Odoo v8 Basic Configuration Guide

Table of Content:

Before you begin

History
Cost
Communities
Documentation
Training
Software
Modules
Testing
Translations
Problems / Support
Upgrading
News / Keeping Current
Installation instructions (Linux and Windows)
Dependent Python libraries and packages for Odoo
Server configuration file parameters
Creating a database
Activating Technical Features
Deciding where your documents (attachments) will reside
Deciding/configuring password security (LDAP, Active Directory, Google, etc)
Setting up a company (incl. multi company constructions)
Configuring a default language
Customizing Odoo for my country
Setting the default timezone
Installing modules manually
Making my website publicly accessible(Link address IP + port with domain name)
Using odoo with nginx and https
Creating users and groups (Setting up users access rights)
Configuring email (Multi users)
Configuring Google product connectors
Configuring company-wide chat
Activating developer mode
Customizing workflows
Customizing reports(Simple reports and reports with charts)
Backing up and restoring the database(Windows and linux)
Debugging: How to capture a trace report
Tuning your system
How to use command line interface on windows
Before you begin
History

Odoo started as TinyERP in 2005 before changing it's name to OpenERP in 2008. Then in
2014 with the addition of modules that fall outside of the traditional ERP model such as CMS
and eCommerce, OpenERP S.A. changed it's name to Odoo to focus on their future beyond just
ERP software.

Cost

itHub and released under the GNU AFFERO

Full source code for Odoo is available on G
GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE, Version 3 (AGPLv3). So like most Open Source software you
can download, install, modify and use the software freely. The cost of the software is your time
to learn and maintain the software, development costs to personalize the software and
associated costs in hosting the software internally or publicly.

There are a few items that Odoo does not include for free:

1. Upgrades between major version numbers (i.e. 7.0 -> 8.0). Odoo charges for their
upgrade service, however the community also has a free opensource upgrade option
called OpenUpgrade.

2. Installing add-on modules through the GUI interface. Odoo's built-in module installation
system stops working once you have more than two users on a system without an Odoo
maintenance contract. However you can install (-i) and update (-u) modules using the
command line interface.

nline hosted version of Odoo.

3. Hosting services. Odoo provides for it's customers an o
Their SLA (Service Level Agreement) includes replying to bug reports, provide backup
and security services as well as migrate users to new versions (including early access to
rice is based on the number of
new unreleased features) at no additional charge. The p
users and modules that are installed.

Recently Odoo has announced that their hosted solution will be free for customers with
one or two users regardless of the numbers of modules installed. However you server
 will have a YourName.odoo.com web address. Odoo will not point your domain
(YourName.com) to their free hosted solution.

Communities

Odoo has many distinct communities where you can find and give advice. First Odoo hosts it's
own forum and several email lists on various topics. The OCA (Odoo Community Association)
has their own website and email list (publicly searchable) as well. Many Odoo users post
ersonal blogs. And at least two private forums exist on Odoo
tips and information on their p
related topics: StackOverflow.com anddeveloppez.net (French). There is even an I RC chat
room for Odoo as well as Linked-in, Google+ and a M
eetup group.

Odoo also hosts a yearly OpenDays event with Sessions, Workshops and Training. The event
is free to attend (there is a nominal charge for catering if you choose to eat at the event or wish
to attend the after hours parties) and there are optional training opportunities available for a fee.
ay 1, Day 2 and Day 3.
You can watch the OpenDays 2014 event online: D

Documentation

The documentation for Odoo varies from version to version because, on average, Odoo
releases their software every 15 months. In general, Odoo tends to focus more on new
software features and improvements than on development of user documentation. A compiled
ocumentation is available on the Odoo forums.
list of known community and Odoo released d

Training

Training can be obtained through one of the over 500 Odoo certified partners located in more
than 100 countries. These events, some free and provided electronically over the web, are
posted on Odoo's event page. Also from time to time there are events posted on the OCA's
website.

Software

itHub for versions 5.0 through the current

As stated above, the source code is available on G
ightly builds of source,
master branch (future development branch). Odoo also provides n
opies
Windows, Debian/Ubuntu and RedHat install packages. This is also where you can find c
of TinyERP version 3.0 and 4.0 available.
 doo v8 as well as
If you wish to build your own packages, instructions are available for O
OpenERP v6.1 & 7.0 builds. For Windows users there are also instructions on compiling an
executable.

Modules

Modules are the way you can add new functionality to the system and a way to only install
functionality that you need. They are written by Odoo, official Odoo Community partners and by
nline apps store that can be used to publicize the existence of
individuals. Odoo provides an o
an odoo app. Currently there are over 2,000 apps for OpenERP 7.0 and the number of a
pps
for Odoo 8.0 are just beginning to be added to the system.

In general, if you are unable to find an app that covers your needs, it is best to ask the online
community if something exists before you begin development on your own.

Testing

Odoo provides a service to test build all of their proposed updates and versions before they are
committed to the base, this service is called r unbot and is available to anyone to login and test
a feature. All Odoo modules are installed on every build instance. The administration Login
and Password is: admin and a
dmin. There are no posted restrictions as to what you can do
with these databases, however common courtesy should apply as you will not be the only
person using them. Also note that these instances can be eliminated at any moment. The
source code for runbot is available if you wish to host your own development environment
internally.

emo.odoo.com which contains the demonstration data

Another service available for testing is d
that you can use to see the system in action. It does not require a login or password.

Translations

0 languages and dialects.

Odoo is available (to varying degrees of completeness) in about 8
The current master repository for all language translation work is being hosted on Launchpad
erver, Web and
for version 8.0 and below. Translations are broken up into three categories: S
Addons. Starting with Odoo version 9.0, Odoo will find and use another platform such as
evelopment wiki.
"Transifex or [something] similar" according to the Odoo d
Problems / Support

Depending on whom you wish to respond, you may ask for help on Odoo's forums or email lists
(see the community section above), or you may engage with Odoo directly. If you wish to report
a bug or suggest an enhancement in the software, you may do so by posting a GitHub Issue.
You should search the issue database and comment on open issues relating to your problem
and thus not open a duplicate issue for no reason. For bugs you should verify that they still
exist in the current development version by testing them on runbot (see testing above). And
then following the Contributing Guidelines and post your issue u
sing the following format.
Please do not make extra work for the Odoo developers by posting duplicate issues that they
must then merge or delete.

If you have a question that is best directed to a support person (not a developer) then you may
contact odoo support via the following email address: [email protected] If you don't have a
maintenance contract you can contact: [email protected]

Upgrading

See Cost above.

News / Keeping Current

If you wish to know the latest news on Odoo development, releases, bugs and new R&D
features there are several sources you should follow. Odoo tweets on @odoo, @odooCMS,
@odooStatus as well as posts on facebook. There are a few other resources including
Linked-in, Google+, RSS feed etc that are mentioned by Fabrice Henrion (Director of Odoo -
USA) in his forum post.

You can also "watch" the odoo and OCA development on GitHub to receive emails on new
issues and merge requests.