Designing Odoo Views: XML Basics for Beginners

Have you ever opened an Odoo app and wondered, "How does this data display so neatly?" The secret lies in Odoo views, defined in XML files. Whether you're a beginner developer or a business owner tweaking your system, understanding Odoo views is a game-changer.

Imagine this: You’ve created a custom module for tracking employee skills, but the default list looks messy. A few XML tweaks later—boom!—your data appears clean, organized, and user-friendly. That’s the magic of Odoo views.

In this guide, we’ll break down the basics of designing Odoo views using XML. You’ll learn:

✅ What Odoo views are (Tree, Form, Kanban, etc.)
✅ How to edit XML files (without breaking anything!)
✅ Best practices for smooth customization
✅ How to test changes instantly (just refresh your browser!)

By the end, you’ll be ready to customize your first view—and maybe even share a screenshot of your success!

1. What Are Odoo Views?

Odoo views determine how data is displayed in the user interface. Think of them as the "templates" that structure information. The most common types are:

• Tree View (List View) – Displays records in a table (e.g., a list of products).
• Form View – Shows detailed info for a single record (e.g., a customer’s full profile).
• Kanban View – Card-based layout (great for project management).
• Graph & Pivot Views – For analytics and reporting.

When you install an Odoo module, it comes with default views. But what if you want to add a new field, rearrange columns, or change labels? That’s where XML editing comes in.

2. Editing Odoo Views: XML Basics

Odoo views are defined in XML files inside your module’s directory (usually under /views/). Here’s how to get started:

Step 1: Locate the XML File

If you’re customizing an existing module, find its view file (e.g., partner_view.xml for contacts). If you’re building a new module, create one!

Example structure:

<odoo>
    <record id="view_employee_tree" model="ir.ui.view">
        <field name="name">employee.tree</field>
        <field name="model">employee.model</field>
        <field name="arch" type="xml">
            <tree>
                <field name="name"/>
                <field name="department"/>
                <field name="skills"/>
            </tree>
        </field>
    </record>
</odoo>

Step 2: Modify the View

Want to add, remove, or reorder fields? Just edit the <tree> or <form> section.

Example: Adding a new field (salary) to the Tree View:

<tree>
    <field name="name"/>
    <field name="department"/>
    <field name="skills"/>
    <field name="salary"/>
</tree>

Step 3: Save & Refresh

After saving the XML file:

1. Update your module (in Odoo Apps → click "Upgrade").
2. Refresh your browser—voilà! Your changes appear instantly.

3. Best Practices for Odoo View Customization

To avoid common mistakes, follow these tips:

✔ Start small – Edit one field at a time, then test.
✔ Use comments – Add notes in XML for future reference.
✔ Backup before major changes – Prevent accidental data loss.
✔ Leverage inheritance – Instead of modifying core views, extend them.

Example of view inheritance:

<record id="view_employee_tree_custom" model="ir.ui.view">
    <field name="name">employee.tree.custom</field>
    <field name="model">employee.model</field>
    <field name="inherit_id" ref="module_name.view_employee_tree"/>
    <field name="arch" type="xml">
        <xpath expr="//field[@name='department']" position="after">
            <field name="hire_date"/>
        </xpath>
    </field>
</record>

4. Troubleshooting Common Issues

🚫 Changes not appearing?

• Did you upgrade the module?
• Check for XML syntax errors (missing tags, typos).

🚫 Field not showing up?

• Ensure the field exists in the model (py file).

🚫 Broken view after edit?

• Revert to a backup or check the Odoo logs for errors.

5. Ready to Try It Yourself?

Now that you know the basics, why not customize your first Odoo view?

1. Pick a simple model (e.g., Contacts, Products).
2. Edit its Tree or Form view (add/remove a field).
3. Upgrade & refresh to see changes.

💡 Pro Tip: Take a screenshot of your first successful edit and share it! (Tag #OdooXML on social media—we’d love to see it!)

Final Thoughts

Odoo views are powerful yet easy to modify once you understand XML basics. Start with small tweaks, experiment, and soon you’ll be designing sleek, user-friendly interfaces like a pro.

What’s the first view you’ll customize? Drop your ideas below! 👇

Happy coding! 🚀