Installation

Requirements

System Requirements

  • Odoo 17.0 or later

  • Python 3.10+

  • PostgreSQL 13+

Odoo Module Dependencies

Required:

  • project - Base project management

  • sale - Sales orders (for change orders)

  • purchase - Purchase order integration

  • account - Accounting and invoicing

Optional but Recommended:

  • hr_timesheet - Labor cost tracking

  • web_gantt - Enhanced Gantt charts (if not in Odoo Enterprise)

  • stock - Inventory management

  • portal - Customer portal access

Python Dependencies

No additional Python packages required beyond standard Odoo dependencies.

Installation Steps

Step 1: Add Module to Addons Path

  1. Copy the atlas_construction directory to your Odoo addons path:

    cp -r atlas_construction /path/to/odoo/addons/
    

    Or symlink it:

    ln -s /path/to/atlas-modules/atlas_construction /path/to/odoo/addons/
    
  2. Restart the Odoo server:

    sudo systemctl restart odoo
    

    Or for development:

    ./odoo-bin -c /path/to/odoo.conf --stop-after-init
    ./odoo-bin -c /path/to/odoo.conf
    

Step 2: Update Apps List

  1. Log into Odoo as an administrator

  2. Navigate to Apps

  3. Click Update Apps List

  4. Click Update in the confirmation dialog

Note

You may need to activate Developer Mode to see the Update Apps List option: Settings → Activate Developer Mode

Step 3: Install the Module

  1. In the Apps menu, search for “Atlas Construction”

  2. Click Install on the “Atlas Construction Management” module

Install module

The installation process will:

  • Install dependencies automatically

  • Create database tables for construction models

  • Load default data (phases, categories)

  • Configure menu items

  • Set up security groups

Step 4: Verify Installation

  1. Check that the Construction menu appears in the main menu bar

  2. Navigate to Construction → Configuration → Phases

  3. Verify default phases are loaded (Foundation, Framing, etc.)

  4. Navigate to Construction → Configuration → Cost Categories

  5. Verify default categories are loaded (Labor, Materials, etc.)

If you see these items, the module is correctly installed.

Initial Configuration

After installation, complete these configuration steps:

1. Security Groups

Assign users to appropriate security groups:

  1. Navigate to Settings → Users & Companies → Users

  2. Edit each user who will use the construction module

  3. Assign security groups in the Job Costing section:

    • User - Read-only access

    • Manager - Full access (can edit budgets)

    • Admin - System configuration

See Security & Permissions for detailed permission information.

2. Configure Phases

Review and customize construction phases:

  1. Navigate to Construction → Configuration → Phases

  2. Review the default phases

  3. Add company-specific phases if needed

  4. Set sequence numbers to control ordering

Default phases:

  • Site Work

  • Foundation

  • Framing

  • Rough-In

  • Insulation & Drywall

  • Finishes

  • Final / Punch List

See configuration/phases_categories for details.

3. Configure Cost Categories

Review and customize cost categories:

  1. Navigate to Construction → Configuration → Cost Categories

  2. Review the default categories

  3. Add company-specific categories if needed

Default categories:

  • Labor

  • Materials

  • Subcontractors

  • Equipment

  • Other

4. Create Budget Templates (Optional)

Speed up project setup by creating reusable templates:

  1. Navigate to Construction → Configuration → Budget Templates

  2. Click Create

  3. Define template name (e.g., “Single Family Home”)

  4. Add template lines with percentages or default amounts

See configuration/templates for detailed instructions.

5. Configure Settings (Optional)

  1. Navigate to Construction → Configuration → Settings

  2. Configure:

    • Mapbox Access Token (for project map view)

    • Default Job Type

    • Sequence Configuration

See configuration/settings for all available options.

