| Availability |
Odoo Online
Odoo.sh
On Premise
|
| Lines of code | 133 |
| Technical Name |
advanced_contact_search |
| License | OPL-1 |
| Website | https://www.oddons.com |
| Versions | 17.0 18.0 19.0 |
| Availability |
Odoo Online
Odoo.sh
On Premise
|
| Lines of code | 133 |
| Technical Name |
advanced_contact_search |
| License | OPL-1 |
| Website | https://www.oddons.com |
| Versions | 17.0 18.0 19.0 |
Advanced Contact Search
Find any contact in Odoo — even with a typo, a first name only, or an abbreviation. No configuration required.
The problem
You can't find your contact in the database
You type "Acme Corp" in the search bar or in the customer field of a quotation, but Odoo returns nothing — because the contact is saved as "Acme Corporation". You think the contact doesn't exist, create a duplicate, or waste time trying to remember the exact spelling.
This happens dozens of times a day, for every person using Odoo. A small typo, a first name without the last name, an abbreviation — and the standard search comes back empty.
Without the module
With the module
Features
A search that adapts to the way you type
Extended search
Beyond the name, Odoo automatically searches the contact's email, phone number, and internal reference. Type a partial email address or a phone number — the contact appears.
Word-by-word search
Type multiple words in any order and Odoo searches each word individually, returning contacts that contain all of them. "Corp Acme" finds "Acme Corporation".
Typo correction
If nothing is found, the module automatically activates a similarity-based search. "Akme", "Acmee", or "Ely" for "Eli" — the right contact is still suggested.
Performance preserved
Each level is only activated if the previous one found nothing. For everyday searches, the response is as fast as standard Odoo — the typo correction only kicks in as a last resort.
Works everywhere
The improved search applies in the contact list and in every Customer or Partner field across your quotations, invoices, deliveries, and more.
Zero configuration
Install and go. No settings to configure, no training needed for your team.
How it works
Three search levels, activated automatically
On every keystroke, the module tries each strategy in order, from fastest to most tolerant. As soon as a result is found, the search stops.
Extended standard search
Odoo searches your input across the contact's full name, email address, phone number, and internal reference. The fastest level — identical to standard Odoo, but covering more fields.
Word-by-word search
If no result, each word in your input is searched individually. A contact is returned if it contains all the words, in any order. Perfect for partial names or abbreviations.
Automatic typo correction
If still no result, the module uses similarity analysis to find contacts whose name resembles your input, even with swapped or missing letters. Requires the PostgreSQL extension pg_trgm (included by default on most Odoo hosting platforms).
Examples
Everyday situations, finally solved
| You type… | Odoo finds… | Thanks to… |
|---|---|---|
| Acm Corp | Acme Corporation | Word-by-word search |
| Corp Acme | Acme Corporation | Word-by-word search (reversed order) |
| Akme | Acme Corporation | Typo correction |
| Ely | Eli Martin | Typo correction |
| john.doe | john.doe@acme.com | Email search |
| 47012 | +32 470 12 34 56 | Phone search |
| 2048 | REF-CLI-2048 | Internal reference search |
| Generale Belg | Société Générale Belgique | Word-by-word search (case-insensitive) |
Frequently asked questions
FAQ
Does the module slow down Odoo?
Not for everyday searches. Levels 1 and 2 use the same indexes as standard Odoo. Level 3 (typo correction) is more intensive, but it only kicks in as a last resort — when the first two levels found nothing.
Is there anything extra to install?
No. The module works immediately after installation. Typo correction (level 3) requires the PostgreSQL extension pg_trgm, which is enabled by default on virtually all Odoo hosting platforms (Odoo.sh, OVH, standard Ubuntu servers). If it is not available, levels 1 and 2 remain fully active.
Does the module modify my data?
No. It creates no new fields, writes nothing to the database, and does not alter any existing contact. It only improves the search mechanism.
Where in Odoo is the search improved?
Everywhere Odoo looks up a contact: the contact list, the Customer field on quotations and invoices, the Partner field on deliveries and purchase orders, and any other document that references a partner.
Odoo Proprietary License v1.0 This software and associated files (the "Software") may only be used (executed, modified, executed after modifications) if you have purchased a valid license from the authors, typically via Odoo Apps, or if you have received a written agreement from the authors of the Software (see the COPYRIGHT file). You may develop Odoo modules that use the Software as a library (typically by depending on it, importing it and using its resources), but without copying any source code or material from the Software. You may distribute those modules under the license of your choice, provided that this license is compatible with the terms of the Odoo Proprietary License (For example: LGPL, MIT, or proprietary licenses similar to this one). It is forbidden to publish, distribute, sublicense, or sell copies of the Software or modified copies of the Software. The above copyright notice and this permission notice must be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
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