File Management in Odoo: Storing, Retrieving, and Organizing Files

The File Management Problem

Your D2C brand deals with thousands of files:

The "Messy" Way

Files are scattered everywhere. Some in the "Attachments" dropdown. Some in binary fields. Some on a Google Drive with a broken link in the Chatter.

The "Organized" Way

Odoo handles files natively using ir.attachment. You configure it to store heavy files on disk (Filestore) instead of bloating the database. You use "Documents" workspaces to tag and route files automatically.

The Core: ir.attachment

In Odoo, every file (attachment) is a record in the ir.attachment model. Even the "Image" field on a product card is technically linked to an attachment or stored as binary data.

Key Fields in ir.attachment

Method 1: fields.Binary (Simple Storage)

Use this when the file is a property of the record (e.g., a Product Image or a Signature).

class ProductTemplate(models.Model):
    _inherit = 'product.template'
    
    # Store a specification PDF
    tech_spec = fields.Binary(string="Technical Spec PDF", attachment=True)
    tech_spec_filename = fields.Char(string="Spec Filename")

Critical Parameter: attachment=True

Frontend View (XML)

Always include the filename field so Odoo knows what extension to use when downloading.

<field name="tech_spec_filename" invisible="1"/>
<field name="tech_spec" filename="tech_spec_filename"/>

Method 2: Managing ir.attachment Directly (Advanced)

Use this when you need to attach multiple files to a record (like the "Attachments" dropdown in the chatter) programmatically.

Scenario: Generating a PDF Report and attaching it to the Order automatically.

import base64

def action_generate_and_attach_report(self):
    self.ensure_one()
    
    # 1. Generate PDF (returns binary data)
    pdf_content, _ = self.env.ref('sale.action_report_saleorder')._render_qweb_pdf(self.id)
    
    # 2. Encode to Base64
    b64_pdf = base64.b64encode(pdf_content)
    
    # 3. Create Attachment
    attachment = self.env['ir.attachment'].create({
        'name': f"Order_{self.name}.pdf",
        'type': 'binary',
        'datas': b64_pdf,
        'res_model': 'sale.order',
        'res_id': self.id,
        'mimetype': 'application/pdf'
    })
    
    # 4. Post to Chatter (Optional)
    self.message_post(
        body="Order Confirmation generated.",
        attachment_ids=[attachment.id]
    )

Storage: Database vs. Filestore

Where do the files actually go?

Default Behavior

Odoo stores file content in the Database (PostgreSQL) in the datas column.

Solution: The Filestore

You configure Odoo to store the actual file content on the Server's File System (Disk), while the Database only keeps a pointer (SHA1 hash) to the file.

How to Enable

This is usually enabled by default in Odoo.sh and standard installs. Check your odoo.conf:

data_dir = /var/lib/odoo

If configured, Odoo saves attachments in /var/lib/odoo/filestore/DB_NAME/.

Retrieving Files (Serving to Users)

If you need to give a URL to a user (e.g., "Click here to download the manual"), use the /web/content controller.

Dynamic URL Pattern

Example in Email Template

<p>Download your manual here:
    <a t-attf-href="/web/content/product.template/{{object.product_id.id}}/tech_spec/manual.pdf">
        Download PDF
    </a>
</p>

Organizing with Odoo Documents (Enterprise)

If you have Odoo Enterprise, the Documents app is a game changer. It adds a layer of "Workspaces," "Tags," and "Actions" on top of standard attachments.

Key Feature: Spreadsheet Integration

You can create a "Finance" workspace where all vendor bill PDFs automatically go. The OCR reads them, and you export the data to an Odoo Spreadsheet for analysis.

Key Feature: Smart Folders

You can configure a workspace to "Show all attachments linked to Sales Orders." You don't move the files; it's a virtual view.

Best Practices for D2C Brands

Storage Comparison

Action Items: Optimize File Storage

Check Your Storage

Clean Up

Automate

Frequently Asked Questions