Update XML in Odoo
by Syed Awais
Managing and calculating progress on large forms in Odoo can be cumbersome using traditional methods like onchange and compute methods. This can lead to inefficiencies and complex code.
Odoo uses lxml by default to parse XML. There may be instances where users need to modify XML using Python. This document will help you understand lxml tree operations and demonstrate how to update XML using the lxml library.
What is the lxml Library?
The lxml XML toolkit is a Pythonic binding for the C libraries libxml2 and libxslt. It combines the speed and XML feature completeness of these libraries with the simplicity of a native Python API, offering a more powerful alternative to the well-known ElementTree API.
Use Case: Updating XML for Progress Calculation
Consider a form with around 100 fields where you want to calculate the progress based on the number of filled fields. Instead of using lengthy onchange methods and compute methods, you can use lxml to calculate the progress.
Steps for Updating XML in Odoo Using lxml
Here’s a step-by-step guide to update XML in Odoo using lxml:
1. Retrieve the XML Structure
Use Odoo’s default get_view method to fetch the XML structure (arch) of the form view by its ID.
2. Parse the XML Nodes
Traverse the XML nodes using lxml. Nodes represent elements in the form view, such as fields, notebooks, pages, trees, etc.
3. Identify Required Fields
Loop through the nodes to identify fields that are marked as required. Use appropriate attributes or tags to identify these fields.
4. Count Total Required Fields
Count and store the total number of required fields in a variable.
5. Check Field Data
For each required field, check if it is filled. Store filled fields in a variable, e.g., filled_fields.
6. Calculate Progress Percentage
Compute the progress as a percentage of filled fields out of the total required fields. The formula is: (Number of Filled Fields / Total Required Fields) * 100.
Example Method
Here’s how you might implement the calculate_progress method:
def _calculate_progress(self):
filled_count = 0
required_fields = []
arch, view = self._get_view()
for node in arch.xpath("//field"):
if node.get('required') and node.get('id') != "relational_field":
required_fields.append(node.get('name'))
total_required = len(required_fields)
for field_name in required_fields:
if self[field_name]:
filled_count += 1
progress = (filled_count / total_required) * 100 if total_required > 0 else 100
return progress
Conclusion
Using lxml to update XML in Odoo provides a more efficient method for managing large forms and calculating progress. This approach reduces reliance on extensive manual code and simplifies the process.
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