Multiple Barcodes for Products - Complete Implementation Guide

Overview

This guide will walk you through the complete process of adding multiple barcodes functionality to your Ultimate POS products. This feature allows you to:

• Assign multiple barcodes to products (in addition to the main SKU)

• Search products by any of their barcodes in POS, Purchase, and Universal Search

• Select which barcode to print on labels

• Support different barcode types (C128, C39, EAN-13, etc.) for each barcode

• Add optional descriptions to identify each barcode (e.g., "Supplier barcode", "Internal code")

This is useful when:

• Products come with manufacturer barcodes but you also use internal codes

• Suppliers provide their own barcode/SKU that differs from yours

• You need to support legacy barcodes after rebranding

Download

multi-barcode-products.zip

Step 1: Database Structure

Migration

Create a new migration for the product_barcodes table:

php artisan make:migration create_product_barcodes_table

Migration Content:

<?php

use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;

return new class extends Migration
{
    /**
     * Run the migrations.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function up()
    {
        Schema::create('product_barcodes', function (Blueprint $table) {
            $table->id();
            $table->unsignedInteger('product_id');
            $table->string('barcode', 191);
            $table->string('barcode_type', 20)->default('C128');
            $table->string('description', 191)->nullable();
            $table->timestamps();

            $table->foreign('product_id')->references('id')->on('products')->onDelete('cascade');
            $table->index('barcode');
            $table->unique(['product_id', 'barcode']);
        });
    }

    /**
     * Reverse the migrations.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function down()
    {
        Schema::dropIfExists('product_barcodes');
    }
};

Direct SQL (Alternative):

CREATE TABLE `product_barcodes` (
  `id` BIGINT UNSIGNED NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
  `product_id` INT UNSIGNED NOT NULL,
  `barcode` VARCHAR(191) NOT NULL,
  `barcode_type` VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL DEFAULT 'C128',
  `description` VARCHAR(191) NULL,
  `created_at` TIMESTAMP NULL,
  `updated_at` TIMESTAMP NULL,

  CONSTRAINT `fk_product_barcodes_product_id`
    FOREIGN KEY (`product_id`) REFERENCES `products`(`id`) ON DELETE CASCADE,

  UNIQUE KEY `unique_product_barcode` (`product_id`, `barcode`),
  INDEX `idx_product_barcodes_barcode` (`barcode`)
) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4 COLLATE=utf8mb4_unicode_ci;

Run Migration:

php artisan migrate

Step 2: Create ProductBarcode Model

Create File: app/ProductBarcode.php

<?php

namespace App;

use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;

class ProductBarcode extends Model
{
    /**
     * The attributes that aren't mass assignable.
     *
     * @var array
     */
    protected $guarded = ['id'];

    /**
     * Get the product that owns the barcode.
     */
    public function product()
    {
        return $this->belongsTo(\App\Product::class);
    }
}

Step 3: Update Product Model

File: app/Product.php

Add the relationship method at the end of the class (before the closing }):

/**
 * Get the additional barcodes for the product.
 */
public function barcodes()
{
    return $this->hasMany(\App\ProductBarcode::class);
}

Step 4: Update ProductUtil

File: app/Utils/ProductUtil.php

4.1 Add syncProductBarcodes Method

Add this method after the generateSubSku() method:

/**
 * Sync product barcodes.
 *
 * @param  \App\Product  $product
 * @param  array  $barcodes
 * @return void
 */
public function syncProductBarcodes($product, $barcodes)
{
    // Delete existing barcodes
    $product->barcodes()->delete();

    // Add new barcodes
    if (!empty($barcodes)) {
        foreach ($barcodes as $barcode) {
            if (!empty($barcode['barcode'])) {
                $product->barcodes()->create([
                    'barcode' => $barcode['barcode'],
                    'barcode_type' => $barcode['barcode_type'] ?? 'C128',
                    'description' => $barcode['description'] ?? null,
                ]);
            }
        }
    }
}

4.2 Update filterProduct Method for Search

In the filterProduct() method, find the LIKE search block and add barcode search after sub_sku:

if (in_array('sub_sku', $search_fields)) {
    $query->orWhere('sub_sku', 'like', '%'.$search_term.'%');
}

// Search in product_barcodes table
if (in_array('sku', $search_fields) || in_array('sub_sku', $search_fields)) {
    $query->orWhereExists(function ($subquery) use ($search_term) {
        $subquery->select(\DB::raw(1))
            ->from('product_barcodes')
            ->whereColumn('product_barcodes.product_id', 'products.id')
            ->where('product_barcodes.barcode', 'like', '%'.$search_term.'%');
    });
}

