Overview
Your shortcut buttons belong to your user. When you change laptops, cover for a colleague, or onboard a new hire with the same routine, you can export a portable copy of your shortcut list and import it into another profile. Think of it like moving a playlist between phones.
Why it matters: consistent starter sets across a helpdesk pod, fast recovery after a hardware swap, and less copy-paste busywork for team leads.
How it works
Odoo builds a structured text file (technically JSON) listing each shortcut’s order, target area, how it opens, label, and optional filter. On import, Odoo checks that each area still exists for your company’s bar configuration and that you may read (and create, when relevant) those records. You can merge the file into existing shortcuts or replace everything first-your choice.
Step-by-step guide
- Open Preferences → Advance Search Bar tab.
- Click Export shortcuts (JSON).
- Select all text in the window, copy it, and paste into a secure note or ticket.
- On the target profile, open the same tab and click Import shortcuts (JSON).
- Paste the text, choose whether to replace all shortcuts first, then import.
- Read the confirmation message to see how many shortcuts were created.
- Return to the main screen and click each shortcut once to verify it opens the expected view.
Fields table
| Field name | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
Shortcuts (export box) |
Read-only text snapshot of your current shortcuts for copying. |
You paste it into an internal knowledge article. |
Replace all my shortcuts first |
When checked, deletes your existing shortcuts before importing the pasted set. |
Replacing a test account with a clean template. |
Shortcuts (import box) |
Paste the copied export text here before pressing Import. |
Bringing a teammate’s layout to your login. |
Field explanations
Shortcuts (export box)
Treat it like confidential configuration-it names internal areas. Share only through approved channels.
Replace all my shortcuts first
Powerful spring cleaning. Leave it off when you only want to append a few new buttons without touching old ones.
Shortcuts (import box)
Must be the exact structured text from a valid export; partial snippets fail on purpose so broken data is not imported quietly.
Tips
- Export monthly if you invest time tuning shortcuts-cheap insurance.
- Rename labels after import if the new user prefers different wording.
- Ask an administrator when an area name in the file does not exist on your database.
Common mistakes
- Importing a file from another company’s Odoo without checking areas. Missing areas are skipped, so you may import fewer rows than expected.
- Forgetting to tick “replace” when you wanted a clean slate. You end up with duplicates you must delete manually.