Stephen, The OFBiz framework is built on a component-based architecture specifically designed for extensibility. Custom plugins (components) can shadow, extend, or override core database entities, services, screens, forms, menus, and even Java logic without ever touching the core OFBiz files. This is the recommended best practice, because it keeps your custom code isolated and allows you to safely upgrade the OFBiz core in the future without seamlessly cleanly.
The menu item "Create New Party Group" is actually defined with the name newPartyGroup inside the MainActionMenu located in component://party/widget/partymgr/PartyMenus.xml. To extend this menu in your staging plugin, you need to tell OFBiz to use your menu definition instead of the core one, which you can do by injecting your own menu location into the core screens' context. In previous email, I shared the specific entries you need to make in your staging(custom) plugin for overriding this menu through your custom component. Please let me know if you have any doubt in specific steps. Regards --- Arun Patidar On Fri, Feb 27, 2026 at 3:37 AM Stephen kamanu <[email protected]> wrote: > Kindly clarify what you mean by this step > Step C: Update Controller > (staging/webapp/staging/WEB-INF/controller.xml) Include the core controller > and override the main view-map to use your new CommonScreens.xml. > > On Thu, Feb 26, 2026 at 2:58 PM Arun Patidar <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > Hi Stephen, > > > > Refer below details for extending your plugin to override party menu. > > > > 1. Extending without changing core code? > > > > Yes. OFBiz uses a component architecture. Custom plugins can extend or > > override core UI elements (menus, screens, forms) using XML definitions, > > without modifying core files. > > > > 2. Steps to add "Create Party Group Advanced" in staging plugin > > > > The core menu item is newPartyGroup in MainActionMenu located > > in party/widget/partymgr/PartyMenus.xml. You need to extend this menu and > > point the core screen to your extended menu. > > > > Step A: Extend the Menu (staging/widget/StagingMenus.xml) Define a new > menu > > that extends the core MainActionMenu and adds > > your newPartyGroupAdvanced menu item. > > > > Step B: Override the Screen Decorator > > (staging/widget/CommonScreens.xml) Intercept the mainMenuLocation > variable > > used by the core CommonPartyDecorator to point to your new menu file > > instead of the core one. > > > > Step C: Update Controller > > (staging/webapp/staging/WEB-INF/controller.xml) Include the core > controller > > and override the main view-map to use your new CommonScreens.xml. > > > > > > > > Regards > > -- > > Arun Patidar > > > > > > > > > > > > On Thu, Feb 26, 2026 at 4:07 PM S Munene <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > I would like to expand the party manager application and add an option > > for > > > a specialised 'Create New Party Group' may be i can call it 'Create > Party > > > Group Advanced'. > > > Generative ai suggests that to achieve that without modifying the core > > > applications i have to create a plugin (which i have plugin name > > staging), > > > then recreate PartyMenus.xml in my plugin so that it can shadow the one > > in > > > applications/party. > > > > > > I have been unsuccessful. > > > 1. Is it true that you can extend the functionality of core > applications > > > without changing the code in the core applications? > > > 2. Can an expert please guide me on the steps to add a menu next to > > > 'Create New Party Group' say 'Create Party Group Advanced' without > > changing > > > the party manager application > > > > > > I believe that there are (may be) specific entries to be made on the > > > following plugin files(if at all it is possible and based on my plugin > > name > > > staging) and would be happy if i was guided. > > > 1. staging/ofbiz-component.xml > > > 2. staging/webapp/staging/WEB-INF/controller.xml > > > 2. staging/widget/partymgr/PartyMenus.xml > > > 3. staging/widget/StagingMenus.xml > > > 4. staging/widget/CommonScreens.xml > > > > > > Any background info and architectural information on how ofbiz loads > > > menus, forms and resources would also be highly appreciated. > > > > > > Thanks and regards > > > Stephen Kamanu > > >