Upgrading

From Previous Version

To upgrade the module:

  1. Download the latest version of the module

  2. Stop the Odoo server

  3. Replace the module files:

    rm -rf /path/to/odoo/addons/atlas_construction
    cp -r new_atlas_construction /path/to/odoo/addons/atlas_construction
    
  4. Restart Odoo in update mode:

    ./odoo-bin -c /path/to/odoo.conf -u atlas_construction
    
  5. Verify the upgrade:

    • Check Apps to confirm new version number

    • Test key functionality

    • Review changelog for breaking changes

Warning

Always backup your database before upgrading!

pg_dump your_database > backup_$(date +%Y%m%d).sql

Migration Notes

Upgrading from v16 to v17:

  • View mode changes: tree renamed to list

  • JavaScript framework updated to OWL

  • Security model enhancements

  • No data migration required

Upgrading from v15 to v17:

  • Major refactoring of cost tracking

  • Phases and categories now separate models

  • Budget templates completely rewritten

  • Data migration required - contact support

Uninstalling

Danger

Uninstalling the module will permanently delete all construction data including projects, budgets, change orders, and daily logs!

To uninstall:

  1. Backup your database first!

  2. Navigate to Apps

  3. Search for “Atlas Construction”

  4. Click Uninstall

  5. Confirm the uninstallation

The system will:

  • Remove all construction-specific data

  • Keep base projects (converts construction jobs to standard projects)

  • Remove menu items

  • Deactivate security groups

Troubleshooting Installation

Module Not Appearing in Apps

Possible causes:

  1. Module not in addons path

  2. Apps list not updated

  3. Permissions issue

Solutions:

  1. Verify module location:

    ls -la /path/to/odoo/addons/atlas_construction
    
  2. Check Odoo configuration:

    grep addons_path /path/to/odoo.conf
    
  3. Update apps list:

    • Apps → Update Apps List

  4. Check file permissions:

    chown -R odoo:odoo /path/to/odoo/addons/atlas_construction
    

Dependency Installation Fails

Error message:

“Could not install modules ‘atlas_construction’: Missing dependency: project”

Solution:

Install the missing dependency first:

  1. Navigate to Apps

  2. Search for the missing module (e.g., “project”)

  3. Install it

  4. Try installing atlas_construction again

Database Error During Installation

Error message:

“ProgrammingError: relation ‘atlas_job_cost_line’ already exists”

Cause:

Previous incomplete installation left database tables

Solution:

  1. Uninstall the module completely (if partially installed)

  2. Clean up database manually (if needed):

    -- Connect to database
    psql your_database
    
    -- Drop module tables
    DROP TABLE IF EXISTS atlas_job_cost_line CASCADE;
    DROP TABLE IF EXISTS atlas_change_order CASCADE;
    -- etc.
    
  3. Reinstall the module

Post-Installation Checks

Verify Functionality

Create a test project to verify installation:

  1. Navigate to Construction → Projects

  2. Click Create

  3. Fill in:

    • Name: “Test Project”

    • Customer: Select or create a customer

    • Contract Amount: 100000

    • Check Construction Job

  4. Click Save

  5. Navigate to Job Costing tab

  6. Click Generate Budget from Template (if template exists)

  7. Verify budget lines are created

If you can complete these steps successfully, the module is working correctly.

Check Security

  1. Create a test user

  2. Assign Job Cost User group (read-only)

  3. Log in as test user

  4. Verify:

    • Can view projects

    • Cannot edit budget lines

    • Cannot delete projects

  5. Assign Job Cost Manager group

  6. Verify:

    • Can edit budget lines

    • Can create new lines

    • Can manage project budgets

Check Integrations

  1. Purchase Orders:

    • Create a PO

    • Link a line to a job cost line

    • Verify committed cost updates

  2. Sales Orders:

    • Create a change order

    • Approve it

    • Verify sale order is created

  3. Invoicing:

    • Create a billing milestone

    • Mark as ready to bill

    • Generate invoice

    • Verify invoice is created

Getting Help

If you encounter issues during installation:

  1. Check this documentation first

  2. Review the Troubleshooting guide

  3. Check Odoo server logs:

    tail -f /var/log/odoo/odoo.log
    
  4. Enable debug mode for detailed error messages:

    • Settings → Activate Developer Mode

    • Attempt the failing operation again

    • Review error details

  5. Contact support with:

    • Odoo version

    • Module version

    • Error message

    • Steps to reproduce

    • Server logs

Next Steps

After successful installation:

  • Security & Permissions - Configure user permissions

  • configuration/phases_categories - Set up phases and categories

  • configuration/templates - Create budget templates

  • Project Setup - Create your first construction project