From 32b8cec5361174c92c45a4975d4e02f1fb448aa2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Aaron Bohy <aab@odoo.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2017 13:14:02 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] [REF] web,*: ActionManager/ViewManager refactoring

This rev. is the first part (out of 3) of the refactoring of the
ActionManager and ViewManager layer of the webclient.

The main changes are:
  - there is no ViewManager anymore, its work is now handled by the
    ActionManager itself, but isolated in a specific file ; this
    eases a lot of things, as the breadcrumbs handling for example.
  - the ActionManager code is converted to the new coding principles
    and guidelines ; mainly, children widgets communicate with it by
    triggering events up, and not by function calls anymore.
  - the ActionManager layer is now testable, and a lot of tests have
    already been written.
  - the code in other addons has been adapted consequently.

What's coming next:
  - introduce the 'AbstractAction' Widget, and make client actions
    and view controllers inherit from it ; this widget will
    implement a common API that could be used uniformly by the
    ActionManager (e.g. restore(), canBeLeft(), renderButtons(),
    getTitle()...).
  - move the ControlPanel handling from the ActionManager to the
    AbstractAction.
---
 .../reconciliation/reconciliation_action.js   |   14 +-
 .../static/src/js/import_action.js            |    6 +-
 .../src/js/action_manager_board_action.js     |   33 +
 addons/board/static/src/js/dashboard.js       |   20 +-
 addons/board/static/src/js/favorite_menu.js   |   17 +-
 addons/board/views/board_templates.xml        |    1 +
 .../document/static/tests/document_tests.js   |    2 +-
 .../static/src/js/search.js                   |   17 +-
 addons/mail/static/src/js/chat_mixin.js       |    2 +-
 addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js    |    2 +-
 .../static/src/js/timesheet_plan.js           |    1 -
 .../js/stock_traceability_report_backend.js   |    1 -
 .../src/js/chrome/abstract_web_client.js      |   55 +-
 .../static/src/js/chrome/action_manager.js    | 1669 ++++++++---------
 .../js/chrome/action_manager_act_window.js    |  756 ++++++++
 .../web/static/src/js/chrome/control_panel.js |   27 +-
 addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/menu.js       |   15 +
 .../web/static/src/js/chrome/search_menus.js  |   11 +-
 .../web/static/src/js/chrome/search_view.js   |    6 +-
 .../web/static/src/js/chrome/view_manager.js  |  671 -------
 addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/web_client.js |   15 +-
 addons/web/static/src/js/core/dialog.js       |    4 +-
 addons/web/static/src/js/core/misc.js         |   11 -
 .../web/static/src/js/report/client_action.js |    1 -
 .../src/js/views/abstract_controller.js       |  170 +-
 .../web/static/src/js/views/abstract_view.js  |   25 +-
 .../src/js/views/basic/basic_controller.js    |   22 +-
 .../src/js/views/form/form_controller.js      |    4 +-
 .../web/static/src/js/views/form/form_view.js |   10 +-
 .../src/js/views/list/list_controller.js      |    2 +-
 .../web/static/src/js/views/list/list_view.js |    4 +-
 .../web/static/src/js/views/view_dialogs.js   |    9 +-
 .../static/src/js/widgets/debug_manager.js    |  145 +-
 addons/web/static/src/less/fields.less        |    2 +-
 addons/web/static/src/less/form_view.less     |    2 +-
 addons/web/static/src/less/graph_view.less    |    2 -
 addons/web/static/src/less/modal.less         |    4 -
 addons/web/static/src/less/pivot_view.less    |    1 -
 addons/web/static/src/less/views.less         |    3 -
 .../web/static/src/less/webclient_layout.less |    7 +-
 addons/web/static/src/xml/base.xml            |   12 +-
 .../chrome/action_manager_mobile_tests.js     |   85 +
 .../tests/chrome/action_manager_tests.js      | 1667 ++++++++++++++++
 .../web/static/tests/helpers/mock_server.js   |   21 +-
 addons/web/static/tests/helpers/test_utils.js |   89 +-
 addons/web/static/tests/views/form_tests.js   |   41 +-
 addons/web/static/tests/views/kanban_tests.js |   14 +-
 addons/web/static/tests/views/list_tests.js   |   31 +-
 .../static/tests/views/view_dialogs_tests.js  |    2 +-
 .../static/tests/widgets/data_export_tests.js |    4 +-
 addons/web/views/webclient_templates.xml      |    4 +-
 .../static/src/js/backend/dashboard.js        |    1 -
 52 files changed, 3883 insertions(+), 1857 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 addons/board/static/src/js/action_manager_board_action.js
 create mode 100644 addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/action_manager_act_window.js
 delete mode 100644 addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/view_manager.js
 create mode 100644 addons/web/static/tests/chrome/action_manager_mobile_tests.js
 create mode 100644 addons/web/static/tests/chrome/action_manager_tests.js

