---
url: https://docs.cybrosys.com/assista-ide/snippets/xml-snippets.md
description: >-
  Insert Odoo views, actions, menus and data records by typing a short keyword
  in an XML file. Snippets follow your Odoo version (18, 19 and 20).
---

# XML snippets

Type `odoo` and a few words in an XML file, then pick a snippet to insert a view, an action, a menu or another data record. The code follows the Odoo version of your project.

These snippets come from the bundled Odoo Helper and support Odoo 18, 19 and 20.

## What you can do

* **Insert a view** of any type, such as form, list, kanban, search, calendar, graph or pivot.
* **Add view parts** such as a sheet, notebook, chatter or smart button.
* **Create actions and menus** with the usual fields filled in.
* **Extend a view** with a view inherit and an `xpath`.
* **Add field conditions** for `invisible`, `readonly` and `required`.

## Get started

1. Open an XML file in an Odoo module.
2. Type `odoo` and the name of what you need, for example `odoo form view`.
3. Pick the snippet from the list. Use the arrow keys to move, press `Enter` or `Tab` to insert it, and press `Esc` to close the list.
4. Press `Tab` to jump to each placeholder and fill it in.

Check the version in the status bar, for example `Odoo v20 (Auto)`. Select it to change it.

## Common tags and records

| Snippet | What it inserts |
| :--- | :--- |
| `odoo xml` | An XML file with the UTF-8 declaration and an `<odoo>` root. |
| `odoo record` | A `<record>` with an ID, a model and one field. |

## Views

Each view snippet inserts a full `ir.ui.view` record with the ID and name set from the model name you type.

| Snippet | What it inserts |
| :--- | :--- |
| `odoo form view` | A form with a sheet, a title and a group. |
| `odoo list view` | A list view. |
| `odoo editable list` | An inline-editable list, with a choice of `bottom` or `top`. Odoo 20 only. |
| `odoo search view` | A search view with a filter and a group-by. |
| `odoo kanban view` | A kanban view. It uses the `card` template. |
| `odoo calendar view` | A calendar with start and stop dates, a mode and a color field. |
| `odoo graph view` | A graph. Choose `bar`, `line` or `pie`. |
| `odoo pivot view` | A pivot view with a row and a column. |
| `odoo view inherit` | An inherited view with an `xpath`. Choose the position. |
| `odoo xpath` | An `xpath` block. Choose `after`, `before`, `inside`, `replace` or `attributes`. |

## View parts

| Snippet | What it inserts |
| :--- | :--- |
| `odoo sheet` | A sheet with a group and a field. |
| `odoo header` | A form header with two buttons and the status bar. |
| `odoo notebook` | A notebook with one page. |
| `odoo page` | A single notebook page. |
| `odoo chatter` | The chatter. The model must inherit `mail.thread`. |
| `odoo button box` | The container for smart buttons. |
| `odoo smart button` | A smart button with a counter. On Odoo 20 the icon is a Material Symbols name. On 18 and 19 it is a `fa-` icon. |
| `odoo object button` | A button that calls a model method. |
| `odoo action button` | A button that opens an action. |
| `odoo label` | A field label. |
| `odoo ribbon` | The ribbon widget, with a color choice. Odoo 20 only. |

## Fields and attributes

| Snippet | What it inserts |
| :--- | :--- |
| `odoo field` | A field. |
| `odoo field widget` | A field with a widget. Choose from `many2many_tags`, `many2one_avatar_user`, `badge`, `priority`, `boolean_toggle`, `handle`, `monetary`, `image`, `html`, `progressbar` and more. |
| `odoo field invisible` | A field hidden by a condition. |
| `odoo field readonly` | A field made read-only by a condition. |
| `odoo field required` | A field made required by a condition. |
| `odoo field state` | The status bar field. |
| `odoo column invisible` | A list column hidden by a condition on the parent. Odoo 20 only. |
| `odoo field optional` | A list column the user can show or hide. Odoo 20 only. |
| `odoo domain` | A `domain` attribute. |
| `odoo options` | An `options` attribute. |
| `odoo groups` | A `groups` attribute. |

