--- url: https://docs.cybrosys.com/vs-code-extension/features/module-templates.md description: >- Create a complete Odoo module from the Explorer in Odoo Helper for VS Code, with six templates for 18, 19 and 20. --- # Module templates Create a ready-to-use Odoo module from the Explorer. Choose a template, enter a technical name, and the extension writes the module for your Odoo version and opens its manifest. ![Explorer right-click menu showing Assista Odoo, Create Odoo Module and the module template entries](../images/module-templates-menu.webp) ## What you can do | Template | Contents | `depends` | |---|---|---| | **Create Basic Module** | Manifest, a model, its views and the access file. | `base` | | **Create Advanced Module** | The basic module plus sequence data, cron data and demo data. | `base` | | **Create Basic OWL Module** | The basic module plus an OWL client action (JavaScript and XML template). | `base`, `web` | | **Create Advanced OWL Module** | The advanced module plus an OWL dashboard with charts, fed by a JSON controller. Odoo 20 uses Chart.js through `web.chartjs_lib`. Odoo 18 and 19 use Google Charts. | `base`, `mail`, `contacts` | | **Create Module with Systray Menu** | A systray item (OWL component and template). | `base`, `web` | | **Create Website Theme** | Layout, header and footer templates for `website`. | `website` | The generated code follows your Odoo version. The manifest version is `18.0.1.0.0`, `19.0.1.0.0` or `20.0.1.0.0`, and the access file is `ir.model.access.csv` on 18 and 19 or `ir.access.csv` on 20. ## Get started 1. Right-click the folder that will hold the module, for example your addons folder. 2. Select **Assista Odoo** > **Create Odoo Module**, then choose a template. 3. Enter a technical name and press **Enter**. The name accepts lowercase letters and `_` only. Digits, dots and spaces are rejected. If a folder with that name already exists, the extension shows an error and creates nothing. The model takes its name from the module name: `library_book` creates a model `library.book`, a class `LibraryBook` and a file `models/library_book.py`. The manifest `name` is the module name in title case, such as `Library Book`. ## What each template creates Examples use a module named `my_module`. The access file is `ir.model.access.csv` on Odoo 18 and 19. ### Basic module ```text my_module ├── __init__.py ├── __manifest__.py ├── models │ ├── __init__.py │ └── my_module.py ├── security │ └── ir.access.csv # ir.model.access.csv on Odoo 18 and 19 └── views └── my_module_views.xml ``` The model `my.module` has `name`, `state` (draft, confirmed, done), `description`, `amount` and `active` fields. It overrides `create`, `write` and `unlink`, and has an `action_do_something` method that a form header button calls. The views file has list, form, kanban and search views, a window action and a menu. The access file gives internal users full access. ### Advanced module Adds `data/ir_sequence_data.xml`, `data/ir_cron_data.xml` and `demo/my_module_data.xml` to the basic layout. ```text my_module ├── data │ ├── ir_cron_data.xml │ └── ir_sequence_data.xml ├── demo │ └── my_module_data.xml ├── models ├── security └── views ``` The model adds a `date` field, and `create` takes `name` from the sequence. The views add calendar and pivot views. The cron record calls a `cron_sample_method` placeholder every day, and the demo file adds two sample records. ### Basic OWL module Adds an OWL client action to the basic layout. The form button opens it. ```text my_module ├── models ├── security ├── static │ └── src │ ├── js │ │ └── client_action.js │ └── xml │ └── client_action.xml └── views ``` The manifest registers both files in `web.assets_backend`. The client action shows a welcome screen with a button that raises a notification. ### Advanced OWL module Adds a controller, an OWL dashboard, data and demo files to the advanced layout. ```text my_module ├── controllers │ ├── __init__.py │ └── main.py ├── data ├── demo ├── models ├── security ├── static │ └── src │ ├── js │ │ └── client_action.js │ ├── scss # Odoo 20 only │ │ └── client_action.scss │ └── xml │ └── client_action.xml └── views ``` The model inherits `mail.thread` and adds `partner_id`, `company_id` and a user field. The controller serves `/my_module/chart_data` with total records and amounts per partner for the dashboard charts. On Odoo 20, the dashboard offers pie, doughnut, bar and line charts with a date filter. The views file adds a menu that opens the client action. ### Systray module ```text my_module ├── __init__.py ├── __manifest__.py └── static └── src ├── js │ └── systray.js └── xml └── systray_templates.xml ``` The component adds a button to the systray with a star icon. Selecting it shows a notification. The manifest registers both files in `web.assets_backend`. ### Website theme ```text my_module ├── __init__.py ├── __manifest__.py └── views ├── footer_template_views.xml ├── header_template_views.xml └── layout_template_views.xml ``` The layout file replaces the homepage content, the header file replaces the website header with a title and Home, About and Contact links, and the footer file replaces the footer. The manifest category is `Theme`, and it declares empty `web._assets_primary_variables` and `web.assets_frontend` bundles for your SCSS and JavaScript. ## Tips and limits * Check the Odoo version in the status bar before you create a module. Click it to change the version. * The names of the generated files come from the module name you enter. * The website theme and systray templates have no model, so they have no access file. * Placeholder code such as `action_do_something` and `cron_sample_method` does nothing yet. Replace it with your own logic. ## Next steps * [Add files to the module](/vs-code-extension/features/file-creator) * [Add OWL components](/vs-code-extension/features/owl-components) * [Generate views and reports from a model](/vs-code-extension/features/model-tools)