Import ODBC module steps up

The import_odbc module for OpenERP was recently improved and moved  to the OpenObject Extension community project. the original module is now split in two: base_external_dbsource and import_odbc.

The import_odbc code was refactored, but keeps the same funcionality as before. Documentation was improved and some examples are provided out of the box.

The base_external_dbsource was created to isolate the logic for connecting to external databases and executing SQL queries. It's used by import_odbc, but it also enables other modules to fetch foreign data on the fly.

Additionally, the connection types supported were extended. Support for ODBC and Oracle native connections is kept, and support for other native connections was added:

• MS SQL Server
• MySQL
• PostgreSQL
• SQLite

With this evolution, it would be more fair to name the module as "import_sql" instead of the "import_odbc", but the name was kept unchanged to avoid confusing current users.

You can get the latest version of these modules from the OpenObject Extension trunk branch:

bzr branch lp:openobject-extension

Share you experiences and feature wishlists with us!

Using codes to search and enter data in OpenERP forms

Using codes to refer to entities, such as customers or employees, is a common practice, and widely used in ERPs. To users familiar with this method it's natural to have the code displayed alongside with the description, and to enter data in a form field by directly typing a code.

This feature can be easilly added to OpenERP using the refcodes family of modules, available in Launchpad. For example, in the HR module an employee selection list might look like this:

Have fun.