Also add the same for the EXACT search block:

if (in_array('sub_sku', $search_fields)) {
    $query->orWhere('sub_sku', $search_term);
}

// Search in product_barcodes table (exact match)
if (in_array('sku', $search_fields) || in_array('sub_sku', $search_fields)) {
    $query->orWhereExists(function ($subquery) use ($search_term) {
        $subquery->select(\DB::raw(1))
            ->from('product_barcodes')
            ->whereColumn('product_barcodes.product_id', 'products.id')
            ->where('product_barcodes.barcode', $search_term);
    });
}

Step 5: Update ProductController

File: app/Http/Controllers/ProductController.php

5.1 Update store() Method

After the supplier sync code, add:

//Add product barcodes
$product_barcodes = $request->input('product_barcodes', []);
if (!empty($product_barcodes)) {
    $this->productUtil->syncProductBarcodes($product, $product_barcodes);
}

5.2 Update edit() Method

Load the barcodes relationship:

$product = Product::where('business_id', $business_id)
                    ->with(['product_locations', 'suppliers', 'barcodes'])
                    ->where('id', $id)
                    ->firstOrFail();

5.3 Update update() Method

After the supplier sync code, add:

//Sync product barcodes
$product_barcodes = $request->input('product_barcodes', []);
$this->productUtil->syncProductBarcodes($product, $product_barcodes);

Step 6: Update Search in Other Controllers

6.1 SellPosController

File: app/Http/Controllers/SellPosController.php

Find the search block in getProductSuggestion() method and update:

//Include search
if (!empty($term)) {
    $products->where(function ($query) use ($term) {
        $query->where('p.name', 'like', '%' . $term . '%');
        $query->orWhere('sku', 'like', '%' . $term . '%');
        $query->orWhere('sub_sku', 'like', '%' . $term . '%');
        // Search in product_barcodes table
        $query->orWhereExists(function ($subquery) use ($term) {
            $subquery->select(\DB::raw(1))
                ->from('product_barcodes')
                ->whereColumn('product_barcodes.product_id', 'p.id')
                ->where('product_barcodes.barcode', 'like', '%' . $term . '%');
        });
    });
}

6.2 PurchaseController

File: app/Http/Controllers/PurchaseController.php

Update the search in getProducts() method:

->where(function ($query) use ($term) {
    $query->where('products.name', 'like', '%'.$term.'%');
    $query->orWhere('sku', 'like', '%'.$term.'%');
    $query->orWhere('sub_sku', 'like', '%'.$term.'%');
    // Search in product_barcodes table
    $query->orWhereExists(function ($subquery) use ($term) {
        $subquery->select(\DB::raw(1))
            ->from('product_barcodes')
            ->whereColumn('product_barcodes.product_id', 'products.id')
            ->where('product_barcodes.barcode', 'like', '%'.$term.'%');
    });
})

6.3 UniversalSearchController

File: app/Http/Controllers/UniversalSearchController.php

Update the search in searchProducts() method:

->where(function($q) use ($query) {
    $q->where('products.name', 'like', "%{$query}%")
      ->orWhere('products.sku', 'like', "%{$query}%")
      ->orWhere('variations.sub_sku', 'like', "%{$query}%")
      ->orWhere('products.product_description', 'like', "%{$query}%")
      // Search in product_barcodes table
      ->orWhereExists(function ($subquery) use ($query) {
          $subquery->select(\DB::raw(1))
              ->from('product_barcodes')
              ->whereColumn('product_barcodes.product_id', 'products.id')
              ->where('product_barcodes.barcode', 'like', "%{$query}%");
      });
})

Step 7: Create Barcode Input Partial View

Create File: resources/views/product/partials/product_barcodes.blade.php

This partial contains only the container for barcode rows - the add button is placed next to the SKU field.

<div class="col-sm-12">
    <div class="form-group">
        <div id="product_barcodes_container">
            @if(isset($product) && $product->barcodes && $product->barcodes->count() > 0)
                @foreach($product->barcodes as $index => $barcode)
                    <div class="barcode-row row" style="margin-bottom: 10px;" data-row-index="{{ $index }}">
                        <div class="col-md-4">
                            <input type="text" name="product_barcodes[{{ $index }}][barcode]"
                                   class="form-control"
                                   placeholder="@lang('product.barcode')"
                                   value="{{ $barcode->barcode }}">
                        </div>
                        <div class="col-md-3">
                            {!! Form::select("product_barcodes[{$index}][barcode_type]",
                                $barcode_types,
                                $barcode->barcode_type,
                                ['class' => 'form-control select2', 'style' => 'width: 100%;']
                            ) !!}
                        </div>
                        <div class="col-md-4">
                            <input type="text" name="product_barcodes[{{ $index }}][description]"
                                   class="form-control"
                                   placeholder="@lang('product.barcode_description')"
                                   value="{{ $barcode->description }}">
                        </div>
                        <div class="col-md-1">
                            <button type="button" class="btn btn-danger btn-xs remove-barcode-row" style="padding: 2px 6px;">
                                <i class="fa fa-times" style="font-size: 12px;"></i>
                            </button>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                @endforeach
            @endif
        </div>
    </div>
</div>

