Odoo Portal Template External ID Tutorial

Introduction

Odoo Portal Template External ID stands as a cornerstone for customizing your Odoo portal experience. In this comprehensive tutorial, we will walk you through the process of finding and using an Odoo portal template external ID while simultaneously diving deep into effective portal customization practices.

Firstly, you will learn the importance of the external ID in linking your portal templates to the underlying Odoo system, and secondly, you will explore practical examples and code explanations that show how to customize your portal in real time.

Moreover, we ensure that every sentence is written in active voice and enriched with transition words such as “firstly,” “next,” and “finally” so that the tutorial remains clear and highly accessible. In this journey, you will discover how the “Odoo Portal Template External ID” enables seamless integrations, enhances user experience, and paves the way for robust portal customization—all of which are essential for web developers and Odoo consultants.

Understanding Odoo Portal Customization

When you customize your Odoo portal, you gain the power to mold the user experience in a way that reflects your business needs. Therefore, you must understand the role of a portal template external ID as it is the key to linking your portal layout with your application.

What Is an External ID in Odoo?

An external ID uniquely identifies a template or record in Odoo. It is used to reference records within or across modules, and it plays a critical role in template inheritance and data migration. For instance, the Odoo Portal Template External ID acts as a reference when you extend the default portal layout, and it becomes essential when you need to call specific templates in your controller. Consequently, when modifying the portal, you must ensure that all changes are compatible with the underlying structure that relies on these external IDs.

The Importance of Active Voice and Transition Words

In this tutorial, we use active voice throughout to enhance clarity. Additionally, we emphasize transitional words to guide you from one topic to the next logically. For example, you will encounter phrases such as “firstly,” “next,” and “in addition” to ensure that each step in the process follows smoothly from the previous one.

Key Benefits of Customizing Your Portal

By customizing the Odoo portal using its external IDs, you can:

• Improve User Experience: Tailor the user interface to better suit the needs of your customers.
• Enhance Functionality: Add new features, such as dynamic search bars, enroll buttons, and real-time data display.
• Streamline Processes: Ensure that your portal layouts are consistent throughout the application.

Each of these benefits adds up to a more personalized and effective portal customization process, which ultimately results in better client satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Locating Your Odoo Portal Template External ID

One of the most common challenges in Odoo portal customization is locating the correct external ID that you need to work with. Fortunately, with modern tools and systematic coding practices, you can quickly identify and extract these IDs.

Where to Find the External ID

Typically, you find the external ID in the XML code of your portal template. In our context, we extracted the following code snippet from an Odoo tutorial video titled “Easily Find Odoo Portal Template External ID ｜｜ Odoo 16 Portal Customization Tutorial.” This snippet illustrates a typical Odoo QWeb template that defines how a section of your portal displays information.

The Extracted Code Example

Below is the code snippet that we will use throughout this blog post. It demonstrates how to dynamically display a list of courses on the portal page:

<template id="portal_my_classes" name="My Quotations">
    <t t-call="portal.portal_layout">
        <t-set="breadcrumbs_searchbar" t-value="True"/>

        <t-call="portal.portal_searchbar">
            <t t-set="title">Classes</t>
        </t-call>

        <t t-if="courses" t-call="portal.portal_table">
            <thead>
                <tr class="active">
                    <th>Course #</th>
                    <th class="text-end">Course Name</th>
                    <th class="text-end">Course Date</th>
                    <th class="text-end">Status</th>
                </tr>
            </thead>
            <t t-foreach="courses" t-as="course">
                <tr>
                    <td>
                        <a t-attf-href="/odoodiscussions/{{ slug(course) }}">
                            <t t-esc="course.code"/>
                        </a>
                    </td>
                    <td class="text-end"><span t-field="course.name"/></td>
                    <td class="text-end"><span t-field="course.course_date"/></td>
                    <td class="text-end">
                        <span t-field="course.state"/>
                    </td>
                </tr>
            </t>
        </t>

