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Chatter Layout & Display Options — A build-to-order Odoo module that adds configurable display and layout options to the chat — 1/1Illustrative preview

A build-to-order Odoo module that adds configurable display and layout options to the chatter communication

panel — side or bottom docking, message filtering, density controls and more.

ECOSIRE builds, installs, and supports it for your exact Odoo version and workflow.

What is Chatter Layout & Display Options?

A build-to-order Odoo module that adds configurable display and layout options to the chatter communication panel — side or bottom docking, message filtering, density controls and more. ECOSIRE builds, installs, and supports it for your exact Odoo version and workflow. Built to order by ECOSIRE for Odoo 17, 18, 19 — indicative price from $999.00 USD; request a quote for a scoped proposal.

Key Features

OWL component that wraps the native `mail.thread` chatter without forking core, preserving messaging, activities, and followers
Side-dock layout mode that moves the chatter to the right of the form view to reclaim vertical space on wide screens
Bottom-dock and classic layout modes, switchable per user, with responsive fallback for narrow viewports
Adjustable panel width and a compact/comfortable message-density toggle for dense audit-heavy records
Feed filtering by entry type — messages, internal log notes, tracked field changes, or scheduled activities — driven off `mail.message` subtypes
Collapsible message composer that stays out of the way until the user chooses to post or log a note
Per-user layout persistence stored on `res.users` (or a dedicated preferences model) so choices survive across sessions and devices
Admin-level default layout and density set through `ir.config_parameter` / Settings, overridable per user
Assets-bundle delivery via `__manifest__.py` `assets` keys so the enhancement loads only where the chatter renders
QWeb/OWL templates that `patch` the core chatter, keeping the module upgrade-friendly across point releases
Security enforced through `ir.model.access.csv` and record rules on any preference model — no bypass of existing access control
Preserves field tracking (`tracking=True`, `@api.depends`) and `message_post()` output so automated actions and audit trails are unaffected
Optional activity-focused view that surfaces open `mail.activity` records above the historical log
Built and validated for the target Odoo 17.0 / 18.0 / 19.0 edition (Community or Enterprise) against your real record types

Built to order, done for you

No DIY setup — a working app, built, installed and supported by ECOSIRE.

  1. 1

    You order

    Start with a one-time build price. We scope it with you at kickoff.

  2. 2

    We build & install

    ECOSIRE builds, configures and installs it on your Odoo.

  3. 3

    Go live + support

    You go live in about one working week, with two weeks of go-live support. Defects in the code we deliver are fixed free of charge.

Technical Specifications

Odoo Compatibility
Odoo 17, Odoo 18, Odoo 19
Editions
Enterprise & Community
License
Licence confirmation required
Python Requirement
Python 3.10+
Database
PostgreSQL 12+

About this Product

Every Odoo user lives inside the chatter. It is where messages, log notes, activities, tracked field changes, and attachments accumulate on every record — leads, sales orders, invoices, tasks, tickets. Yet the native chatter offers almost no control over how that stream is presented. On a busy record the log fills with hundreds of mail.message rows, activity reminders get buried between audit entries, and the fixed layout wastes horizontal space on wide monitors while cramping the form on narrow ones. Teams that read and write to the chatter dozens of times a day feel this friction constantly, and Odoo core gives them no settings to relieve it.

This build-to-order module extends the chatter to add the display and layout options that native Odoo omits. We build a configurable OWL component that wraps the standard mail.thread chatter, so you keep full compatibility with messaging, activities, and followers while gaining controls such as docking the panel to the side of the form versus below it, adjustable width and message density, collapsing the composer until it is needed, and filtering the feed by type (messages only, log notes only, tracked changes only, or activities only). Because it is layered on top of the existing mail framework rather than replacing it, everything that already writes to the chatter — automated actions, message_post() calls, and field tracking declared with tracking=True and @api.depends computes — keeps working untouched.

Technically, the module ships as a proper addon with its own __manifest__.py declaring a dependency on mail. The front end is delivered through the assets bundle: an OWL component and QWeb templates that patch or extend the core chatter without forking it, plus SCSS for the layout modes. Preferences are persisted per user via res.users fields (or a lightweight settings model) so each person's chosen layout follows them across sessions, and any admin-level defaults are exposed through ir.config_parameter or Settings. Access is governed the Odoo way through ir.model.access.csv and, where preferences are record-scoped, record rules — nothing bypasses your existing security model. We tune the exact behaviour to your data: threads with heavy tracking, portal-facing records, or multi-company setups each get validated against real screens.

Delivery is build-to-order, not an instant download. After a short scoping call we confirm the exact layout modes, filters, and defaults you want, pin the target Odoo edition (Community or Enterprise) and version (17.0, 18.0, or 19.0), then build and validate the module on a staging copy of your database before installing to production. Typical delivery is one working week from confirmed scope, depending on how many layout variants and edge cases we harden against. Pricing starts from $999 (indicative, single-company base scope); additional layout modes, portal/website chatter support, multi-company theming, and deeper per-team preference logic increase the quoted scope.