diff --git a/addons/account/static/src/js/reconciliation/reconciliation_action.js b/addons/account/static/src/js/reconciliation/reconciliation_action.js
index 79724846cbc..4102780c5c0 100644
--- a/addons/account/static/src/js/reconciliation/reconciliation_action.js
+++ b/addons/account/static/src/js/reconciliation/reconciliation_action.js
@@ -106,8 +106,7 @@ var StatementAction = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
         var self = this;
 
         this.set("title", this.title);
-        var breadcrumbs = this.action_manager && this.action_manager.get_breadcrumbs() || [{ title: this.title, action: this }];
-        this.update_control_panel({breadcrumbs: breadcrumbs, search_view_hidden: true}, {clear: true});
+        this.update_control_panel({search_view_hidden: true}, {clear: true});
 
         this.renderer.prependTo(self.$('.o_form_sheet'));
         this._renderLines();
@@ -122,18 +121,11 @@ var StatementAction = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
     do_show: function () {
         this._super.apply(this, arguments);
         if (this.action_manager) {
-            var breadcrumbs = this.action_manager && this.action_manager.get_breadcrumbs() || [{ title: this.title, action: this }];
-            while (breadcrumbs.length) {
-                if (breadcrumbs[breadcrumbs.length-1].action.widget === this) {
-                    break;
-                }
-                breadcrumbs.pop();
-            }
-            this.update_control_panel({breadcrumbs: breadcrumbs, search_view_hidden: true}, {clear: true});
+            this.update_control_panel({search_view_hidden: true}, {clear: true});
             this.action_manager.do_push_state({
                 action: this.params.tag,
                 active_id: this.params.res_id,
-            });   
+            });
         }
     },
 
diff --git a/addons/base_import/static/src/js/import_action.js b/addons/base_import/static/src/js/import_action.js
index ee9e95fa5a0..513a663cfc2 100644
--- a/addons/base_import/static/src/js/import_action.js
+++ b/addons/base_import/static/src/js/import_action.js
@@ -126,7 +126,6 @@ var DataImport = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
                 self.renderButtons();
                 self.renderImportLink();
                 var status = {
-                    breadcrumbs: self.action_manager.get_breadcrumbs(),
                     cp_content: {$buttons: self.$buttons},
                 };
                 self.update_control_panel(status);
@@ -505,10 +504,7 @@ var DataImport = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
         this.exit();
     },
     exit: function () {
-        this.do_action({
-            type: 'ir.actions.client',
-            tag: 'history_back'
-        });
+        this.trigger_up('history_back');
     },
     onresults: function (event, from, to, message) {
         var no_messages = _.isEmpty(message);
diff --git a/addons/board/static/src/js/action_manager_board_action.js b/addons/board/static/src/js/action_manager_board_action.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3036ac0f328
--- /dev/null
+++ b/addons/board/static/src/js/action_manager_board_action.js
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+odoo.define('board.ActionManager', function (require) {
+"use strict";
+
+/**
+ * The purpose of this file is to patch the ActionManager to properly generate
+ * the flags for the 'ir.actions.act_window' of model 'board.board'.
+ */
+
+var ActionManager = require('web.ActionManager');
+
+ActionManager.include({
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Private
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * @override
+     * @private
+     */
+    _executeWindowAction: function (action) {
+        if (action.res_model === 'board.board' && action.view_mode === 'form') {
+            action.target = 'inline';
+            _.extend(action.flags, {
+                hasSearchView: false,
+                hasSidebar: false,
+                headless: true,
+            });
+        }
+        return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+    },
+});
+
+});
diff --git a/addons/board/static/src/js/dashboard.js b/addons/board/static/src/js/dashboard.js
index 00b66c06312..e84529be83b 100644
--- a/addons/board/static/src/js/dashboard.js
+++ b/addons/board/static/src/js/dashboard.js
@@ -104,10 +104,9 @@ FormController.include({
     },
 
