Issue:
User is encountering an error when attempting to create a new inventory shelf. Benchling indicates that the barcode is already in use, even though there are no shelves in the Inventory location.
Environment:
Inventory
Cause:
In this case, an archived inventory location is found to have the same barcode. Benchling does not automatically archive registered barcodes when an inventory location is archived. Consequently, the barcode remains registered in the system even after the associated shelf is archived, preventing its reuse for a new shelf.
Resolution Steps:
To resolve this and create the desired new shelf with the intended barcode, follow these steps:
- Search for Archived Items: Utilize the Benchling Global search and filter for archived Inventory Locations.
- Unarchive the Existing Shelf: Once the archived location with the conflicting barcode is found, unarchive this inventory shelf.
- Rename the Existing Barcode: Edit the unarchived shelf location and rename its barcode to a new, unique identifier. A suggested naming convention is to prefix the old barcode with "OLD-". This retains a record of the original barcode while freeing it up for the new shelf.
- Create the New Shelf: You can now create your new inventory shelf with the originally intended barcode.
- Address Associated Items (Optional): If there were items associated with the originally archived shelf (Racks or other nested locations) and you intend to reuse their barcodes for new items, you will also need to unarchive those items and rename their barcodes following a similar process as outlined in step 3.
This process allows you to reclaim the desired barcode for your new shelf while maintaining the historical data associated with the archived location. Remember to communicate with other lab members about barcode naming conventions, especially when creating related inventory locations.