<script type="text/template" id="barcode_row_template">
    <div class="barcode-row row" style="margin-bottom: 10px;" data-row-index="__INDEX__">
        <div class="col-md-4">
            <input type="text" name="product_barcodes[__INDEX__][barcode]"
                   class="form-control"
                   placeholder="@lang('product.barcode')">
        </div>
        <div class="col-md-3">
            <select name="product_barcodes[__INDEX__][barcode_type]" class="form-control">
                @foreach($barcode_types as $key => $value)
                    <option value="{{ $key }}">{{ $value }}</option>
                @endforeach
            </select>
        </div>
        <div class="col-md-4">
            <input type="text" name="product_barcodes[__INDEX__][description]"
                   class="form-control"
                   placeholder="@lang('product.barcode_description')">
        </div>
        <div class="col-md-1">
            <button type="button" class="btn btn-danger btn-xs remove-barcode-row" style="padding: 2px 6px;">
                <i class="fa fa-times" style="font-size: 12px;"></i>
            </button>
        </div>
    </div>
</script>

Step 8: Update Product Create/Edit Views

8.1 Update create.blade.php

File: resources/views/product/create.blade.php

First, update the SKU field to add the plus button (like Unit field):

<div class="col-sm-4">
    <div class="form-group">
        {!! Form::label('sku', __('product.sku') . ':') !!} @show_tooltip(__('tooltip.sku'))
        <div class="input-group">
            {!! Form::text('sku', null, ['class' => 'form-control',
            'placeholder' => __('product.sku')]); !!}
            <span class="input-group-btn">
                <button type="button" class="btn btn-default bg-white btn-flat" id="add_barcode_row" title="@lang('product.add_barcode')">
                    <i class="fa fa-plus-circle text-primary fa-lg"></i>
                </button>
            </span>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>

Then, after the barcode_type field and the first <div class="clearfix"></div>, add:

@include('product.partials.product_barcodes')

<div class="clearfix"></div>

8.2 Update edit.blade.php

File: resources/views/product/edit.blade.php

Update the SKU field to add the plus button:

<div class="col-sm-4">
  <div class="form-group">
    {!! Form::label('sku', __('product.sku')  . ':*') !!} @show_tooltip(__('tooltip.sku'))
    <div class="input-group">
      {!! Form::text('sku', $product->sku, ['class' => 'form-control',
      'placeholder' => __('product.sku'), 'required']); !!}
      <span class="input-group-btn">
        <button type="button" class="btn btn-default bg-white btn-flat" id="add_barcode_row" title="@lang('product.add_barcode')">
          <i class="fa fa-plus-circle text-primary fa-lg"></i>
        </button>
      </span>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

Then include the partial after the barcode_type field:

@include('product.partials.product_barcodes')

<div class="clearfix"></div>

Step 9: Add JavaScript for Dynamic Barcode Rows

File: public/js/product.js

Add at the end of the file:

// Product Additional Barcodes - Add new barcode row
$(document).on("click", "#add_barcode_row", function () {
  var rowIndex = $("#product_barcodes_container .barcode-row").length;
  var template = $("#barcode_row_template").html();
  template = template.replace(/__INDEX__/g, rowIndex);
  $("#product_barcodes_container").append(template);
});

// Product Additional Barcodes - Remove barcode row
$(document).on("click", ".remove-barcode-row", function () {
  $(this).closest(".barcode-row").remove();
  // Re-index remaining rows
  $("#product_barcodes_container .barcode-row").each(function (index) {
    $(this).attr("data-row-index", index);
    $(this)
      .find("input, select")
      .each(function () {
        var name = $(this).attr("name");
        if (name) {
          name = name.replace(
            /product_barcodes\[\d+\]/,
            "product_barcodes[" + index + "]"
          );
          $(this).attr("name", name);
        }
      });
  });
});

Step 10: Label Printing with Barcode Selection

10.1 Update LabelsController

File: app/Http/Controllers/LabelsController.php

Update the show() method to load product barcodes:

//Get products for the business
$products = [];
$price_groups = [];
if ($purchase_id) {
    $products = $this->transactionUtil->getPurchaseProducts($business_id, $purchase_id);
} elseif ($product_id) {
    $products = $this->productUtil->getDetailsFromProduct($business_id, $product_id);
}

// Load product barcodes for each product
if (!empty($products)) {
    foreach ($products as $product) {
        $product->product_barcodes = \App\ProductBarcode::where('product_id', $product->product_id)->get();
    }
}

Update the addProductRow() method:

if (! empty($product_id)) {
    $index = $request->input('row_count');
    $products = $this->productUtil->getDetailsFromProduct($business_id, $product_id, $variation_id);

    // Load product barcodes for each product
    foreach ($products as $product) {
        $product->product_barcodes = \App\ProductBarcode::where('product_id', $product->product_id)->get();
    }

    $price_groups = SellingPriceGroup::where('business_id', $business_id)
                                ->active()
                                ->pluck('name', 'id');

    return view('labels.partials.show_table_rows')
            ->with(compact('products', 'index', 'price_groups'));
}

Update the preview() method to handle selected barcode:

foreach ($products as $value) {
    $details = $this->productUtil->getDetailsFromVariation($value['variation_id'], $business_id, null, false);

    // ... existing code for exp_date, packing_date, lot_number ...

    // Handle selected barcode for printing
    if (! empty($value['selected_barcode_id'])) {
        $selectedBarcode = \App\ProductBarcode::find($value['selected_barcode_id']);
        if ($selectedBarcode) {
            $details->print_barcode = $selectedBarcode->barcode;
            $details->print_barcode_type = $selectedBarcode->barcode_type;
        }
    }

    // ... rest of the code ...
}

10.2 Update Label Views

File: resources/views/labels/show.blade.php

Add a new table header column:

<th>@lang('lang_v1.selling_price_group')</th>
<th>@lang('product.select_barcode_for_label')</th>

File: resources/views/labels/partials/show_table_rows.blade.php

Add barcode selector column after price group:

<td>
    {!! Form::select('products[' . $row_index . '][price_group_id]', $price_groups, null, ['class' => 'form-control', 'placeholder' => __('lang_v1.none')]); !!}
</td>
<td>
    @php
        $displaySku = !empty($product->sub_sku) ? $product->sub_sku : (!empty($product->sku) ? $product->sku : '');
    @endphp
    <select name="products[{{ $row_index }}][selected_barcode_id]" class="form-control">
        <option value="">@lang('product.use_sku')@if($displaySku) ({{ $displaySku }})@endif</option>
        @if(isset($product->product_barcodes) && $product->product_barcodes->count() > 0)
            @foreach($product->product_barcodes as $barcode)
                <option value="{{ $barcode->id }}">
                    {{ $barcode->barcode }}
                    @if($barcode->description) ({{ $barcode->description }}) @endif
                </option>
            @endforeach
        @endif
    </select>
</td>

File: resources/views/labels/partials/preview_2.blade.php

Update the barcode generation section:

{{-- Barcode --}}
@php
    $printBarcode = $page_product->print_barcode ?? $page_product->sub_sku;
    $printBarcodeType = $page_product->print_barcode_type ?? $page_product->barcode_type;
@endphp
<img style="max-width:90% !important;height: {{$barcode_details->height*0.24}}in !important; display: block;" src="data:image/png;base64,{{DNS1D::getBarcodePNG($printBarcode, $printBarcodeType, 3,90, array(0, 0, 0), false)}}">

<span style="font-size: 10px !important">
    {{$printBarcode}}
</span>

Step 11: Add Language Translations

File: lang/en/product.php

Add these translations:

'additional_barcodes' => 'Additional Barcodes',
'add_barcode' => 'Add Barcode',
'barcode' => 'Barcode',
'barcode_description' => 'Description (optional)',
'use_sku' => 'Use SKU',
'select_barcode_for_label' => 'Barcode for Label',

File: lang/en/tooltip.php

Add this tooltip:

'additional_barcodes' => 'Add multiple barcodes for this product. These barcodes can be used to search and identify the product in addition to the main SKU.',

Summary

After implementing all the steps above, you will have:

1. Multiple barcodes per product - Each product can have unlimited additional barcodes

2. Barcode type support - Each barcode can have its own type (C128, C39, EAN-13, etc.)

3. Optional descriptions - Add notes like "Supplier barcode" or "Old SKU"

4. Full search integration - Products are searchable by any of their barcodes in:

   • POS product search

   • Purchase product search

   • Universal search

5. Label printing selection - Choose which barcode to print on labels

Files Modified Summary