Benchling's Inventory application offers a digital representation of your lab's physical storage system, allowing you to track the location, quantity, and status of samples and containers. By mirroring your physical inventory within Benchling, you can efficiently manage samples, streamline workflows, and maintain data integrity across experiments.

Benchling Inventory is structured to reflect the physical hierarchy of your lab storage, encompassing:

And samples, which are the Registered entities (e.g., DNA, proteins) stored within containers

This hierarchy ensures accurate tracking and management of samples throughout their lifecycle. Here's how the relationships work:

• Samples are the actual biological entities (e.g., DNA, protein, cell lines) that you want to track, existing as entities in the Registry
• Containers (like tubes or wells) physically hold samples. Each container can be linked to one or more samples, with metadata about concentration, volume, etc
• Boxes and Plates are used to organize multiple containers in a grid format, making high-throughput sample storage and retrieval easier
• Locations represent the physical spaces (e.g., freezers, shelves) where boxes, plates, and containers (and by extension, the samples inside them) are stored

In Benchling, each object nests within the one above it—samples go in containers, containers go in boxes or plates, and all of these are placed in defined locations. This structure mirrors your lab’s physical layout to support traceability and operational efficiency.

Create and manage Inventory locations

Setting up your Inventory starts with defining your physical lab layout. You’ll want to create accurate digital representations of freezers, fridges, shelves, and other storage locations so your team can easily find and track where samples live. This step is done after your admin configures the categories of inventory you’ll manage. To create a new location: 

1. Navigate to the Inventory application in the Navigation bar
2. Click the local create button in the top right, hover over Location, and select Create Location from the menu
3. Create nested locations that represent your physical setup  (e.g., Building > Room > Freezer > Shelf), ensuring you are creating new location objects within the correct object you created
4. Alternatively, you can select the Import Location option to create locations in bulk, which is useful for locations that hold several others (e.g., a Room with multiple Freezers)

When creating locations in the Inventory, 

• Align digital locations with physical storage for intuitive navigation.
• Use consistent naming conventions for easy identification.
• Regularly audit and update location information to reflect physical changes.

Create containers

Containers are the digital representations of vials, tubes, wells, and other vessels in which samples are stored. You'll create containers to track where each sample is held, how much is available, and which entity is inside. To create containers:

1. Navigate to the Inventory application in the Navigation bar
2. Click the local create button in the top right, hover over Container, and select Create Container
3. Select the appropriate container schema (e.g., Tube, Well)
4. Enter required details such as name, barcode, and associated sample
5. Assign the container to a location
6. Save the container by clicking Create

Fill containers 

If a container already exists, you can add samples to containers:

1. Open the desired container
2. In the top right, click Transfer in / out, and then Fill Container
3. Search for and select the registered entity, click Next
4. Specify quantity and concentration (or other metadata), click Next
5. Click Done

Create boxes and plates

Boxes and plates let you organize containers into structured grids. These tools are especially helpful for managing high-throughput workflows, maintaining consistency, and making bulk operations like transfers more efficient. Dimensions of boxes and plates (rows and columns) are the most standard way to configure these. They can also specify the type of container that is used in them, so they only accept that container (wells in a plate, specific tubes in a box).

To create boxes or plates:

1. Navigate to the Inventory application in the Navigation bar
2. Click the local create button in the top right, hover over Box or Plate, and select Create
3. Choose the schema and select a project to set permissions
4. Assign a location
5. Finish by selecting Create

Fill boxes and plates

To place containers into boxes or plates:

1. Open the box or plate
2. Click on a position (e.g., A1)
3. Select Add Container
4. Choose an existing container or create a new one
5. Repeat for other positions as needed

Inventory tables in Notebook entries

Using an Inventory table in the Notebook creates a full audit trail within the experimental context, and streamlines sample tracking within Notebook entries. You can insert tables that create boxes, plates, and containers directly in the Notebook. 

