# Fishbowl: Abbreviation already in use

> An item abbreviation is not unique in the system.

## What it means

Abbreviations in Fishbowl (such as product codes or location codes) must be unique. You're trying to create or import an item with an abbreviation that's already assigned elsewhere in the system.

## What to check

- Search Fishbowl for the abbreviation to find which existing item already has it
- If you're importing data, verify the import file for duplicate abbreviations
- Choose a different abbreviation for the new item, or confirm whether you should be modifying an existing item instead

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*From Israel Lopez Consulting (ILC). Custom Fishbowl Inventory integrations and software, and Fishbowl experts since 2015. Written by Israel Lopez. Questions about this topic, or want to reach the people who wrote it? Visit https://israellopezconsulting.com/contact*