What you get

  • Installable module source code for your pinned Odoo version (17.0/18.0/19.0) and edition
  • Installation and configuration on your staging environment, then production cutover
  • Technical documentation: manifest, dependencies, layout modes, preference storage, and extension points
  • End-user guide plus a live training session for your team on the new chatter controls
  • Post-go-live support window for defect fixes and configuration adjustments
  • UAT on a staging copy of your database with a documented rollback plan before production install
  • Git repository handover with full commit history and tagged release
  • Admin configuration notes covering default-layout settings and per-user preferences

Who this is for

Odoo administrator / internal IT lead

Owns the Odoo instance and wants a supportable, upgrade-safe enhancement rather than an unvetted marketplace add-on. Needs clean `ir.model.access.csv`, record rules, and a git handover so future upgrades are predictable.

Sales, support, or project team lead

Runs teams that live in the chatter all day on leads, tickets, and tasks. Wants message filtering and a side-dock layout so agents can scan activities and notes without endless scrolling through tracked-field noise.

Operations manager on wide-screen or multi-monitor setups

Frustrated that the fixed chatter wastes horizontal space and crowds the form. Wants adjustable width, density controls, and a persistent layout that follows each user across sessions.

Odoo implementation partner or consultant

Delivering a client project and needs a productized chatter UX improvement they can scope, price, and hand over with documentation and a rollback plan instead of building it from scratch.

How Chatter Layout & Display Options Compares

CriterionECOSIRECustom BuildCompetitorOdoo Native
Delivery modelBuilt to order for your version and workflow, installed and supportedBuilt once by your developer, ongoing maintenance is on youInstant download, generic to every installAlready present, no extra layout options
Layout & display controlSide/bottom docking, width, density, filtering — tailored to your recordsWhatever you specify, scoped from zeroFixed set of options, take-it-or-leave-itNone — fixed layout only
Odoo version & edition fitPinned and validated for your 17/18/19, Community or EnterpriseDepends on your team's coveragePer-version listing, may lag new releasesShips with the version you run
Core compatibilityOWL/QWeb patch over `mail.thread`, tracking and activities preservedDepends on implementation qualityVaries; some fork or override coreIs the core
Upfront costFrom $999 indicative, fixed quote after scopingHigher — developer time from scratchLow sticker priceIncluded
Security model`ir.model.access.csv` + record rules on preferencesAs designed by your teamAs shipped, not tailoredStandard core access
Support & upgradesSupport window + git handover; re-validated on version movesSelf-maintainedVendor-dependent, often forum-onlyOdoo maintains core, no new features
UAT & rollbackStaging UAT with documented rollback before productionOnly if you build the processYou test it yourself post-installNot applicable

Frequently Asked Questions about Chatter Layout & Display Options

Is this an existing app I can download and install today?

No. This is a build-to-order module. ECOSIRE builds it for your specific Odoo version, edition, and workflow, then installs and supports it. There is no instant download — the value is a tailored, tested enhancement rather than a generic package.

How long does delivery take?

Typical delivery is one working week from confirmed scope. After a short scoping call we lock the layout modes, filters, and defaults, build on staging, run UAT, and then install to production. Timelines move with the number of layout variants and edge cases you need hardened.

How does pricing and scoping work?

Pricing starts from $999 as an indicative single-company base scope. We give you a fixed quote only after a scoping call, once we know your Odoo version, how many layout modes and filters you want, and any multi-company or portal requirements. The from-price is a starting point, not a firm fixed price.

Which Odoo versions and editions are supported?

We build for Odoo 17.0, 18.0, and 19.0, on either Community or Enterprise. Because the chatter is part of the core `mail` module (present in both editions), the enhancement works on Community as well as Enterprise. We pin and validate against your exact target during the build.

Will it break messaging, activities, or field tracking?

No. The module layers on top of the standard `mail.thread` chatter using OWL patches and QWeb template extensions rather than replacing it. Everything that already posts to the chatter — `message_post()` calls, automated actions, and tracked fields (`tracking=True`, `@api.depends`) — keeps working, and followers and activities are preserved.

What about support and future Odoo upgrades?

Every build includes a post-go-live support window for fixes and adjustments, plus a git repository handover so your team or ours can maintain it. Because we extend rather than fork core, the module is upgrade-friendly; when you move to a newer Odoo version we can re-validate and port it under a separate scope.

Can each user keep their own layout, or is it set globally?

Both. Admins can set a default layout and density through Settings / `ir.config_parameter`, and each user can override it. Per-user choices are persisted (on `res.users` or a dedicated preferences model, governed by `ir.model.access.csv` and record rules) so they follow the user across sessions.

Request a quote

Chatter Layout & Display Options

A build-to-order Odoo module that adds configurable display and layout options to the chatter communication panel — side or bottom docking, message filtering, density controls and more. ECOSIRE builds, installs, and supports it for your exact Odoo version and workflow.

  • OWL component that wraps the native `mail.thread` chatter without forking core, preserving messaging, activities, and followers
  • Side-dock layout mode that moves the chatter to the right of the form view to reclaim vertical space on wide screens
  • Bottom-dock and classic layout modes, switchable per user, with responsive fallback for narrow viewports
  • Adjustable panel width and a compact/comfortable message-density toggle for dense audit-heavy records

Request a Quotation

Tell us about your Chatter Layout & Display Options requirements and we'll send pricing, licensing options and a tailored proposal — usually within one business day.

No payment now. This sends a quote request to our team — we'll follow up by email with pricing and next steps.