Inventory tables provide a structured way to create and fill new containers, fill existing containers or plates, and update container or plate well attributes in a Notebook entry. Each Inventory table can only transfer into or update a single specified container schema. 

To add an Inventory table: 

1. Click on Insert and select Inventory table from the menu
2. Specify the desired action:
   1. Create and fill new containers
   2. Fill existing containers
   3. Update container or plate well attributes
3. Use the source dropdown to define if the source is an entity, container, or plate
4. Use the destination dropdown to define the destination object
5. Use the schema dropdown and search bar to select the inventory schema
6. Certain schema types will also ask you to provide additional information by toggling features on and off including
   • If you’d like to use custom or autogenerated barcodes
   • If you’d like to enable sample control roles 
7. Click Insert

Populate an Inventory table

Each row of an Inventory table corresponds to a transfer or container update, and a transfer may simultaneously transfer a sample to multiple containers. 

To add objects to an Inventory table: 

1. Enter source entities and destination containers
2. Specify quantities, concentrations, and locations
3. Use the Submit button to execute actions

For more about structured Inventory tables, see the linked article.

Plate Creation tables in Notebook entries

Plate Creation tables allow you to create multiple plates at once, scan existing plate barcodes into the table, navigate location hierarchies. They work in tandem with Inventory tables in a Notebook entry to streamline assay preparation from sample creation to sample use. Plate Creation tables can also be used in automation workflows, such as generating many destination plates for a liquid handling run.

To create plates from a plate Creation table

1. In your Notebook entry, click Insert → Plate creation table

   

2. Choose the plate schema and whether the barcode should be autogenerated (iterating from the schema prefix, e.g., PL003) or custom (unique text you define)

   

3. Click Insert

   

4. Name each plate by typing into the Plate cell

5. Assign each plate to a location by double-clicking into the Location cell and selecting from your location hierarchy

   

6. When ready, click Submit to create all plates in the table at once

Note: The table is not editable after submission. To correct a location of a plate after submission, open the plate link, move it to the correct location.

Plate maps and plate design tools

Plate maps provide a visual layout for organizing samples and reagents in multi-well formats such as 96- or 384-well plates. They're used to plan plate layouts, track experimental materials, and record well-level actions throughout an experiment.

Benchling supports two plate map types:

• Plate designs create reusable layouts. They include plate structure, well annotations, and optional layers, and can later be used to fill a plate. Plate designs exist only in the Notebook entry where they're created.
• Plate records represent experimental plates and are immutable snapshots that contain the plate's layout and all associated information, including well roles, schema field values, contents, and optional values such as final concentrations or transfer quantities. When you create a plate record in the Notebook, it generates a plate object in Inventory. The plate record in the Notebook remains unchanged even if the plate is edited in Inventory.

Both plate designs and plate records follow the same four-step workflow:

1. Select type – Choose the plate map type (design or record) and define basic details (plate name, schema, inventory location)
2. Define plate map – Annotate wells, set schema fields, add contents, and configure optional layers such as concentration
3. Define transfer – Optionally specify final concentrations, apply concentration layers, or define transfer quantities for contents being added to wells. 
4. Review – Confirm all values before saving or filling the plate

Note: You cannot save a plate map in progress. If you navigate away from the plate map wizard before completing all steps, your work will be lost.

The sections below walk you through creating plate designs and plate records using this workflow.

Create a plate design

Plate Designs can only be used to create Plate Records within the same Notebook entry where the design exists. To reuse a design in a different entry, copy the Plate Design into the new entry. Plate Designs created in Notebook templates and subtemplates are automatically available in any entries created from those templates.

