Banded Report Writer Free

Professional PDF report writer for everyone
No qweb, Fully integrated with Odoo, Auto report generation, Shared community library, getting-started tutorials

A Pro version includes all the free version’s features and adds extra capabilities for truly outstanding reports.

✓ Odoo 19 Community ✓ Odoo 19 Enterprise

Try it now

To help get started visit our YouTube channel for tutorials:  https://www.youtube.com/@WilsonWorks-e8n

Background

The Banded Report Writer was created for Odoo business analysts, implementers, and users — anyone who has ever needed a custom report. As experienced Odoo functional experts ourselves, we understand the need for accessible reporting tools. Standard Odoo reporting relies on QWeb, a developer-centric templating system. While Odoo has moved away from wkhtmltopdf toward newer rendering engines, the underlying architecture remains complex, making report writing challenging for most functional users. Other attempts have been made, e.g. Pentaho Reporter which was Java-based, but none have been native to Odoo. That’s why we built this module. Banded Report Writer is a pure-Python Odoo report writer designed to put the power of beautiful, professional reports back in the hands of the people who understand the business — not just the developers. This app is for you: whether you’re creating your first report or building complex grouped summaries with dynamic images and scheduled delivery, everything you need is here. We hope you’ll not only use it to solve your own reporting challenges, but also share your reports in our growing community library so that everyone benefits.

Who Is This For?

👔 Functional Consultants No developer required. Design, deploy, and iterate on reports entirely from the Odoo UI.

📊 Business Analysts Rapidly prototype and deliver client-ready PDFs with grouping, totals, and formatting.

🖨 End Users Print directly from any Odoo record or list view. One-click professional PDF output.

🤝 Odoo Partners Deliver polished client reports faster. Share reusable definitions across projects.

Key Features

Report Design

🧙 Automated Report Builder Get up and running in minutes with the guided wizard. Select your data model, choose fields, and generate a complete report automatically.	📐 Banded Report Layouts Multi-section reports with headers, detail bands, group headers/footers, and footers. Professional banding like Crystal Reports.	📝 JSON Editor Full JSON editor with validation and helpful error messages. Define every aspect of your report in clean, readable JSON.
📏 Column Positioning Use constants for setting important column positions — changes only need to be updated in one place.	🎨 Colour Palette Define and reuse your company’s colour theme with the “palette” directive.	🛠 Report Builder Wizard Get started fast using the report builder wizard that produces ready-to-go reports that can be modified.
❓ Built-in Help Comprehensive contextual help and documentation built directly into Odoo. Learn as you build.

Data & Grouping

🔀 Multi-Level Grouping Group data by multiple fields with automatic subtotals and aggregates. Nested groups with hierarchical summaries.

➕ Aggregate Functions SUM, COUNT, AVG, MIN, MAX for automatic calculations. Grand totals in the report footer.

💱 Field Formatting Currency, number, and date formatting with conditional styling and precision control.

📽 Automatic Sorting Sort by group fields automatically. Define sort order in your JSON report definition.

Output & Performance

📄 Professional PDF Output Generate clean, professional PDFs using ReportLab. No WKHTMLTOPDF or external dependencies.	⚡ Performance Tested Handles 10,000+ records and 800+ pages in under 1 second. Fully tested with 500+ quality tests.	📑 Pagination Automatic page breaks with proper handling of group headers and footers across pages, including continuation messages.
🖨 Print from Forms or Selections Automatically link reports to server actions that can be linked to forms or record selections.	📚 Tutorial Reports 11 tutorial reports included to demonstrate all features. Ready to run and learn from.

Connected & Intelligent

🌍 Shared Community Library Users can share their standout reports with the community. The library is pre-populated with useful reports and is available in both free and pro versions.

🤖 AI Friendly Report Generator Professional and full-featured AI prompt for report generation.

💬 AI Friendly Support Agent Professional and full-featured AI prompt for instant support.