     /**
-     * We need to intercept switch_view event coming from sub views, because
-     * there is no view manager doing the job.  Also, we don't actually want to
-     * switch view in dashboard, we want to do a do_action (which will open the
-     * record in a different breadcrumb)
+     * We need to intercept switch_view event coming from sub views, because we
+     * don't actually want to switch view in dashboard, we want to do a
+     * do_action (which will open the record in a different breadcrumb).
      *
      * @private
      * @param {OdooEvent} event
@@ -126,6 +125,9 @@ FormController.include({
 });
 
 FormRenderer.include({
+    custom_events: _.extend({}, FormRenderer.prototype.custom_events, {
+        env_updated: '_onEnvUpdated',
+    }),
     events: _.extend({}, FormRenderer.prototype.events, {
         'click .oe_dashboard_column .oe_fold': '_onFoldClick',
         'click .oe_dashboard_link_change_layout': '_onChangeLayout',
@@ -339,6 +341,16 @@ FormRenderer.include({
             },
         });
     },
+    /**
+     * Stops the propagation of 'update_env' events triggered by the controllers
+     * instantiated by the dashboard.
+     *
+     * @override
+     * @private
+     */
+    _onEnvUpdated: function (event) {
+        event.stopPropagation();
+    },
     /**
      * @private
      * @param {MouseEvent} event
diff --git a/addons/board/static/src/js/favorite_menu.js b/addons/board/static/src/js/favorite_menu.js
index a4d7aa11022..77cd3df4967 100644
--- a/addons/board/static/src/js/favorite_menu.js
+++ b/addons/board/static/src/js/favorite_menu.js
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ var core = require('web.core');
 var Domain = require('web.Domain');
 var FavoriteMenu = require('web.FavoriteMenu');
 var pyeval = require('web.pyeval');
-var ViewManager = require('web.ViewManager');
 
 var _t = core._t;
 var QWeb = core.qweb;
@@ -23,11 +22,7 @@ FavoriteMenu.include({
         if(this.action_id === undefined) {
             return this._super();
         }
-        var am = this.findAncestor(function (a) {
-            return a instanceof ActionManager;
-        });
-        if (am && am.get_inner_widget() instanceof ViewManager) {
-            this.view_manager = am.get_inner_widget();
+        if (this.action.type === 'ir.actions.act_window') {
             this.add_to_dashboard_available = true;
             this.$('.o_favorites_menu').append(QWeb.render('SearchView.addtodashboard'));
             this.$add_to_dashboard = this.$('.o_add_to_dashboard');
@@ -71,7 +66,13 @@ FavoriteMenu.include({
         context.add({
             group_by: pyeval.eval('groupbys', search_data.groupbys || [])
         });
-        context.add(this.view_manager.active_view.controller.getContext());
+        // AAB: trigger_up an event that will be intercepted by the controller,
+        // as soon as the controller is the parent of the control panel
+        var am = this.findAncestor(function (a) {
+            return a instanceof ActionManager;
+        });
+        var controller = am.getCurrentController();
+        context.add(controller.widget.getContext());
         var c = pyeval.eval('context', context);
         for (var k in c) {
             if (c.hasOwnProperty(k) && /^search_default_/.test(k)) {
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ FavoriteMenu.include({
                     action_id: self.action_id || false,
                     context_to_save: c,
                     domain: domain,
-                    view_mode: self.view_manager.active_view.type,
+                    view_mode: controller.viewType,
                     name: name,
                 },
             })
diff --git a/addons/board/views/board_templates.xml b/addons/board/views/board_templates.xml
index 7e8b8d9c4a1..ac87af8ef26 100644
--- a/addons/board/views/board_templates.xml
+++ b/addons/board/views/board_templates.xml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
         <template id="assets_backend" name="board assets" inherit_id="web.assets_backend">
             <xpath expr="." position="inside">
                 <link rel="stylesheet" href="/board/static/src/less/dashboard.less"/>
+                <script type="text/javascript" src="/board/static/src/js/action_manager_board_action.js"></script>
                 <script type="text/javascript" src="/board/static/src/js/dashboard.js"></script>
                 <script type="text/javascript" src="/board/static/src/js/favorite_menu.js"></script>
             </xpath>
diff --git a/addons/document/static/tests/document_tests.js b/addons/document/static/tests/document_tests.js
index 9fd1e7d25ae..338f3e75581 100644
--- a/addons/document/static/tests/document_tests.js
+++ b/addons/document/static/tests/document_tests.js
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ odoo.define('document.tests', function (require) {
                         '</sheet>' +
                     '</form>',
                 res_id: 1,
-                viewOptions: {sidebar: true},
+                viewOptions: {hasSidebar: true},
                 mockRPC: function (route, args) {
                     if (args.method === 'search_read' && args.model === 'ir.attachment') {
                         return $.when(this.data['ir.attachment'].records);
diff --git a/addons/google_spreadsheet/static/src/js/search.js b/addons/google_spreadsheet/static/src/js/search.js
index a9f8e392d0a..20b7c804f33 100644
--- a/addons/google_spreadsheet/static/src/js/search.js
+++ b/addons/google_spreadsheet/static/src/js/search.js
@@ -7,27 +7,28 @@ var data = require('web.data');
 var Domain = require('web.Domain');
 var FavoriteMenu = require('web.FavoriteMenu');
 var pyeval = require('web.pyeval');
-var ViewManager = require('web.ViewManager');
 