Follow these steps to create a new plate design in the Notebook:

1. Open a Notebook entry
2. From the Insert dropdown, select Plate map
3. In the plate map type prompt, choose Plate design
4. Fill out plate attributes including schema, name, and project, then click Next
5. Fill in the relevant attributes in the Define plate map step, which may include:
   • Annotating well roles
   • Setting schema field values
   • Adding contents
   • Define optional concentration layers
6. When you finish defining the plate map, click Next
7. If you'd like to specify how each content is prepared and transferred into wells, complete the Define transfer step. For each content, you may choose to:
   • Define final concentrations 
   • Apply concentration layers 
   • Specify transfer quantities
8. When you finish defining the transfer step, click Next
9. Review all plate details. Use the dropdown above the plate visualization to switch between plate attributes and make final adjustments directly in the table

10. Click Save design

The plate design will now reflect all structure, metadata, concentrations, and transfer quantities defined during the workflow.

The sections below provide more detail for how to take specific actions while defining the plate map and adding the concentration layer.

Annotate well roles 

While in the Define plate map step of the wizard: 

1. Navigate to the Roles layer in the left sidebar
2. Select wells directly on the plate
3. In the right sidebar, assign a primary role (sample, control, standard, or blank) 
4. Assign additional options:

• Specify group option - assign a sub-role (positive, negative, minimum, or maximum) for control wells 
• Fill by pattern option - assign numbered groups to organize replicates

Note: Each well can only have a single role. Multiple roles cannot be assigned to a well.

Set schema field values

While in the Define plate map step of the wizard: 

1. Navigate to a schema field layer in the left sidebar
2. Select wells on the plate
3. Use the right sidebar to assign values for the selected field
4. Repeat for each schema field layer as needed

Note: You can add up to 20 schema field layers per plate design.

Add contents 

While in the Define plate map step of the wizard: 

1. Navigate to the Contents layer in the left sidebar
2. Select wells on the plate
3. Use the right sidebar to search for sources and choose how to transfer them into wells
4. Click Add source to place them on the plate
5. Repeat to add additional contents as needed

Note: You can add up to 10 contents per well.

Define concentration layer

Concentration layers allows you to define reusable concentration patterns directly in the plate design.

While in the Define plate map step of the wizard: 

1. Navigate to the Concentration layer and click +Add
2. Select wells on the plate
3. Use the right sidebar to Name the concentration layer and select Units and define Concentration values manually or configure a serial dilution
4. Click Apply to add the layer to the design
5. Repeat for each concentration layer as needed

Note: You can add up to 10 concentration layers per plate design. 

Apply concentration layers 

​​While in the Define transfer step of the wizard:

1. Select a content from the Contents list in the left panel
2. In the right panel, set Select field to Final concentration
3. Choose Use concentration layer
4. Select the concentration layer from the Select layer dropdown
5. Select wells or click Select all
6. Click Apply

Define final concentration without concentration layer 

While in the Define transfer step of the wizard:

1. Select a content from the Contents list in the left panel
2. Select wells or click Select all in the plate map
3. In the right panel, set Select field to Final concentration
4. Choose Define concentration
5. Select Units from the dropdown
6. Enter a Concentration value or configure a serial dilution
7. Click Apply

Define transfer quantities 

While in the Define transfer step of the wizard:

1. Select a content from the Contents list in the left panel
2. Select wells or click Select all in the plate map
3. In the right panel, set Select field to Transfer quantity
4. Select Units from the dropdown 
5. Enter a Quantity value 
6. Click Apply

Plate records

You can create a plate record directly in the Notebook or from an existing plate design. Plate records in the Notebook are immutable snapshots that capture the plate's state at the time of creation. Once you create a plate record from a plate design, you will not be able to edit the plate design.

Plate Designs can only be used to create Plate Records within the same Notebook entry where the design exists. To reuse a design in a different entry, copy the Plate Design into the new entry. Plate Designs created in Notebook templates and subtemplates are automatically available in any entries created from those templates.

