ever-just Odoo Module Migration: 18.0 → 19.0
Overview
Port OCA or custom Odoo modules from version 18.0 to 19.0. Odoo 19 has the largest structural overhaul in Odoo history — 130 model renames, 51 field renames, security system rewrite, and view schema changes.
Migration Tool
pipx install oca-port
pipx inject --include-deps oca-port git+https://github.com/OCA/odoo-module-migrator.git@master
oca-port origin/18.0 origin/19.0 <module_path> --verbose
Breaking Changes Checklist
Python / ORM
| Change | Before (18.0) | After (19.0) |
|---|---|---|
| Route type | type='json' |
type='jsonrpc' |
| IR rules | _apply_ir_rules(query) |
Removed — use _search(domain, bypass_access=True) |
| SQL constraints | _sql_constraints = [...] |
models.Constraint(...) on model class |
| Expressions | from odoo.osv.expression import OR |
from odoo.fields import Domain |
XML Views
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Search group | <group expand="0" string="Group By"> |
<group> (remove expand + string) |
| Kanban card | <kanban-box> |
<card> |
| OWL directives | t-if in form views |
Use invisible attribute |
Security / Groups (CRITICAL)
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Group category | <field name="category_id" ref="..."/> |
<field name="privilege_id" ref="..."/> with res.groups.privilege model |
| User groups field | groups_id |
group_ids |
| Group users field | users |
user_ids |
Module Renames
| Before | After |
|---|---|
web_editor |
html_builder |
hr.contract |
hr.version |
Step-by-Step Migration
- Copy module from 18.0 source
- Bump version in
__manifest__.pyto19.0.x.x.x - Scan for breaking patterns:
grep -rn 'groups_id\|category_id.*res.groups\|type=.json.\|expand="0"\|_apply_ir_rules\|_sql_constraints\|kanban-box' module/ --include="*.py" --include="*.xml" - Apply fixes per the checklist above
- Test install on a clean 19.0 database:
odoo -d test -i module_name --stop-after-init --no-http - Check warnings —
auto_joinparameter invalid on some field types in v19 - Verify views — any
t-ifin form/list/kanban XML will fail
Common Errors
| Error | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
Invalid attribute string for element group |
string="Group By" on search <group> |
Remove the string attribute |
Forbidden owl directive used in arch (t-if) |
t-if in server-rendered views |
Use invisible="condition" |
Invalid field res.partner.mobile |
Field doesn't exist on this install | Check field exists: if "mobile" in Model._fields |
duplicate key violates unique constraint ir_config_parameter_key_uniq |
Config param already exists in DB | Delete from DB before install, or use noupdate="1" |
External ID not found: crm.crm_case_form_view_leads |
CRM not installed, view doesn't exist | Make CRM an optional dependency, move view to separate file |
Pitfalls
docker compose run --rmcreates an ephemeral container — pip packages installed there don't persist- Module state
to installrequires an Odoo restart withupdate_module=Trueto complete noupdate="1"data files still fail on unique constraints if records were created manually before installauto_joinparameter is silently ignored (warning only) on fields that don't support it in v19