## Actions, menus and data

| Snippet | What it inserts |
| :--- | :--- |
| `odoo action` | A window action with a "no content" help message. |
| `odoo menu root` | An app menu with an icon. |
| `odoo menu category` | A menu with sub-menus. |
| `odoo menu action` | A menu that opens an action. |
| `odoo access` | An access right with `ir.access`. Odoo 20 only. |
| `odoo cron` | A scheduled action that calls a model method. Choose the interval type. Odoo 20 only. |
| `odoo report` | A PDF report action. Odoo 20 only. |
| `odoo settings` | An app, block and setting for the settings form. Odoo 20 only. |

## Examples

These are Odoo 20 outputs.

`odoo form view`:

```xml
<record id="model_name_view_form" model="ir.ui.view">
    <field name="name">model.name.view.form</field>
    <field name="model">model.name</field>
    <field name="arch" type="xml">
        <form>
            <sheet>
                <div class="oe_title">
                    <h1><field name="name" placeholder="Name"/></h1>
                </div>
                <group>
                    <group>
                        <field name="name"/>
                    </group>
                </group>
            </sheet>
        </form>
    </field>
</record>
```

`odoo kanban view`:

```xml
<record id="model_name_view_kanban" model="ir.ui.view">
    <field name="name">model.name.view.kanban</field>
    <field name="model">model.name</field>
    <field name="arch" type="xml">
        <kanban sample="1">
            <templates>
                <t t-name="card">
                    <field name="name" class="fw-bold fs-5"/>
                </t>
            </templates>
        </kanban>
    </field>
</record>
```

`odoo header`:

```xml
<header>
    <button name="action_confirm" string="Confirm" type="object" class="btn-primary" invisible="state != 'draft'"/>
    <button name="action_cancel" string="Cancel" type="object" invisible="state not in ('draft', 'confirmed')"/>
    <field name="state" widget="statusbar" statusbar_visible="draft,confirmed,done"/>
</header>
```

`odoo view inherit`:

```xml
<record id="model_name_view_form_inherit" model="ir.ui.view">
    <field name="name">model.name.view.form.inherit</field>
    <field name="model">model.name</field>
    <field name="inherit_id" ref="module.view_id"/>
    <field name="arch" type="xml">
        <xpath expr="//field[@name='name']" position="after">
            <field name="new_field"/>
        </xpath>
    </field>
</record>
```

`odoo action`:

```xml
<record id="action_model_name" model="ir.actions.act_window">
    <field name="name">Action Name</field>
    <field name="res_model">model.name</field>
    <field name="view_mode">list,form</field>
    <field name="help" type="html">
        <p class="o_view_nocontent_smiling_face">
            Create your first record!
        </p>
    </field>
</record>
```

`odoo access`:

```xml
<record id="access_model_name_user" model="ir.access">
    <field name="name">model.name user</field>
    <field name="model_id" ref="model_model_name"/>
    <field name="group_id" ref="base.group_user"/>
    <field name="operation">crud</field>
    <field name="domain">[(1, '=', 1)]</field>
</record>
```

## Tips and limits

* Choice lists, such as the graph type, the calendar mode, the field widget and the `xpath` position, are offered on Odoo 20. On Odoo 18 and 19 the same snippets insert a simpler version with a fixed value that you edit.
* Conditions such as `invisible="state != 'draft'"` are plain expressions. The `attrs` and `states` attributes are not used.
* Use `odoo menu root`, `odoo menu category` and `odoo menu action` in that order to build a menu tree. Set `parent` on the action menu to the ID of its category.
* If a snippet you expect is missing, check the version in the status bar. The `odoo access`, `odoo cron`, `odoo report` and `odoo settings` snippets are only offered on Odoo 20.

## Next steps

* Use [Python snippets](/assista-ide/snippets/python-snippets) for models and methods.
* Get [context-aware suggestions](/assista-ide/odoo-standards/code-suggestion) as you type.
* [Create modules and files](/assista-ide/module-creation).