Create a plate record from the Notebook

1. Open a Notebook entry
2. From the Insert dropdown, select Plate map
3. In the plate map type prompt, choose Plate record
4. Fill out plate attributes including schema, name, and project, then click Next
5. In the Define plate map step, review and add contents to wells. You may also:
   • Annotating well roles
   • Setting schema field values
   • Adding contents
   • Define optional concentration layers
6. When you finish defining the plate map, click Next
7. If you'd like to specify how each content is prepared and transferred into wells, complete the Define transfer step. For each content, you may choose to:
   • Define final concentrations 
   • Apply concentration layers 
   • Specify transfer quantities
8. When you finish defining the transfer step, click Next
9. Click Fill to create the plate record

Create a plate record from an existing plate design

If you have a saved plate design, you can use it as a template when creating a plate record. You can add additional contents not captured in the plate design during the Define plate map step.

1. Open the Notebook entry containing the plate design
2. Click Fill plate next to the design
3. Confirm or assign plate details, then click Next
4. In the Define plate map step, review existing contents from the design and add any additional contents needed. You may also:
   • Annotating well roles
   • Setting schema field values
   • Adding contents
   • Define optional concentration layers
5. When you finish defining the plate map, click Next
6. If you'd like to specify how each content is prepared and transferred into wells, complete the Define transfer step. For each content, you may choose to:
   • Define final concentrations 
   • Apply concentration layers 
   • Specify transfer quantities
7. When you finish defining the transfer step, click Next
8. Click Fill to create the plate record

Note: Plate records in the Notebook cannot be edited after creation. To add or remove contents from the plate, navigate to the plate in Inventory and use the Fill wells option on the Contents page or modify existing plate records using the plate map wizard. Changes made in Inventory will not update the plate record in the Notebook.

Edit existing plate records

1. Open a Notebook entry
2. From the Insert dropdown, select Plate map
3. In the plate map type prompt, choose Plate record
4. Select Existing plate, then search for the plate you want to modify, click Next
5. In the Define plate map step, review existing contents and add or modify as needed. You may also:
   • Annotating well roles
   • Setting schema field values
   • Adding contents
   • Define optional concentration layers
6. When you finish defining the plate map, click Next
7. If you'd like to specify or modify how each content is prepared and transferred into wells, complete the Define transfer step. For each content, you may choose to:
   • Define final concentrations 
   • Apply concentration layers 
   • Specify transfer quantities
8. When you finish defining the transfer step, click Next
9. Click Fill to update the plate record

Note: Each time you update an existing plate record, a new plate record is created in the Notebook entry. The original plate record remains unchanged. Changes made through this wizard update the plate in Inventory and create a new immutable snapshot in the Notebook.

Edit plates in Inventory

After creating a plate record in the Notebook, you can modify the plate directly in Inventory. Changes made in Inventory update the plate but do not affect the immutable plate record in the Notebook. You can add contents to wells or annotate well roles on existing plates in Inventory using the plate map wizard.

Annotate existing plates

1. Open a plate from Inventory or a linked Notebook entry and navigate to Contents tab
2. Click Annotate plate
3. Select wells and assign roles such as Sample, Control, Standard, or Blank on the right side of the modal
4. Click Save 

Fill wells on existing plates

1. Open a plate from Inventory or a linked Notebook entry and navigate to Contents tab
2. Click Fill wells
3. Select wells on the plate
4. Use the right sidebar to search for sources and choose how to transfer them into wells
5. Click Add source to place them on the plate
6. When finished adding all contents, click Next
7. If needed, specify final concentrations or transfer quantities for the contents
8. Click Next to review all changes
9. Click Fill

Note: Changes made to plates in Inventory using Fill wells do not update any plate records created from that plate in Notebook entries. Plate records in the Notebook remain as immutable snapshots at the time of their creation.

Consume and update samples

Samples move, get used, or change throughout their lifecycle. This section helps you reflect those changes in Benchling to ensure your digital inventory stays aligned with your bench work.

