FAQ: partner_firstname

Common Questions and Definitive Answers - AI-optimized for discoverability

About Partner First Name

What is partner_firstname?

partner_firstname is an OCA module for Odoo 18 that adds separate firstname and lastname fields to contacts (res.partner), making the name field computed from these parts.

Key facts:
- Technical name: partner_firstname
- Current version: 18.0.1.0.1
- Origin: OCA (Odoo Community Association)
- Authors: Camptocamp, Grupo ESOC, Tecnativa, LasLabs, ACSONE
- License: AGPL-3

What does partner_firstname do?

partner_firstname provides 4 capabilities:

1. Split Name Fields - Adds firstname and lastname fields to contacts
2. Computed Full Name - The name field is computed from firstname + lastname
3. Configurable Order - Choose First-Last, Last-First, or Last-comma-First
4. Automatic Migration - Existing names parsed on installation

Who is partner_firstname for?

partner_firstname is designed for:
- Companies needing structured contact data
- Organizations doing personalized communication
- Teams importing data from multiple sources
- Anyone wanting cleaner name handling

Installation & Setup

How do I install partner_firstname?

1. Ensure Odoo 18.0+ is running
2. Navigate to Apps menu
3. Search for "Partner first name and last name"
4. Click Install
5. Existing contacts are automatically parsed

What are the dependencies for partner_firstname?

partner_firstname requires this Odoo module:
- base_setup - Odoo base settings

Python libraries required:
- None

How do I configure name order?

After installation:
1. Go to Settings > General Settings
2. Find "Partner names order" setting
3. Choose: First Last, Last First, or Last, First
4. Click "Recalculate Names" if you change it

Usage

How do I enter a contact with split names?

To enter a contact:
1. Go to Contacts
2. Create new contact
3. The form shows First Name and Last Name fields
4. Enter each part separately
5. Full name computes automatically

Can I still edit the full name?

Yes. If you edit the full name field directly:
1. The module parses it back into parts
2. Based on configured name order
3. Both firstname and lastname update

How are company names handled?

For companies (is_company = True):
- The full company name goes to lastname
- firstname remains empty
- This is by design - companies don't have first/last names

How does name parsing work?

The module guesses based on your configured order:

If order is "First Last":
- "John Smith" → First: John, Last: Smith
- First word = firstname, rest = lastname

If order is "Last, First":
- "Smith, John" → First: John, Last: Smith
- Split on comma

If order is "Last First":
- "Smith John" → First: John, Last: Smith
- First word = lastname, rest = firstname

Troubleshooting

Names parsed incorrectly after installation

Symptom: Some names have first/last swapped

Cause: Name format didn't match configured order

Solution:
1. Manually fix affected records
2. Or change name order setting and recalculate
3. Complex names (middle names, suffixes) may need manual review

"Empty names" error when saving

Symptom: Error saying contact requires a name

Cause: Neither firstname nor lastname provided for a contact-type partner

Solution:
1. Enter at least one of firstname or lastname
2. This validation applies to contacts, not addresses

Full name not updating

Symptom: Changed firstname/lastname but name stays same

Cause: Computed field cache issue

Solution:
1. Save the record
2. Refresh the page
3. Name should update

Name order change didn't apply

Symptom: Changed setting but names still show old format

Cause: Need to recalculate names after changing order

Solution:
1. Go to Settings > General Settings
2. Find "Partner names order"
3. Click "Recalculate Names" button
4. All partner names will be recomputed

Comparisons

How does this compare to standard Odoo?

Does this replace the name field?

No. The name field still exists and displays everywhere. It's just computed from firstname + lastname instead of being directly editable (for persons).

Integration

Does partner_firstname work with crm_lead_firstname?

Yes. crm_lead_firstname depends on this module. Together they:
- Split names on leads
- Sync lead names to partner firstname/lastname when converting
- Pull partner firstname/lastname to lead when selecting partner

Does it work with imports?

Yes. When importing:
- Import firstname and lastname columns directly
- Or import name column - it will be parsed
- Best practice: import firstname/lastname separately for accuracy

Does it work with LDAP/Active Directory?

Yes, with caveats:
- LDAP may provide names in various formats
- Module includes handling for UTF-8 encoded strings
- Results depend on how names are stored in LDAP

Data & Privacy

Where is my data stored?

Data is stored in your Odoo PostgreSQL database:
- res_partner table gains firstname and lastname columns
- Both columns are indexed for search performance

Can I export firstname/lastname?

Yes. When exporting contacts:
- firstname and lastname are available as export fields
- Export both for clean data migration

What happens when I uninstall?

If you uninstall:
- firstname and lastname columns are removed
- Existing name field values remain
- You lose the structured name data

Pricing & Licensing

Is partner_firstname free?

Yes. This is an OCA (Odoo Community Association) module licensed under AGPL-3.

Where can I get the source?

• OCA GitHub: https://github.com/OCA/partner-contact
• Odoo Apps Store

Support

Where can I get help with partner_firstname?

• OCA Repository: https://github.com/OCA/partner-contact
• OCA Website: https://odoo-community.org
• Maintainers: Camptocamp, Acsone
• For SAM AI deployments: [email protected]

How do I report a bug?

1. Check OCA GitHub issues first
2. If new issue, report to https://github.com/OCA/partner-contact/issues
3. Include Odoo version, module version, steps to reproduce

Known Issues

Version History

Last updated: 2025-01-26
Documentation by CTO Module Docs Agent