How to extend a view with xpath inherit

Goal: change another module's stored sys.view.arch by merging an xpath fragment (see inherit_id on sys.view records in module XML).

When to use

• You need an extra field or layout tweak on a base (or third-party) form without forking the whole XML arch.

Steps

1. Add a with model="sys.view" in your module's XML (after the parent view exists — list this file after the module that defines the parent view in depends, or run -u twice if ordering is tricky).
2. Set inherit_id (parent view XML id) and arch (xpath fragment).
3. Add the file to manifest.json → data (after base views, in *_inherit_views.xml).
4. Run -u your_module.

Live example (contacts)

The kernel contacts addon adds customer_rank to core.partner. Add the field with inherit= first — see Model inherit — then expose it in the form:

1<record id="view_core_partner_form_contacts_inherit" model="sys.view">2    <field name="inherit_id" ref="contacts.view_core_partner_form"/>3    <field name="arch" type="xml">4        <xpath expr="//field[@name='phone']" position="after">5            <field name="customer_rank" string="Customer Rank"/>6        </xpath>7    </field>8</record>

Source: sumeru/addons/contacts/views/core_partner_form_inherit_views.xml

Caveats

• The merge runs on the serialized arch; xpath expressions must match that structure.
• Errors print as view-inherit warnings during sync; fix xpath and re-run -u.

See also

• Model inherit — add fields with inherit= before xpath
• Views, actions, and menus

Sumeru is pre-alpha (no tagged release, no upgrades). Part of Project Meru.