Consume samples

To record sample usage on the container’s page:

1. Open the container
2. Edit the quantity field
3. Save the changes

To record sample usage in the context of a Notebook entry:

1. Create an Inventory table by clicking the Insert button at the top of an entry
2. Select Inventory table, then Update container or plate well attributes. Select the container or well schema that you are using, then click Insert
3. Search for the container in the first column, then edit the Add/deduct by with the the amount used or added
4. Click Submit

Update sample information

To update sample details:

1. Open the container
2. Modify fields such as quantity, concentration, or metadata by clicking on the edit icon at the right end of the field

3. Save the updates by clicking the check mark

    

Barcode management and scanning

Benchling supports matrix plate scanners for high-throughput sample input. These devices allow you to scan entire plates at once and populate well data without manual entry.

Use a matrix plate scanner

1. Ensure your device is connected and configured per your organization's settings
2. Click the Actions button on the right side
3. Click the Set from matrix scanner option
4. Copy-and-paste the data from the matrix scanner .csv output. Each cell in the .csv output should reflect the barcode of the container in its respective position. When pasting the data from the matrix scanner .csv into Benchling, be sure that every container is separated by a tab or comma
5. Select the container schema that you’re modifying. Only one container schema can be modified in a given instance. Select Next
6. Benchling will summarize each action that is to be taken on the box or plate. Review these actions and select Next to finalize the changes

Scanners are especially helpful when loading plates for ELISAs, screenings, or other high-throughput workflows.

Update Barcodes

You may need to update barcodes to correct misprints, replace damaged labels, or align with institutional formats. Users with the appropriate permissions may update the barcodes of containers, boxes, plates and locations as needed. You can update barcodes using three methods:

1. From the item’s metadata page
2. Via bulk spreadsheet import
3. Using the API

To update barcodes, users must have the ‘Edit Names’ access policy granted for each relevant inventory item type (Plates, Boxes, Containers, or Locations).

Update via Metadata tab

1. Navigate to the item (container, box, plate, or location) in the Inventory
2. Open its Metadata page
   Click the edit icon beside the current barcode to edit
3. Enter a new, valid barcode (must be unique and under 255 characters)
4. Click the check icon to save changes

Update via spreadsheet import

1. Click the local create button in the Inventory app, then choose Update [Item Type] (e.g., Update Containers)
2. Follow the import wizard prompts:
   • Upload your CSV or paste raw text
   • Ensure both current and new barcode columns are included
   • Map fields correctly
3. Complete the import to apply barcode updates in bulk

Update via API

If enabled for your tenant, use the endpoints found on docs.benchling.com to programmatically update barcodes via the Benchling API.

Behavior to Note

• Updating a plate’s barcode will automatically update all its well barcodes.
  • For example: Changing PL001 to PL002 will also update wells from PL001:A1 → PL002:A1.
• Important: Only the plate barcode change is audit-logged. Well barcode changes are not logged.

Use Barcode scanners

Benchling supports barcode scanning for efficient sample tracking. Ensure your scanner is compatible and configured correctly to integrate with Benchling's interface. Worklists make it easy to scan containers into Benchling. To open the barcode scanner: 

1. Open a Worklist from the Home menu
2. Click on the barcode scanning icon
3. Scan or paste your barcodes in and click Use scanned containers to continue
4. Once you're done you can add them to an existing worklist or create a new one

Implement location constraints and restrictions

To prevent storage errors, you can enforce rules on where containers can be placed. This helps your team store samples under the right environmental conditions or follow project-specific protocols.

Below are general Location rules that may be enforced by your admin:

1. If Allows boxes, plates and container’ is false, creating or moving plates/boxes/containers in that location is not allowed
2. If Allowed inventory schemas is specified, any plates/boxes/containers being created or moved into that location are required to be one the specified schemas
3. If Inventory Capacity is specified, creating or moving in plates/ boxes/containers in excess of that limit is not allowed
4. If it’s already over capacity, no plates/boxes/containers can be moved in
5. If it has X available spaces, X or less items can be created/moved in, but if X+1 are being created or moved in bulk, it will error

Restrictions will be enforced in the following flows:

