Product Auto Reference - Odoo 18

📋 Description

This module automatically generates internal product references based on the product category hierarchy.

Reference format: PARENT_CODE + CHILD_CODE + ... + SEQUENCE

✨ Features

1. Category Management

• Add a Code field on product categories
• Automatic calculation of Prefix based on hierarchy
• Display of Next Number in sequence
• Automatic creation of an ir.sequence for each category
• Automatic update of prefixes when hierarchy changes

2. Product Management

• Automatic reference generation on creation
• Auto Reference option that can be enabled/disabled per product
• Button to Regenerate reference manually
• Reference update when category changes

3. Administration Tools

• Automatic initialization of sequences from existing database
• Reset sequences
• Manual definition of next number
• Analysis wizard to identify existing references

🚀 Installation

1. Copy the module to your Odoo addons directory
2. Update the apps list: Apps → Update Apps List
3. Search for "Product Auto Reference" and click Install

📖 User Guide

Initial Configuration

Step 1: Configure Category Codes

1. Go to Inventory → Configuration → Product Categories
2. For each category, fill in the Category Code field

Powers (PUI)
├── Electric Motors (002)
│   ├── Single-phase (010)
│   │   ├── 0.5-1.5 kW (001)
│   │   └── 2-5 kW (002)
│   └── Three-phase (011)
│       ├── 0.5-1.5 kW (001)
│       └── 2-5 kW (002)
└── Transformers (003)

Step 2: Initialize Sequences (if you already have products)

Daily Usage

Create a product with automatic reference

1. Go to Inventory → Products → Create
2. Select a Product Category
3. The Auto Ref field is checked by default
4. Do not fill the Internal Reference field
5. Save

→ The reference will be generated automatically!

Create a product with manual reference

1. Create the product
2. Uncheck the Auto Ref field
3. Fill in the Internal Reference manually

Regenerate a reference

On the product form:

1. Click the Regenerate Reference button (at the top)
2. A new reference will be generated

🔧 Advanced Management

Modify the next sequence number

1. Go to a Product Category
2. Click Set Next Number
3. Enter the desired number
4. Validate

Reset a sequence

1. Go to a Product Category
2. Click Reset Sequence
3. Confirm

→ The next number will be 1

Change category hierarchy

If you move a category in the tree:

• The Reference Prefix is automatically recalculated
• The Sequence is updated
• Child categories are also updated

🎯 Usage Examples

Example 1: Electrical Equipment

ELE (Electrical)
├── MOT (Motors)
│   ├── AC (Alternating Current)
│   │   ├── MONO (Single-phase)
│   │   └── TRI (Three-phase)
│   └── DC (Direct Current)
└── TRF (Transformers)

Example 2: Hardware

QUI (Hardware)
├── VIS (Screws)
│   ├── BTC (Wood cross-head)
│   │   ├── 30 (3.0mm)
│   │   └── 40 (4.0mm)
│   └── MTL (Metals)
└── CHE (Anchors)

⚙️ Technical Configuration

Sequence Structure

The module uses ir.sequence with the following parameters:

• Prefix: Automatically calculated from hierarchy
• Padding: 4 digits (0001, 0002, ..., 9999)
• Increment: +1
• Implementation: Standard

Added Fields

On product.category:

• category_code (Char): Category code
• sequence_id (Many2one): Link to ir.sequence
• next_number (Integer, computed): Next number
• reference_prefix (Char, computed, stored): Calculated prefix

On product.template:

• auto_reference (Boolean): Enable/disable auto generation

🔒 Access Rights

• Users: Can create products with auto reference
• Administrators: Full access + sequence initialization

🐛 Troubleshooting

Problem: Reference is not generated

Checks:

1. Is the Auto Ref field checked?
2. Does the category have a Code filled in?
3. Do all parent categories have a code?

Problem: Duplicate reference

Solutions:

1. Use the Initialize Sequences wizard in automatic mode
2. Verify that each category has a unique sequence
3. Manually set the next number

Problem: Prefix is not correct

Causes:

1. A parent category doesn't have a code
2. The hierarchy has been modified

Solution:

1. Check all codes in the hierarchy
2. The prefix should recalculate automatically

📝 Important Notes

1. Code length: Codes can be any length, but be consistent
2. Spaces: Codes must not contain spaces
3. Uniqueness: Each category code must be unique in the entire database
4. Padding: The sequence uses 4 digits by default (0001-9999)
5. Persistence: Sequences are saved even after module uninstallation

📄 License

LGPL-3

👨‍💻 Author

Developed by Mr X