Questions in: Odoo

Server actions are backend operations triggered manually or by code—like running Python scripts, updating records, or calling methods.

Automated actions are rule-based triggers that run automatically when certain conditions are met—like sending an email when a record is created or updated.

🧠 In short:
- Server actions = manual or script-based
- Automated actions = automatic rule-based triggers

Odoo is an open-source ERP platform that helps businesses manage operations in one system.

Key features include:

• CRM and Sales Management

• Accounting and Invoicing

• Inventory and Warehouse

• HR and Payroll

• Website and eCommerce

• Project and Task Tracking

• Manufacturing (MRP)

• Marketing Automation

Odoo has a modular and layered architecture made up of the following components:

1. 🧠 Core (Framework):

• Built in Python using the Odoo ORM

• Handles business logic and data models

2. 🗃️ Database Layer:

• Uses PostgreSQL to store all records, users, and configurations

3. 🧩 Modules:

• Each app (like CRM, Sales, Inventory) is a module

• Modules can be installed, upgraded, or customized independently

4. 🌐 Web Interface (Frontend):

• Built with JavaScript (OWL/QWeb)

• Renders UI and communicates with the backend via JSON-RPC or XML-RPC

5. 📡 API Layer:

• Allows external integrations using REST, JSON-RPC, or XML-RPC

6. ⚙️ Odoo Server:

• Runs the entire system

• Interacts with both the database and the client/browser

📝 Summary:
Odoo is a full-stack, modular ERP built with Python (backend), PostgreSQL (database), and JavaScript (frontend), allowing easy customization and integration.

Odoo manages workflows using stages, rules, and automated actions. For approvals, you can enable approval settings in apps like Purchase or Leave. You can also customize approval flows using Studio or by adding custom rules and user roles in Python or XML.

Odoo includes key modules such as:

- Sales
- CRM
- Inventory
- Accounting
- Purchase
- Manufacturing (MRP)
- Website & eCommerce
- Project
- HR (Employees, Payroll, Recruitment)
- Helpdesk
- Marketing (Email, Social, SMS)

To integrate third-party APIs with Odoo:

1. Import libraries like requests or http.client in your Python code.
2. Use Python code (in models) to send/receive API data (GET, POST, etc.).
3. Handle API authentication (token, key, OAuth).
4. Parse and use the response (e.g., save in Odoo models).
5. Optionally schedule it with cron jobs for auto-sync.

Odoo Community is free and open-source with basic features.
Odoo Enterprise is paid, includes everything in Community plus extra features like Studio, advanced accounting, mobile support, better UI, and official support from Odoo.

Update the module’s version in manifest.py.
2. Check for deprecated APIs and replace them.
3. Update XML files (views, menus) to match new structure.
4. Migrate Python code (models, methods) as needed.
5. Test the module on the new Odoo version.
6. Fix any errors or warnings during installation.
7. Upgrade the module from the Apps menu.

• Create a folder in the addons directory.

• Add required files:
   • init.py
   • manifest.py
   • models/ and views/ folders

• Define your model in Python using Odoo ORM.

• Create XML views for menus and forms.

• Update app list and install from Odoo backend.

Answer:
ORM stands for Object-Relational Mapping. In Odoo, ORM is a powerful system that lets developers interact with the database using Python code instead of writing SQL queries directly. It maps Python classes (called models) to database tables and handles all CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) behind the scenes.

—

🛠 How it works:

• Each model in Odoo (e.g., res.partner) represents a table.

• Fields in the model represent columns.

• When you create or update a record in Python, Odoo’s ORM automatically updates the database.

In Odoo module development, XML is used primarily to define and configure:

1. User Interface (Views)
   XML structures define forms, lists (tree), kanban, calendar, search, and dashboard views.

2. Menus and Actions
   It links models to UI via menus, window actions, reports, etc.

3. Security and Access Rights
   XML files declare access control lists (ACLs) and record rules.

4. Data Initialization
   You can pre-load data like countries, product categories, or company details using XML.

• Model:

  • Represents the business logic and database structure.

  • Defined using Python classes (e.g., models.Model).

  • Manages data: fields, constraints, relationships.

• View:

  • Defines how data is displayed to users.

  • Created using XML (form, tree, kanban, calendar, etc.).

• Controller:

  • Handles user interactions and HTTP requests.

  • Mainly used in website and portal modules (http.Controller in Python).

from odoo import models, fields

class InheritPartner(models.Model):
_inherit = ‘res.partner’

custom_field = fields.Char(string=”Custom Field”)

• @api.model: For methods that don’t use specific records (operate on the model).

• @api.multi: For methods working on multiple records (deprecated in Odoo 13+).

• @api.depends: Used on computed fields to declare dependencies.

In Odoo, you define relationships between models using special field types in Python:

1. 🔁 Many2one – many records relate to one:

2. 🔄 One2many – one record links to many (used with inverse Many2one):

3. 🔗 Many2many – many records link to many:

In Odoo, views define how data is displayed. Common types:

1. 🔢 Tree View – shows records in a table format.
2. 📝 Form View – shows one record in detail.
3. 📌 Kanban View – shows cards for records, used in CRM/projects.
4. 📅 Calendar View – shows records by date (e.g., events/tasks).

Security rules and access control in Odoo manage who can view, create, update, or delete data.

They include:

1. Access Control Lists (ACLs)
    – Define model-level permissions (read, write, create, delete)
    – Set per user group (e.g., Manager, User)

2. Record Rules
    – Define access at the record level using domain filters
    – Example: a user can only see their own records

You can import and export data in Odoo using the built-in tools:

🔹 Import:

• Go to any list view (e.g., Customers)

• Click the ⚙️ gear icon → Import

• Upload a CSV or Excel file matching Odoo’s fields

• Preview and validate before importing

🔹 Export:

• Select records → Action → Export

• Choose fields to export and format (CSV or Excel)

• Use “Export All” for templates or backups

To debug a module in Odoo:

1. Enable developer mode in the UI.
2. Use logging (e.g., _logger.info()) in your Python code.
3. Check logs in the terminal or Odoo log file.
4. Use pdb (Python debugger) to pause and inspect code.
5. Inspect XML views or JS console for frontend issues.