1. Bulk spreadsheet import will display an error if boxes, plates, or containers are moved into a location not configured to accept them
2. Box, Plate or Container Creation Tables in a Notebook Entry will display an error if boxes, plates or containers are moved into an incompatible location
3. The Move Modal from a Box, Plate or Container creation page will display an error when attempting to move boxes, plates, or containers into a location not configured to accept inventory items
4. Bulk moving Inventory items into a Location not configured to allow Inventory items.
5. Create box, plate or container modals in Inventory and Global Create when trying to select a Location not configured to accept any Inventory items
6. Using an API endpoint to create or move a box, plate, or container into a location not configured to accept inventory items will generate an “200” error
7. Lookup tables can have a column that shows available space in a box or plate
8. The metadata page of a box or plate will show available space
9. Global or Inventory Search can filter for Location Validation and Failure status

Plate chain of custody

Benchling tracks the full history of plate usage, known as the plate chain of custody. This includes every action applied to a plate or its wells—from creation, transfers, and reservations, to consumption and archival.

To generate a plate’s chain of custody report:

1. Navigate to the metadata tab on a plate page
2. Click the export menu and choose Export chain of custody - plate history
3. The report will be generated in PDF format by default, with a CSV option available
4. The report includes the following columns:
   • Timestamp (UTC): The time the activity occurred
   • User: The user who performed the action
   • Activity Description: The specific action taken
   • Item: The object on which the action was performed
   • Old Value/New Value: Changes in item values due to the action
   • Inventory Location: The inventory path for the container
   • Document Context: Entry details if the action was performed in a registration table
   • Reason Code/Comment: The rationale and notes associated with data modifications

This transparency supports regulatory compliance and experimental reproducibility.

Tracking sample and container history

To maintain traceability, Benchling logs every movement and update made to containers and samples. These tools help you monitor sample custody and support audits or investigations.

Location history report

To view movement history:

1. Access the container or sample
2. Click Export report and select Export location history from the menu
3. Choose the desired format and download

Container history report

To download history:

1. Open the container
2. Click Export report in the top right, then Export chain of custody
3. Choose the desired format and download

Assign sample owners and permissions

You can pre-approve which users and teams have access to samples and more efficiently distribute samples across your teams by assigning sample owners and restricted sample users to containers. Restricting a container limits the actions users can take on that container and its samples. This article explains sample restriction and roles, and how to assign access. Restriction of and access to samples on the platform uses a two-fold approach:

• The sample restriction status, which determines whether a container or sample has restricted use
• Users that are authorized to access restricted containers and samples

Sample restriction

Containers, with the exception of plate wells, can be assigned restriction statuses of Restricted or Unrestricted. Because sample restriction only applies to non-well containers, plate wells have a restriction status of N/A.

Only sample owners and users who are granted the Restrict sample (container) and Unrestrict sample (container) access policies can restrict and un-restrict samples. Sample owners can also edit restricted sample users.

To manage access in a single container: 

1. Open the container
2. Edit the Sample owners to assign owners
3. Modify the Restricted sample users for who can access

4. Save after editing

    

Manage access in bulk

You can add restriction status, restricted sample users, and sample owners to multiple containers at the same time in global and Inventory searches. To designate access to multiple containers:

1. Click the Global Search icon or click into the Inventory application to open global or local search functionality
2. Filter by container or search for the containers you need to designate access to
3. Click the directional arrow above the search bar to open the expanded view
4. Select the applicable containers using the checkboxes at the left and and click Edit Field from the toolbar

5. Select Restriction status, Restricted sample users, or Sample owners

    

Sample access

Sample access only applies to restricted containers. Users assigned as restricted sample users on a restricted container can use the samples within. Users can’t take action on restricted containers and samples without explicit access.

Sample roles

Sample roles apply to containers and their contents. The table below explains each role’s permissible actions. 

If you encounter a restricted sample or container where you aren’t a restricted sample user, “No access” displays under the restriction access label, and the container label is red, instead of blue.

