QWeb Template Not Found Errors

QWeb is Odoo's template engine for reports, website pages, and kanban views. When a template cannot be found, you see:

ValueError: QWeb template 'my_module.report_template' not found

QWebException: Template 'web.assets_backend' not found

Element '' cannot be located in parent template 'account.report_invoice_document'

Understanding QWeb Template Resolution

Odoo resolves QWeb templates by their XML ID (module.template_name). The template must be:

1. Defined in an XML file with t-name attribute
2. The XML file must be listed in __manifest__.py under data or assets
3. The module must be installed and the template loaded into the database

Fix 1: Template Not Defined Correctly

Fix 2: XML File Not in Manifest

# Check __manifest__.py includes your template file
{
    'name': 'My Module',
    'data': [
        'views/my_views.xml',
        'reports/my_report_template.xml',  # Must be listed!
    ],
}

# Common mistake: file exists but not in manifest
# The template will not be loaded into the database

Fix 3: Inherited Template Target Not Found

  
    
Custom content here
  



{
    'depends': ['sale'],  # Required!
}

Fix 4: Stale Templates in Database

After uninstalling and reinstalling a module, templates may be stale:

# Find the template in database
sudo -u postgres psql -d mydb -c "
  SELECT id, name, key, active FROM ir_ui_view
  WHERE key = 'my_module.report_template';
"

# If it exists but is inactive:
sudo -u postgres psql -d mydb -c "
  UPDATE ir_ui_view SET active = true
  WHERE key = 'my_module.report_template';
"

# If it's missing, reinstall the module:
./odoo-bin -c /etc/odoo.conf -d mydb -i my_module --stop-after-init

Fix 5: Report Action Referencing Wrong Template

  My Document
  my.model
  qweb-pdf
  
  my_module.report_my_doc
  my_module.report_my_doc

Fix 6: Website Template Issues

  
    

      
My Page
    
  

Debugging Template Issues

# List all QWeb templates for a module
sudo -u postgres psql -d mydb -c "
  SELECT id, key, name, type, active
  FROM ir_ui_view
  WHERE key LIKE 'my_module.%' AND type = 'qweb';
"

# Check template content
sudo -u postgres psql -d mydb -c "
  SELECT arch_db FROM ir_ui_view WHERE key = 'my_module.report_template';
"

# Force reload templates
./odoo-bin -c /etc/odoo.conf -d mydb -u my_module --stop-after-init

Prevention

DeployMonkey's AI agent validates QWeb templates during module development. Template references, inheritance chains, and report actions are verified before deployment to prevent template-not-found errors.