        <p t-else="">There are currently no courses for your account.</p>
    </t>
</template>

Explanation of the Code

Let’s break down the most important parts of the above code:

• Template Definition:
  The <template> tag defines the QWeb template with an ID of "portal_my_classes". Notice the name attribute, which is currently set to "My Quotations". You might want to change this to "My Classes" so that it better reflects the purpose of the template.
• Extending the Portal Layout:
  The <t t-call="portal.portal_layout"> tag indicates that the template will inherit from Odoo’s default portal layout. This step ensures consistency in the look and feel of your portal.
• Setting Breadcrumbs and Search Bar:
  By setting <t-set="breadcrumbs_searchbar" t-value="True"/> and calling <t t-call="portal.portal_searchbar">, you enable the breadcrumbs and search features at the top of your portal page. This feature is particularly useful as it helps users navigate through their courses easily.
• Conditional Rendering of Courses:
  The <t t-if="courses" t-call="portal.portal_table"> section checks whether there are any courses to display. If courses exist, the portal_table is rendered, which organizes the course data in a neat table format.
• Iterating Over Courses:
  The <t t-foreach="courses" t-as="course"> loop iterates over each course. Inside the loop, the template:
• Generates a clickable link for the course number.
• Displays the course name, the date of the course, and its current status.
• Fallback Message:
  Finally, if no courses are available, a simple message informs the user: “There are currently no courses for your account.”

In the following sections, we will not only explain every detail of this template but also guide you through modifying and enhancing it to meet your portal requirements.

Breaking Down the Odoo QWeb Template

Understanding this code is crucial for effective portal customization. In this section, we will dissect each part of the template further and illustrate best practices.

How the Template Inherits from the Portal Layout

Firstly, the use of t-call="portal.portal_layout" functionally imports the standard styling and structure for all portal pages. By doing so, you ensure that your customizations remain consistent. Moreover, it makes the template reusable, which is a major advantage when you plan to add more sections later on.

The Role of the Search Bar and Breadcrumbs

Next, by setting the breadcrumbs search bar to True and then calling portal.portal_searchbar, the template includes a dynamic search feature. This feature helps users quickly locate specific courses they have enrolled in. Additionally, incorporating these elements early in the template guarantees that the user interface remains intuitive and interactive.

Dynamic Rendering of Course Data

Furthermore, the template employs a conditional check with <t t-if="courses"> to determine whether there is any course data available. If courses do exist, the portal_table is rendered, and the course details are iterated over using a t-foreach loop. Thus, every course is presented in a well-structured table format, which includes:

• Course Number: A clickable identifier that directs the user to further details using a dynamic link.
• Course Name: The name of the course is prominently displayed.
• Course Date: The date information helps users keep track of when they need to participate.
• Status: The current state of the course such as “active” or “completed.”

Handling the Absence of Course Data

Finally, if there are no courses available to display, the template gracefully falls back to a friendly message. This approach prevents the page from appearing empty and offers feedback to the user. Consequently, a robust user experience is maintained even when data is absent.

Step-by-Step Tutorial: Customizing Your Portal Template

In this part of the tutorial, we provide a detailed walkthrough on how to modify your portal template step by step. Follow these instructions carefully to enhance your user interface.

Step 1: Locate Your Template File

Firstly, you must locate the XML file that contains your portal template. Typically, it resides in your custom module’s view directory. Once you have identified the file, open it using your preferred code editor.

Step 2: Update the Template Attributes

Next, you might want to change the template name to reflect the actual content. For instance, you can alter the name attribute from "My Quotations" to "My Classes" to better match the content displayed. Modify the code as follows:

<template id="portal_my_classes" name="My Classes">

This simple change will immediately update the title displayed on the portal.

Step 3: Modify the Title with Dynamic Course Count

Then, you may want to include dynamic data such as the total number of courses. Replace the static title “Classes” with a dynamic one by inserting the course count. Implement the following code changes:

<t-call="portal.portal_searchbar">
    <t t-set="title">Your Classes (<t t-esc="len(courses)"/>)</t>
</t-call>

This change uses a dynamic expression (len(courses)) that calculates and displays the total number of courses alongside the title.

