Master Odoo 16 Development: Create Modules, Models, Menus, Actions, and Views

Updated on Dec 27,2023

Master Odoo 16 Development: Create Modules, Models, Menus, Actions, and Views

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Setting Up the Environment
  3. Creating a Basic Module
  4. Defining the Database Table
  5. Creating Menus and Submenus
  6. Linking Menus and Actions
  7. Creating Form Views and Tree Views
  8. Adding Fields to Form and Tree Views
  9. Testing the Module
  10. Conclusion

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss how to Create a module in Odoo version 16. We will cover the steps required to set up the development environment, create a basic module, define a database table, create menus and submenus, link them with actions, and define form views and tree views. By the end of this article, You will have a clear understanding of how to create a module in Odoo version 16.

Setting Up the Environment

Before we begin creating a module in Odoo version 16, it is important to set up the development environment. We will need to configure Odoo 16 with the PyCharm IDE for development. This will allow us to easily create and run our module in the local instance. In the previous video, we have explained how to configure Odoo 16 with Python, so make sure you follow those steps. Additionally, we will be using Git for version control, so make sure you have Git installed on your system.

Creating a Basic Module

To start creating a module, we will first create a new directory inside the custom add-ons path. I recommend creating a separate folder for each module to keep things organized. Inside this folder, we will create an __init__.py file and a manifest.py file. The __init__.py file can be kept empty for now, and the manifest.py file is where we will define the module's metadata. This includes information such as the module's name, author, description, version, dependencies, Website, and any other customizations you want to add.

Defining the Database Table

Once we have set up the basic module structure, we can proceed to define the database table for our module. This involves creating a new directory called 'models' inside our module folder. Inside this directory, we will create a Python file with the name of the model we want to create, suffixed with .py. In this file, we will define the fields for our database table using Odoo's fields module. We can specify the field Type (e.g., character, integer, boolean), label, and any other properties we want for each field. We will also define a class for our model, which will inherit from Odoo's models.Model class and contain the field definitions.

Creating Menus and Submenus

To make our module accessible through the Odoo user interface, we need to create menus and submenus. Menus allow users to navigate to different sections of our module, while submenus provide more granular options within each menu. We can define menus and submenus in the menu.xml file inside our module's views folder. In this file, we can specify the menu name, ID, sequence, and parent menu for each menu item. We will also link each menu item with the corresponding action using the action ID.

Linking Menus and Actions

Actions determine what happens when a menu item is clicked. They define the views that should be displayed and any additional Context or parameters required. We can create actions in the ir.actions.act_window table by defining them in the menu.xml file. Each action must have a unique ID and be linked with the corresponding menu item using the action attribute. We can specify which views to display (e.g., form view, tree view) and any additional context or parameters required for the views.

Creating Form Views and Tree Views

Form views and tree views define how the data should be displayed and edited in the Odoo user interface. Form views provide a detailed view of a single Record, while tree views provide an overview of multiple records in a tabular format. We can define form views and tree views in separate XML files within our module's views folder. In these files, we can specify the fields to be displayed, their order, and any other customizations such as filters or groupings.

Adding Fields to Form and Tree Views

Once we have defined our form views and tree views, we can add the fields to be displayed in these views. Fields can be added directly to the views using the field tag. We can specify the field name, label, and any other properties we want for each field. Additionally, we can use grouping tags to organize the fields into sections or tabs. This allows us to present the data in a more structured and user-friendly manner.

Testing the Module

After defining the database table, menus, actions, and views, it is important to test the module to ensure everything is working as expected. We can do this by restarting the Odoo service and checking if the module and its functionality are visible in the Odoo user interface. We can also create test records and verify that the data is being stored correctly in the database. Additionally, we can test any custom actions or workflows defined in the module to make sure they are functioning correctly.

Conclusion

In this article, we have covered the process of creating a module in Odoo version 16. We have discussed how to set up the development environment, create a basic module structure, define a database table, create menus and submenus, link them with actions, define form views and tree views, and test the module. By following these steps, you will be able to create your own modules in Odoo 16 and customize the functionality to meet your specific requirements.

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