 var QWeb = core.qweb;
 
 FavoriteMenu.include({
     start: function () {
         this._super();
-        var am = this.findAncestor(function (a) {
-            return a instanceof ActionManager;
-        });
-        if (am && am.get_inner_widget() instanceof ViewManager) {
-            this.view_manager = am.get_inner_widget();
+        if (this.action.type === 'ir.actions.act_window') {
             this.$('.o_favorites_menu').append(QWeb.render('SearchView.addtogooglespreadsheet'));
             this.$('.add-to-spreadsheet').click(this.add_to_spreadsheet.bind(this));
         }
     },
     add_to_spreadsheet: function () {
+        // AAB: trigger_up an event that will be intercepted by the controller,
+        // as soon as the controller is the parent of the control panel
+        var am = this.findAncestor(function (a) {
+            return a instanceof ActionManager;
+        });
+        var controller = am.getCurrentController();
         var sv_data = this.searchview.build_search_data(),
             model = this.searchview.dataset.model,
-            list_view = this.view_manager.views.list,
-            list_view_id = list_view ? list_view.view_id : false,
+            list_view = _.findWhere(controller.widget.actionViews, {type: 'list'}),
+            list_view_id = list_view ? list_view.viewID : false,
             domain = [],
             groupbys = pyeval.eval('groupbys', sv_data.groupbys).join(" "),
             ds = new data.DataSet(this, 'google.drive.config');
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/js/chat_mixin.js b/addons/mail/static/src/js/chat_mixin.js
index d25426e3db7..ec1b06a805e 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/js/chat_mixin.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/js/chat_mixin.js
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ var ChatMixin = {
             options: options,
             callback: function(messages) { result = messages;}
         });
-        return result ? result : $.when();
+        return result ? result : $.when([]);
     },
     _joinChannel: function(channel_id) {
         var result;
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js b/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js
index 2b5b342787b..d2299259486 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/js/client_action.js
@@ -663,7 +663,6 @@ var ChatAction = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
      */
     _updateControlPanel: function () {
         this.update_control_panel({
-            breadcrumbs: this.action_manager.get_breadcrumbs(),
             cp_content: {
                 $buttons: this.$buttons,
                 $searchview: this.searchview.$el,
@@ -905,6 +904,7 @@ var ChatAction = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
      * @param {OdooEvent}
      */
     _onSearch: function (event) {
+        event.stopPropagation();
         var session = this.getSession();
         var result = pyeval.eval_domains_and_contexts({
             domains: event.data.domains,
diff --git a/addons/sale_timesheet/static/src/js/timesheet_plan.js b/addons/sale_timesheet/static/src/js/timesheet_plan.js
index f35ecae4529..3d98d97a6b7 100644
--- a/addons/sale_timesheet/static/src/js/timesheet_plan.js
+++ b/addons/sale_timesheet/static/src/js/timesheet_plan.js
@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@ var PlanAction = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
     },
     update_cp: function () {
         this.update_control_panel({
-            breadcrumbs: this.action_manager.get_breadcrumbs(),
             cp_content: {
                 $buttons: this.$buttons,
                 $searchview: this.searchview.$el,
diff --git a/addons/stock/static/src/js/stock_traceability_report_backend.js b/addons/stock/static/src/js/stock_traceability_report_backend.js
index dfe23c9036a..d342742122c 100644
--- a/addons/stock/static/src/js/stock_traceability_report_backend.js
+++ b/addons/stock/static/src/js/stock_traceability_report_backend.js
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ var stock_report_generic = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
             this.renderButtons();
         }
         var status = {
-            breadcrumbs: this.actionManager.get_breadcrumbs(),
             cp_content: {$buttons: this.$buttons},
         };
         return this.update_control_panel(status);
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/abstract_web_client.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/abstract_web_client.js
index 45a2b0b1e8c..c491297abfc 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/abstract_web_client.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/abstract_web_client.js
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ var AbstractWebClient = Widget.extend(mixins.ServiceProvider, {
         toggle_fullscreen: function (event) {
             this.toggle_fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen);
         },
-        current_action_updated: function (e) {
-            this.current_action_updated(e.data.action);
+        current_action_updated: function (ev) {
+            this.current_action_updated(ev.data.action, ev.data.controller);