Step 4: Enhance Table Presentation with Additional Styling

Additionally, you can adjust the table headers and rows to specify classes and attributes that enhance readability. Consider adding CSS classes or inline styles to your <th> and <td> elements if necessary. Although Odoo comes with a default styling, minor tweaks can significantly improve visual appeal on the user side.

Step 5: Implement an “Enroll in a Class” Button

Moreover, adding a call-to-action can greatly improve the portal’s functionality. For example, add a button that allows users to easily enroll in new courses. Insert the following button in the appropriate section of your template:

<a class="btn btn-primary" href="/enroll">Enroll in a Class</a>

This button not only enhances interactivity but also directs users to the enrollment process, thereby integrating the portal with additional functionality.

Step 6: Test Your Changes

After modifying the template, you must test your changes. Firstly, clear the browser cache to ensure that the latest version of the template loads. Next, navigate to your portal and log in to see if the modifications render correctly. If any issues arise, use the browser’s developer tools to debug the problem by checking the console for errors and inspecting the DOM elements.

Step 7: Deploy and Monitor

Finally, once you confirm that everything works as expected, deploy your changes to the production environment. Additionally, monitor user feedback and system logs to identify any issues that may not have been caught during testing. Regular maintenance and iterative improvements based on user interaction are key to ensuring your portal remains effective and up-to-date.

Enhancements and Best Practices in Portal Customization

While the steps above provide a solid foundation, there are several enhancements and best practices that you can follow during portal customization.

Consistent Naming Conventions

Firstly, always maintain consistent naming conventions across all your templates. For instance, if you use the term “Classes” in one part of your portal, avoid using synonyms such as “Courses” unless you clearly define the difference. Consistency not only improves readability but also reduces confusion among users.

Leverage Odoo Inheritance Features

Next, take full advantage of Odoo’s template inheritance system. This system enables you to override default behavior without rewriting large portions of code. Instead of creating new templates from scratch, inherit from existing ones and only change what is necessary. Consequently, your customizations remain modular and easier to maintain.

Optimize for Readability and Performance

Additionally, optimize your code by keeping it clean and well-commented. Insert comments where necessary to explain the purpose of significant code sections. For instance, you might add comments before a t-foreach loop to indicate that it iterates over each course data entry. Moreover, minimize the use of excessive data calls to improve page performance, ensuring that the portal loads quickly for all users.

Use External Resources and Documentation

Furthermore, do not hesitate to refer to the official Odoo documentation or community forums for advanced customization techniques. For example, if you need further assistance with QWeb templates or dynamic view generation, consult Odoo’s official documentation or visit community channels. These resources provide invaluable insights and additional sample codes to expand your knowledge.

Adding More User-Friendly Features

In addition to the foundational changes, here are some extra features that you can integrate:

Displaying Course Status with Colors

You can assign different colors to course status indicators to improve the user experience visually. For instance, active courses might show in green, completed courses in blue, and courses pending approval in red. This visual distinction makes the data more accessible at a glance.

Pagination for Large Data Sets

If your portal displays a large number of courses, consider implementing pagination. Pagination ensures that the page remains responsive and loads data in manageable chunks. Moreover, it can be achieved by modifying your controller to limit the number of courses displayed per page and adding navigation links to move between pages.

Search and Filter Functionalities

Another enhancement is to include robust search and filter functionalities. Modify the portal search bar so that users can search not only by course name but also by dates, status, or even course codes. This capability makes the portal much more user-friendly and helps users find the information they need quickly.

Detailed Code Explanation and Best Practices

Let us now delve deeper into the code and highlight some best practices. We will revisit the XML template code, and explain every section with clarity.