🙋 Human Support Human support always available.

Screenshots

Feature Demo

Static Screenshots

Sample Customer Statement Rendered in Designer or via Action button on partners	Get started fast with the Automated Report Builder wizard	Report Builder - JSON report definition generated
Report Builder - The resultant professional PDF report	Tutorial Reports - Tutorial reports make it quicker to get started - use as is of modify to suit	Tutorial Reports - Tutorial reports make it quicker to get started - use as is of modify to suit
Report Builder - Some of the designer features	Built-in contextual help and documentation	Share quality reports with the community. Pre-populated and available in both free and pro. Users can delete their own reports, vote for other reports they think are excellent, or flag reports they believe are dubious. NOTE: no data is stored - only the JSON report definition.
A fully curated AI prompt ready build reports. Download and attach to your favourite AI utility. Both Calude and Gemini free versions will support this prompt. All Paid AI versions will support it.	A fully curated AI prompt ready to be a support agent. Download and attach to your favourite AI utility. Both Calude and Gemini free versions will support this prompt. All Paid AI versions will support it.

How It Works

The Banded Reporting Model

Banded Report Writer brings the classic “banded” reporting paradigm — familiar from tools like Crystal Reports — directly into Odoo. A report is built from discrete horizontal bands that fire at predictable moments: a report header on the first page, page headers on every page, detail bands repeated for each data record, group headers and footers when data changes, and page/report footers for summaries and page numbers. Each band contains fields positioned by X and Y coordinates, giving you pixel-precise control over layout without touching QWeb or WKHTMLTOPDF.

One Foundational Idea: Flat In, Banded Out

Every Banded Report Writer report consumes a flat list of rows, where each row already carries every value the report could ever need — including values that “belong” to a group header or footer. We deliberately repeat group-level data on every row instead of nesting it.

This single design choice is the reason BRW is so flexible and predictable. Grouping, sorting, subtotals, page breaks, and conditional bands all become simple, regular operations on a uniform input. The hard work of joining tables and shaping data lives where it belongs — in your data source — not buried inside the report template.

The result: there is never any mystery about where a value comes from, every report behaves the same way, and reports are easy to reason about, modify, and migrate. It is a deliberate decision rooted in decades of classic banded-reporting practice — one that has paid off in every report we have built.

Structured JSON, Validated End-to-End

Everything about a report — bands, fields, data sources, grouping rules, formatting, colours, and constants — is declared in a single, clean JSON document. This is not loose markup: every key is validated against a strict schema, every field type is checked, every layout reference is resolved, and every colour token is verified before a single PDF byte is produced. The rendering engine is pure Python (ReportLab), with zero Odoo dependencies in its core, so the same definition runs consistently whether you are designing in Odoo 19 today or porting tomorrow.

Schema Rigor Enables AI and Guaranteed Quality

Because the format is tightly structured, we can do things ad-hoc template systems cannot. The built-in validator catches typos instantly — “Unknown key ‘fond_size’ — did you mean ‘font_size’?” — and the complete JSON schema is published as a machine-readable reference. That same schema powers our curated AI prompts: the AI Report Builder knows every valid key, every band type, and every formatting rule, so it generates working JSON on the first try rather than guessing. The result is a system where human authors, automated validators, and AI assistants all speak the same precise language.

Steps to Get Started

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know Python or QWeb to use this?

No. Banded Report Writer is designed specifically for non-developers. You define reports entirely in JSON through the built-in editor — no Python coding, no QWeb templates, no XML. The only skill you need is understanding your data model (which Odoo already shows you in the UI).

Will this work with my custom Odoo modules?

Yes. Banded Report Writer can bind to any Odoo model — built-in or custom. As long as you can see the model in Odoo’s UI, you can create a report for it using the Automated Report Builder or by writing a JSON definition manually.

Is the Pro module required to create reports?

