Most Odoo module definitions, such as user interfaces and security rules, are actually data records that are stored in specific database tables. The XML and CSV files found in modules are not used by Odoo applications at runtime. They are a means of loading those definitions into database tables.
Because of this, an important part of Odoo modules is representing data in files so that it can be loaded into a database upon module installation.
Modules can also have initial data and demonstration data. Data files allow us to add that to our modules. Additionally, understanding Odoo data representation formats is important in order to export and import business data within the context of a project's implementation.
The following topics will be covered in this chapter:
- Understanding the external identifier concept
- Exporting and importing data files
- Using CSV files
- Adding module data
- Using XML data files