Template Definition and Layout Inheritance

<template id="portal_my_classes" name="My Classes">
    <t t-call="portal.portal_layout">

• Template Declaration:
  The <template> tag begins by setting the unique identifier and the display name. Changing the name attribute to “My Classes” aligns it with the content.
• Layout Inheritance:
  The t-call attribute ensures that the custom template inherits from Odoo’s default portal layout. This approach retains consistency across the portal, which is important for user experience.

Breadcrumbs and Search Bar Configuration

<t-set="breadcrumbs_searchbar" t-value="True"/>
<t-call="portal.portal_searchbar">
    <t t-set="title">Your Classes (<t t-esc="len(courses)"/>)</t>
</t-call>

• Breadcrumbs Activation:
  Setting breadcrumbs_searchbar to True triggers the display of breadcrumbs, which helps users navigate easily.
• Dynamic Title Generation:
  The inclusion of <t t-esc="len(courses)"/> dynamically displays the number of available courses. This feature adds a level of interactivity and clear information display to the user interface.

Displaying the Courses in a Table

<t t-if="courses" t-call="portal.portal_table">
    <thead>
        <tr class="active">
            <th>Course #</th>
            <th class="text-end">Course Name</th>
            <th class="text-end">Course Date</th>
            <th class="text-end">Status</th>
        </tr>
    </thead>

• Conditional Rendering:
  The code first checks if the courses variable contains any data. If it does, it calls the portal_table to render the content in a structured format.
• Table Header Definition:
  Inside the <thead> tag, table headers are explicitly defined. The use of clear labels like “Course #,” “Course Name,” “Course Date,” and “Status” makes the table easily consumable by end users.

Iterating Over Course Data

<t t-foreach="courses" t-as="course">
    <tr>
        <td>
            <a t-attf-href="/odoodiscussions/{{ slug(course) }}">
                <t t-esc="course.code"/>
            </a>
        </td>
        <td class="text-end"><span t-field="course.name"/></td>
        <td class="text-end"><span t-field="course.course_date"/></td>
        <td class="text-end">
            <span t-field="course.state"/>
        </td>
    </tr>
</t>

• Looping Mechanism:
  The t-foreach directive iterates over each item in the courses collection. Each item is temporarily stored as course, allowing individual course details to be accessed.
• Dynamic Link Creation:
  A clickable link is generated using the t-attf-href attribute. This link incorporates a dynamic slug for SEO-friendly URLs. For example, users can click on a particular course number to view detailed discussions.
• Course Details Display:
  The other table cells are used to display the course name, the course date, and its status. Each field uses the t-field directive to ensure that the data is correctly rendered from the backend model.

Handling the Absence of Courses

<p t-else="">There are currently no courses for your account.</p>

• Fallback Rendering:
  If no courses are available, the <p t-else=""> element displays a user-friendly message. This ensures that the portal does not appear empty and gives clear feedback.

Best Practices Summary

• Use Consistent Language:
  Always ensure that the terminology used in your template matches across all elements. For instance, if you refer to “Classes” in the title and elsewhere, avoid switching between “Courses” and “Classes” without a clear distinction.
• Optimize Readability:
  Write concise comments and use clear, familiar words. This practice not only improves the maintainability of your code but also assists newer developers in understanding the logic quickly.
• Integrate Conditional Logic:
  Utilize Odoo’s conditional rendering effectively to handle different data states. This inclusion ensures that the user interface remains robust regardless of the underlying data conditions.

Advanced Customizations and Additional Features

Beyond the basics, you can introduce various features to further enhance your portal customization. Below are some advanced tips and techniques for a more robust implementation.