No. The free version is fully functional and includes all core banded reporting features: band layouts, grouping, aggregates, formatting, pagination, and PDF output. Pro adds advanced features like SQL data sources, images, watermarks, parameters, scheduling, and snippet libraries — but you can create complete professional reports without it.

Can I migrate reports between databases?

Yes. Report definitions are stored as pure JSON, which is completely portable. You can export a report definition, copy it to another database, and it will run identically — no dependencies on custom code or external assets.

How does this compare to Odoo’s built-in QWeb reports?

Odoo’s native QWeb reports require HTML/CSS knowledge and developer access. They are powerful but inaccessible to functional users. Banded Report Writer gives you the same professional PDF output through a simple JSON interface — think of it as “Crystal Reports for Odoo” but without the code. It is not a replacement for complex bespoke QWeb reports, but it covers 90% of business reporting needs without touching a single line of code.

What about support and updates?

We are committed to continuous improvement. The free module receives bug fixes and compatibility updates for new Odoo versions. Human support is always available. We also provide curated AI prompts that act as a support agent and a report builder — both included free.

Free vs Pro Feature Comparison

The Banded Report Writer is a comprehensive, free report engine for Odoo. The optional Pro module extends it with advanced features for professional report design, automation, and integration.

Note: Installing Pro automatically extends the free module — all existing reports continue to work unchanged.

Core Report Engine

Feature	Free	Pro
Band-based layout (report header, page header, detail, page footer, report footer)	✅	✅
Multi-page reports with automatic page breaks	✅	✅
Page sizes — A4, Letter, Legal	✅	✅
Portrait and landscape orientation	✅	✅
Configurable margins (top, bottom, left, right)	✅	✅
Developer PDF Preview (in-browser, no download)	✅	✅
JSON schema validation with typo detection and suggestions	✅	✅
Report Builder wizard (guided report creation)	✅	✅
Debug layout mode (visualize band boundaries)	✅	✅
Generate PDF button (download)	✅	✅
REST API — HTTP POST PDF generation	—	✅

Data Sources & Queries

Feature	Free	Pro
ORM data sources with Odoo domain filters	✅	✅
Parent-child (master-detail) data sources via One2many fields	✅	✅
Dot-notation for related fields	✅	✅
Dynamic domain variables ({company_ids}, {today}, {active_ids})	✅	✅
SQL data sources — direct SQL queries	—	✅
Cross-table JOINs for complex multi-table reporting	—	✅
Parameterized SQL queries with safe %(name)s binding	—	✅

Field Types & Formatting

Feature	Free	Pro
Static text labels	✅	✅
Dynamic field values with {field_name} placeholders	✅	✅
Currency formatting — locale-aware with per-record symbol	✅	✅
Number formatting — locale-aware with thousands separator	✅	✅
HTML to plain text conversion	✅	✅
Image fields — render images in any band	—	✅
Image size modes — fit, stretch, original	—	✅
Conditional image rendering with render_if	—	✅

Layout & Styling

Feature	Free	Pro
Text alignment — left, right, center	✅	✅
Vertical alignment — top, middle, bottom	✅	✅
Bold and italic text (band and field level)	✅	✅
Font families — Helvetica, Times, Courier	✅	✅
Text color — hex #RRGGBB or named colors	✅	✅
Band backgrounds — solid or alternating row colors	✅	✅
Band borders and underlines	✅	✅
Named panels — positioned rectangles with backgrounds	✅	✅
Rounded corners (curved)	✅	✅
Watermarks — text or image on every page	—	✅
Watermark customization — opacity, rotation, font, color	—	✅

Grouping, Totals & Summaries

Feature	Free	Pro
Multi-level grouping by any field	✅	✅
Group header and footer bands (per level)	✅	✅
Aggregate functions — SUM, COUNT, AVG, MIN, MAX	✅	✅
Subtotals at each group level	✅	✅
Report footer with grand totals	✅	✅
Nested/hierarchical grouping (multiple levels)	✅	✅
Automatic page breaks per group	✅	✅
Continuation text for multi-page groups	✅	✅

