Printing and Managing Barcodes

Nothing slows down a line like punching in item names manually. Getting your barcodes set up properly is one of those investments that pays off every single day — faster transactions, fewer errors, happier customers. Let’s walk through how TORO handles them.

Two Types of Barcodes #

Manufacturer barcodes (UPC) are the ones already printed on the product packaging. Most boxed cigars, accessories, lighters, and beverages come with a UPC. You just need to tell TORO which barcode belongs to which item.

Store barcodes are ones TORO generates for you. These are for products that don’t come with a UPC — house blends, lounge passes, custom bundles, loose cigars, that kind of thing. You print a label and stick it on.

Adding a Manufacturer Barcode #

1. Open the item’s details (double-click the item or hit edit).
2. Click Add Manf. Barcode.
3. Type in the UPC number from the product packaging — it’s usually 13 or 14 digits, printed below the barcode lines.
4. The barcode links to the specific SKU, meaning a box and a single of the same cigar can have different barcodes pointing to the right packaging size.
5. Save, and you’re done. Every future scan of that barcode instantly adds the item to a transaction.

You only have to do this once per product. After that, scanning just works.

Creating Store Barcodes #

For items without a manufacturer barcode:

1. In the item’s details, click Create Store Barcode.
2. TORO generates a unique barcode number automatically — no need to come up with one yourself.
3. Print the barcode label and stick it on the product or the shelf.
4. Now it scans just like any manufacturer barcode would.

This is especially handy for things unique to your store. House-rolled cigars, membership cards, event tickets — anything you sell that didn’t come in a box with a UPC.

Linking Barcodes on the Fly #

This one saves a ton of time during setup. Say you’re at the register and you scan a product that TORO doesn’t recognize yet. Instead of stopping everything to go into item management:

1. Scan the unknown barcode — TORO tells you “No Item with this barcode!”
2. If you have the right permission (AC_ITEM_BARCODE_ADD_MANUFACTURER), TORO immediately offers to link it.
3. Search for the item, select it, and the barcode is saved permanently.
4. Every future scan of that barcode works instantly.

This is great during your first few weeks on TORO, or whenever a new shipment arrives with products you haven’t barcoded yet. Your cashiers can build out your barcode database right from the register without ever leaving the POS screen.

Printing Barcode Labels #

When you need physical labels — for shelf tags, price stickers, or items without barcodes:

1. Select the items you want labels for.
2. Choose your label format and size.
3. Print to your label printer.

This is useful for pricing displays too. Print a label with the barcode and price, stick it on the shelf, and customers know exactly what something costs before they bring it to the register.

Importing Barcodes in Bulk #

If you’re setting up a new store or bringing on a new vendor with a big catalog, you don’t have to enter barcodes one by one. TORO lets you import them from a spreadsheet — map the barcode numbers to your items and load them all at once.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind #

Each barcode links to a specific SKU, not just the item. This matters when you carry the same cigar in both a box and a single — each packaging size gets its own barcode pointing to the right SKU. TORO handles the distinction automatically.

Barcodes have to be unique. One barcode can’t point to two different items — TORO will flag this if you try.

Investing a weekend in getting all your barcodes scanned and linked is one of the highest-return things you can do for your store’s efficiency. Once everything scans, transactions fly.