         },
         // GENERIC SERVICES
         // the next events are dedicated to generic services required by
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ var AbstractWebClient = Widget.extend(mixins.ServiceProvider, {
             }
         },
         warning: '_onDisplayWarning',
+        load_action: '_onLoadAction',
         load_views: function (event) {
             var params = {
                 model: event.data.modelName,
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ var AbstractWebClient = Widget.extend(mixins.ServiceProvider, {
                 .load_filters(event.data.dataset, event.data.action_id)
                 .then(event.data.on_success);
         },
+        push_state: '_onPushState',
         show_effect: '_onShowEffect',
         // session
         get_session: function (event) {
@@ -199,7 +201,7 @@ var AbstractWebClient = Widget.extend(mixins.ServiceProvider, {
         };
     },
     set_action_manager: function () {
-        this.action_manager = new ActionManager(this, {webclient: this});
+        this.action_manager = new ActionManager(this, session.user_context);
         return this.action_manager.appendTo(this.$('.o_main_content'));
     },
     set_notification_manager: function () {
@@ -213,11 +215,7 @@ var AbstractWebClient = Widget.extend(mixins.ServiceProvider, {
     show_application: function () {
     },
     clear_uncommitted_changes: function () {
-        var def = $.Deferred().resolve();
-        core.bus.trigger('clear_uncommitted_changes', function chain_callbacks(callback) {
-            def = def.then(callback);
-        });
-        return def;
+        return this.action_manager.clearUncommittedChanges();
     },
     destroy_content: function () {
         _.each(_.clone(this.getChildren()), function (el) {
@@ -264,7 +262,7 @@ var AbstractWebClient = Widget.extend(mixins.ServiceProvider, {
      * This allows to widgets that are not inside the ActionManager to perform do_action
      */
     do_action: function () {
-        return this.action_manager.do_action.apply(this, arguments);
+        return this.action_manager.doAction.apply(this.action_manager, arguments);
     },
     do_reload: function () {
         var self = this;
@@ -274,6 +272,9 @@ var AbstractWebClient = Widget.extend(mixins.ServiceProvider, {
         });
     },
     do_push_state: function (state) {
+        if (!state.menu_id && this.menu) { // this.menu doesn't exist in the POS
+            state.menu_id = this.menu.getCurrentPrimaryMenu();
+        }
         if ('title' in state) {
             this.set_title(state.title);
             delete state.title;
@@ -304,13 +305,14 @@ var AbstractWebClient = Widget.extend(mixins.ServiceProvider, {
             this.connection_notification = false;
         }
     },
-    // Handler to be overwritten
-    current_action_updated: function () {
-    },
-    // --------------------------------------------------------------
-    // Scrolltop handling
-    // --------------------------------------------------------------
-    getScrollTop: function () {
+    /**
+     * Handler to be overridden, called each time the UI is updated by the
+     * ActionManager.
+     *
+     * @param {Object} action the action of the currently displayed controller
+     * @param {Object} controller the currently displayed controller
+     */
+    current_action_updated: function (action, controller) {
     },
     //--------------------------------------------------------------
     // Misc.
@@ -346,6 +348,27 @@ var AbstractWebClient = Widget.extend(mixins.ServiceProvider, {
             this.notification_manager.warn(e.data.title, e.data.message, e.data.sticky);
         }
     },
+    /**
+     * Loads an action from the database given its ID.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {OdooEvent} event
+     * @param {integer} event.data.actionID
+     * @param {Object} event.data.context
+     * @param {function} event.data.on_success
+     */
+    _onLoadAction: function (event) {
+        data_manager
+            .load_action(event.data.actionID, event.data.context)
+            .then(event.data.on_success);
+    },
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @param {OdooEvent} e
+     */
+    _onPushState: function (e) {
+        this.do_push_state(e.data.state);
+    },
     /**
      * Displays a visual effect (for example, a rainbowman0
      *
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/action_manager.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/action_manager.js
index e72db2c3a0c..ef2baaaad38 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/action_manager.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/action_manager.js
@@ -4,958 +4,887 @@ odoo.define('web.ActionManager', function (require) {
 /**
  * ActionManager
  *
- * The action manager is quite important: it makes sure that actions (the Odoo
- * objects, such as a client action, or a act_window) are properly started,
- * and coordinated.
+ * The ActionManager is one of the centrepieces in the WebClient architecture.
+ * Its role is to makes sure that Odoo actions are properly started and
+ * coordinated.
  */
 