If you try to perform an action on a restricted sample or container, a pop-up window displays a warning explaining that the sample is restricted. 

• If it’s an availability warning, you can choose to bypass it by selecting Override warning.
• If it’s a restriction warning, you must de-select the restricted items to proceed. These warnings can’t be overridden. 

Any actions taken on unrestricted samples and containers are recorded in the container’s audit log. 

Bulk Import for mixture ingredients

Benchling supports bulk importing of mixture components using spreadsheet uploads. This is especially useful when building complex mixture recipes (e.g., buffer solutions or reagent cocktails) that require multiple registered ingredients.

To import mixture ingredients:

1. Create an Excel spreadsheet for your Mixtures with the following columns:
   • Mixture Name (mixtures must be existing registered entities)
   • Component Name (components must be existing registered entities)
   • Catalog #
   • Amount
   • Units (units must match allowable units for your schema)
2. Go to Registry and click the + in the top right, and select Import mixture ingredients
3. Select the Project or Folder that you'd like to import the Mixture to
4. Click Next
5. The importer will parse through your sheet and compare your column headers to the Ingredient fields. Ensure that your column names match their column types
6. Once everything matches, click Next. Benchling will check for any errors. If no errors are detected, click Import to import your ingredients into your Mixtures

This ensures mixture definitions are standardized and trackable across your organization.

Import and export Inventory data in bulk

When onboarding legacy records or scaling sample tracking, bulk spreadsheet uploads and downloads save time and minimize repetitive manual entry.

Import via spreadsheets

To bulk add data:

1. Navigate to Inventory, click Create, click Container, select Import containers

2. Select the correct Registry, Schema, and Project
3. Populate a spreadsheet with container and sample information
4. Upload the completed file, check for correct column mapping

Export Data

To export inventory data:

1. Go to Inventory
2. Apply desired filters
3. Click Export in the top right menu
4. Choose the format and download

Frequently asked questions

Q: How do I know what each well is supposed to contain in a plate map?

A: Plate maps display well contents, sample identity, and quantities visually. You can also assign well roles (like sample, control, or standard) to communicate intended usage.

Q: Can I reuse a plate map from one experiment in another?

A: Yes, plate maps are stored as part of the plate record and can be revisited, copied, or referenced across multiple notebook entries or workflows.

Q: What happens if I edit a plate map after it's been used in an experiment?

A: Edits to a plate map will update the current state of the plate. Changes are tracked in the plate record’s history so you can audit who changed what and when.

Q: Can I export the layout of a plate map?

A: Yes, you can export the plate map as a spreadsheet or report to share with collaborators or use outside of Benchling.

Q: Can I move multiple containers at once?

A: Yes, select multiple containers and use the Move function to relocate them simultaneously.

Q: How do I archive a container?

A: Open the container, click Archive, and confirm the action. Archived containers are retained for record-keeping but are no longer active.

Q: Is it possible to reserve containers?

A: Yes, use the Reserve function to mark containers for specific users or purposes.

Q: Can I customize container schemas?

A: Yes, navigate to Inventory > Settings > Container Schemas to create or modify schemas to fit your lab's needs.

Q: What barcode scanners are compatible?

A: Any barcode scanner should work as long as it can be configured to have a CARRIAGE RETURN after each scan. Although each scanner's setup is different, almost all of them should support this configuration.

In the manual for your scanner, look for a setting related to adding enter or a new line after each scan. Other models may call extra input at the end of the scan the "suffix", and have an option to make enter/return the suffix. Please reach out to the scanner's manufacturer for any questions about this configuration.

Q: How can I test that the scanner is configured correctly? 

A: Scan into an empty word document. You should see that the cursor moves down to the next line (just like hitting enter/return) after each scan.

Q: How many barcodes can I scan into a worklist at once?

A: Up to 100 container barcodes can be scanned into a worklist at one time. Any container barcode past the 100th barcode will display a "Not Found" error and will have to be scanned in separately. Please also note that each worklist can contain up to 500 items total.