicated in IDM T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 67

Appendix Revised 12/7/2011 Product-level Fields Overwritten by THD (cont.) Flag 6: Selected when individual units can be stacked as indicated in IDM Flag 7: Selected when individual units can be nested within each other as indicated in IDM Flag 9: Selected when a product record represents epop rather than a merchandised product Weight: Weight for the individual product as it exists in IDM Date Created: SKU Create Date from THD s Master Data Date Modified: Last updated time stamp for the SKU from THD s Master Data Created By: User responsible for creating the SKU record Modified By: User responsible for last modifying the SKU record T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 68

Appendix Revised 12/7/2011 IDM POG Checklist If SKU data is not correct in IDM, your POG will not be accurate. To resolve the issue, verify that the: 1. SKU is in Base Tables. If the SKU is not in Base Tables, it will not be in the product library. Contact your MA for assistance. 2. SKU is in IDM. If the SKU is not in IDM, it will be in the product library but with no or incorrect dimensions. Contact your merchant to add it. 3. "Merchandise on Shelf" flag is set to "Y". Setting this flag does not mean that the item is physically on a shelf but rather on display (e.g., mowers are displayed on the floor but still require the Merchandise on Shelf flag to be set to Y ) At least one packaging level MUST have Merchandise on Shelf set to "Y". The POG system will only import information for items that have the Merchandise on Shelf flag set to "Y". 4. Item has correct measurements. Review Assembled Dimensions on the Core Attributes tab. If dimensions exist, they are used on the POG. If Assembled Dimensions do not exist, then review the Supply Chain Attributes dimensions. For the Each level, the front of the item would be the side with the brand name or how it is placed on a shelf. The dimensions are then measured as below. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 69

Appendix Revised 12/7/2011 IDM POG Checklist (cont.) Keep in mind that this is for the Each level. The Assembled Dimensions would be oriented with the front of the product facing towards you and then measured in a similar fashion. An example of a more difficult item would be a roll of carpet. The way it is oriented on the carpet machine is how it should be measured. 5. Item has the correct unit of measure (Each, Inner Pack, Case, Pallet or Assembled). If steps 1-5 do not resolve the issue, escalate your SKU/Item to IDM Support. The following information is required for all escalations: SKU number (most important): From IDM or POG system OMSID number for item(s): From IDM system (upper right of item s page) UPC number: Under Supply Chain Attributes tab in IDM Merchandised on Shelf? field: Under Supply Chain Attributes tab in IDM Dimensions (If unable to match any found in IDM): Display dimensions from POG system To escalate IDM support issues, contact the IDM Support Line at 1-877-355-5839. T H E H O M E D E P O T C O M P L I A N C E P O L I C Y v 6. 2 70