Integrating Custom CSS and JavaScript

Firstly, you might want to integrate custom CSS to improve the visual styling of your portal. For example, adding a few lines of CSS can make the table headers more prominent and improve the overall layout. You can include custom CSS within your template or in a separate file:

/* Custom styles for the portal table */
table.portal-table {
    width: 100%;
    border-collapse: collapse;
}

table.portal-table th, table.portal-table td {
    padding: 10px;
    border: 1px solid #ddd;
}

table.portal-table th {
    background-color: #f8f9fa;
}

Additionally, consider incorporating JavaScript to add interactive elements such as dynamic filtering or asynchronous data loading. For instance, you might write a simple script to filter the table rows based on user input:

document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function() {
    const searchInput = document.getElementById("course-search");
    searchInput.addEventListener("input", function() {
        const filter = searchInput.value.toLowerCase();
        const rows = document.querySelectorAll("table.portal-table tbody tr");
        rows.forEach(row => {
            const text = row.innerText.toLowerCase();
            if (text.indexOf(filter) > -1) {
                row.style.display = "";
            } else {
                row.style.display = "none";
            }
        });
    });
});

This simple JavaScript code demonstrates how you can make your portal more interactive by filtering courses as the user types.

Adding External Links and Resources

Furthermore, you should provide your users with external resources to help them learn more about Odoo customization. For example, add links to the official Odoo documentation or GitHub repositories. An example of an outgoing link is:

For more detailed information, please visit the Odoo Addons GitHub Repository.

This link not only serves as a source for further exploration but also reinforces the credibility of your tutorial.

Tips for Testing and Debugging

Moreover, always test your changes thoroughly in a development environment before deploying them to production. You can use browser developer tools to inspect elements and monitor network requests. For example, check that all dynamic links are working correctly and that the external ID references are correctly resolved.

Debugging Checklist

• Clear Browser Cache: Ensure that your changes are reflected.
• Inspect Element: Use tools like Chrome DevTools to verify that the HTML structure is correct.
• Console Logs: Monitor JavaScript console logs for any errors.
• Review Odoo Logs: Check the server-side logs to make sure no errors occur during template rendering.

Testing and Deployment

Once you integrate your customizations, you must test the changes thoroughly. In a production-like environment, perform the following steps:

1. Local Testing:
   Start by running your Odoo instance locally. Navigate through the modified portal page and confirm that every element loads as expected. Moreover, make sure that the dynamic parts (e.g., course count, clickable links) work without issues.
2. User Acceptance Testing:
   Next, invite a few test users to interact with the portal and provide feedback. Their insights will help you identify any discrepancies or usability issues that you might have overlooked.
3. Staging Environment:
   Deploy the changes to a staging environment that mimics your production server. Ensure that performance remains optimized and that styles, scripts, and dynamic data load seamlessly.
4. Final Deployment:
   Finally, deploy the updates to your production environment. Monitor the portal closely during the initial hours or days to address any unforeseen issues promptly.

Real-World Use Cases and Benefits

Let us explore some real-world scenarios where customizing your portal with the Odoo Portal Template External ID plays a crucial role.

Enhancing the Learning Experience

Imagine a scenario where an educational institution uses Odoo as its backend system. By customizing the portal template with an external ID, the institution can display a perfectly tailored “My Classes” page for each student. Not only will students be able to view their course details at a glance, but they can also quickly access detailed discussions and overall status updates on their courses.

Streamlining Corporate Training

Likewise, companies that invest in employee training can benefit from a customized portal layout that aligns with their corporate branding. With dynamic features such as real-time course updates, status indicators, and interactive search functionality, the training portal becomes a powerful tool for organizational learning and continued professional development.

Improving Customer Engagement

Furthermore, businesses that provide services or products through Odoo can enhance customer engagement by letting users manage their accounts through a customized portal. Whether it is tracking orders, viewing invoices, or accessing support documents, the effective use of external IDs ensures that each component of the portal works harmoniously, thereby increasing customer satisfaction and retention.

Tips and Tricks for a Better Odoo Portal Experience

To make the most out of your portal customizations, here are some additional tips and tricks:

Use Modular Development

Firstly, break your customizations into modular components. By doing so, you can reuse specific templates and update them independently, which saves time and minimizes the risk of errors.

Document Your Code

Next, always comment your code thoroughly. Clear comments are essential, especially when other developers or administrators need to understand your modifications. This practice is highly recommended in a collaborative environment.