Report Parameters & Prompts

Feature	Free	Pro
Runtime parameter prompts — dynamic wizard	—	✅
Date range parameters — 25+ built-in presets	—	✅
Selection/dropdown parameters	—	✅
Text, number, and boolean parameters	—	✅
Parameter values in domains	—	✅
Run Reports menu — opt-in quick-access for prompted & non-prompted reports	—	✅
Cron-ready defaults — unattended execution	—	✅

Publishing, Print, Email & Scheduling

Feature	Free	Pro
Publish to Action Menu wizard	✅	✅
Cross-model report actions	✅	✅
Print & Send — bind to Odoo’s Print button	—	✅
Default Report mode — replace built-in reports	—	✅
Scheduled reports via cron	—	✅
generate_pdf_attachment() — server-side PDF	—	✅
generate_and_email() — generate and send via email	—	✅

JSON Editing & Productivity

Feature	Free	Pro
JSON editor with syntax highlighting	✅	✅
JSON schema validation on save	✅	✅
Typo detection with suggestions	✅	✅
Report Builder wizard	✅	✅
JSON Compact All Fields	—	✅
JSON Expand All Fields	—	✅
JSON Expand Band	—	✅

Reusable Components

Feature	Free	Pro
Constants — report-level layout variables	✅	✅
Constants — band-level, scoped to a specific band	✅	✅
Palette definition for style consistency	✅	✅
Layout references — {name.x}, {name.width}	✅	✅
Named panels — store x, y, width, height	✅	✅
Snippet Libraries — reusable JSON fragments	—	✅
Band snippets — standard headers, footers	—	✅
include_snippet at any JSON level	—	✅

Learning Resources

Feature	Free	Pro
11 progressive tutorials (Tutorial 01–11)	✅	✅
7 Pro tutorials (Tutorial Pro 01–07)	—	✅
In-app User Guide	✅	✅
In-app Quick Reference	✅	✅
Pro User Guide	—	✅
Pro Schema reference	—	✅

Summary

	Free	Pro
Total features	100+	140+
Data source types	ORM	ORM + SQL
Report actions	Action Menu	Action Menu + Print & Send
Automation	Manual	+ Cron, email
Media	Text only	+ Images + Watermarks
Parameters	—	5 types, 25+ presets
Tutorials	11	11 + 7 Pro

Changelog

Version	Type	Changes
1.0.0	Initial	Core banded report engine with JSON editor, grouping, aggregates, PDF output, and 11 tutorial reports

⚠ Important Note for All Users

Thank you for your interest in our Banded Report Writer — a free Odoo module built to empower the Odoo community. Before you proceed, please read the following carefully.

🎁 Free Contribution to the Odoo Community

This powerful report writer is offered completely free of charge as a core module. We built it to solve a real problem — making professional PDF reporting accessible to functional users — and we are committed to keeping the core functionality free and actively maintained.

⭐ Reviews & Feedback

We welcome honest reviews and constructive feedback. If you encounter bugs or have suggestions, please email us @ brw_support@wilsonworks.com.au so we can track, prioritise, and resolve them systematically. This helps us improve the product for everyone.

🤝 Let’s Build Together

We welcome collaboration. Share your reports in the Community Library, contribute ideas, or tell us what features you need next. Together, we can make Odoo reporting better for the whole community.

🔒 Future Odoo Versions

All rights to this module are reserved. Unauthorized migration, republishing, reselling, or listing on any marketplace under another name is strictly prohibited. We are committed to publishing official updates for new Odoo versions.

🙏 Respect Our Effort

We have invested significant time, money, and development effort to create and share this module with the community. Please respect the open spirit behind this contribution. Collaboration and ethical use are always welcome — misuse is not.

Banded Report Writer — Professional PDF Reports Without Code

License: OPL-1 | Author: Wilson Works