Update Barcodes

Benchling allows users with the proper permissions to update the barcodes of containers, boxes, plates and locations.

We allow updates to inventory barcodes via:

1. Inventory item metadata page
2. Bulk spreadsheet import
3. API

Enablement

Please reach out to Benchling Support to enable this feature for your tenant.

Permissions

Once enabled, Admins may grant user’s access via Access Policies by applying ‘Granted’ permissions to ‘Edit Names’ policy for each inventory item type: Plates, Boxes, Containers, or Locations.

Making barcode updates

Update the inventory item’s barcode from it’s metadata page.

1. Click into the object and navigate to the object’s metadata page
2. Select the pencil icon next to the current barcode value
3. Enter a valid barcode value. If it is an acceptable barcode i.e. it is not already in use and is under 255 characters, select the check mark and the barcode will be updated.

Update the inventory item’s barcode via spreadsheet import

1. Click on the "+" sign and select Update containers (or Update [inventory item] for other object types).
2. Follow the instructions in the import wizard. On the second page, import your CSV sheet or use the Raw Text option to paste in your values. Remember to paste in the headers.
3. The import wizard will map the fields from your spreadsheet or raw text to metadata about the inventory item.
1. Note: Make sure to include a current and new barcode column when updating barcodes.

Update the inventory item’s barcode via API

1. Barcodes are editable through the API using the patch endpoints under the limited availability. (e.g. https://biotechtx.benchling.com/api/reference?availability=la#/Boxes/updateBox).

Behavior to Note

When updating plate barcodes, its well barcodes will be subsequently updated. The plate barcode update will be audit logged but the changes to well barcodes will not be audit logged e.g. PL001 > PL002 will update well barcodes to PL001:A1 > PL002:A1.