Regular Updates and Maintenance

Additionally, ensure that your portal remains updated with the latest Odoo versions. As Odoo evolves, some of the functionalities or styling might change. Regular updates and maintenance will help you manage compatibility and performance improvements.

Leverage Community Forums

Moreover, take advantage of the vast community of Odoo developers. Forums and community groups can provide insights, troubleshooting advice, and even code snippets that can help you enhance your portal. Platforms like the Odoo Community Association (OCA) are excellent starting points for further learning.

Final Thoughts and Further Reading

In conclusion, using the Odoo Portal Template External ID in your portal customization project provides numerous advantages, such as improved user experience, better data management, and overall robust portal functionality. By following the methods described in this tutorial and integrating best practices, you will be well on your way to creating a seamless and user-friendly portal.

Furthermore, remember always to test your customization in a controlled environment before rolling it out to your live system. Regular maintenance and community involvement will ensure that your portal continues to meet both business and user needs.

Additional Resources

For more extensive details and sample code, consider exploring the following resources:

• Official Odoo Documentation
• Odoo Addons GitHub Repository
• Odoo Community Association (OCA)

Summary of Key Points

• Odoo Portal Template External ID is critical for linking your portal templates within Odoo.
• Using dynamic code, such as displaying course counts and linking dynamic URLs, enhances the portal’s interactivity.
• Active voice and transitional words improve readability and create a smooth-flowing tutorial.
• Modular development and proper documentation are best practices for maintaining and scaling customizations.
• External resources and community forums provide additional support for advanced customization techniques.

By following the detailed steps and explanations provided in this tutorial, you can confidently customize your Odoo portal to create a rich, interactive, and user-friendly experience. In addition, these practices allow you to build solutions that are both scalable and maintainable—ensuring that your portal remains competitive as your business evolves.

Conclusion

To sum up, this tutorial has taken you through the complete process of locating, understanding, and modifying your Odoo portal template external ID. We began by explaining the significance of external IDs and how they form the backbone of portal customizations in Odoo. Then, through a detailed walkthrough of the XML template code, we highlighted how each part of the code plays a role in rendering a dynamic and interactive user interface for courses.

Furthermore, the step-by-step instructions provided a clear roadmap—from updating template attributes to adding dynamic course counts and implementing a call-to-action button. Moreover, we discussed additional enhancements such as integrating custom CSS, JavaScript, and external resource links—all of which contribute to a better overall portal experience.

Summary

By applying these constant, iterative improvements and best practices, you can ensure that your customized portal meets modern standards and provides an exceptional user experience. Whether you are an experienced Odoo developer or a newcomer to portal customization, the guidelines and code examples presented here will serve as a powerful resource.

Always remember to maintain active communication with your user base and incorporate their feedback, as continuous improvement is vital in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. With the combined power of these techniques and the robust functionalities inherent in Odoo, you are now better equipped to develop engaging, efficient, and highly personalized portals.

For more tutorials and insights on Odoo customization, feel free to revisit this guide and share your experiences with the community. Your feedback is invaluable and helps drive future improvements.

Happy customizing, and may your Odoo implementations be smooth and effective!

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This blog post is designed to serve as a complete tutorial for anyone looking to master the process of finding and utilizing the Odoo Portal Template External ID. We hope you found it informative and actionable. For further reading, advanced customization tips, and support, check out the external links provided above.

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Note: The entire code sample and its detailed explanation, as included above, are critical for understanding how to implement these changes in your own Odoo environments. Always test in your local or staging environments before deploying to production.

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By following every step and incorporating the best practices discussed, you will be able to create a well-organized and efficient portal that not only meets your needs but also exceeds the expectations of your users. Enjoy the journey of learning and making your Odoo portal truly unique!

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Thank you for reading this in-depth tutorial on the Odoo Portal Template External ID. We encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments below and reach out if you have any specific questions or need further clarification on any of the topics covered.