 var Bus = require('web.Bus');
-var ControlPanel = require('web.ControlPanel');
+var concurrency = require('web.concurrency');
 var Context = require('web.Context');
+var ControlPanel = require('web.ControlPanel');
+var config = require('web.config');
 var core = require('web.core');
-var crash_manager = require('web.crash_manager');
-var data = require('web.data');
-var data_manager = require('web.data_manager');
 var Dialog = require('web.Dialog');
 var dom = require('web.dom');
 var framework = require('web.framework');
 var pyeval = require('web.pyeval');
-var session = require('web.session');
-var ViewManager = require('web.ViewManager');
 var Widget = require('web.Widget');
 
-/**
- * Class representing the actions of the ActionManager
- * Basic implementation for client actions that are functions
- */
-var Action = core.Class.extend({
-    init: function(action) {
-        this.action_descr = action;
-        this.title = action.display_name || action.name;
-    },
-    /**
-     * This method should restore this previously loaded action
-     * Calls on_reverse_breadcrumb_callback if defined
-     * @return {Deferred} resolved when widget is enabled
-     */
-    restore: function() {
-        if (this.on_reverse_breadcrumb_callback) {
-            return this.on_reverse_breadcrumb_callback();
-        }
-    },
-    /**
-     * There is nothing to detach in the case of a client function
-     */
-    detach: function() {
-    },
-    /**
-     * Destroyer: there is nothing to destroy in the case of a client function
-     */
-    destroy: function() {
-    },
-    /**
-     * Sets the on_reverse_breadcrumb_callback to be called when coming back to that action
-     * @param {Function} [callback] the callback
-     */
-    set_on_reverse_breadcrumb: function(callback) {
-        this.on_reverse_breadcrumb_callback = callback;
-    },
-    /**
-     * Not implemented for client actions
-     */
-    setScrollTop: function() {
-    },
-    /**
-     * Stores the DOM fragment of the action
-     * @param {jQuery} [$fragment] the DOM fragment
-     */
-    set_fragment: function($fragment) {
-        this.$fragment = $fragment;
-    },
-    /**
-     * Not implemented for client actions
-     * @return {int} the number of pixels the webclient is scrolled when leaving the action
-     */
-    getScrollTop: function() {
-        return 0;
-    },
-    /**
-     * @return {Object} the description of the action
-     */
-    get_action_descr: function() {
-        return this.action_descr;
-    },
-    /**
-     * @return {Object} dictionnary that will be interpreted to display the breadcrumbs
-     */
-    get_breadcrumbs: function() {
-        return { title: this.title, action: this };
-    },
-    /**
-     * @return {int} the number of views stacked, i.e. 0 for client functions
-     */
-    get_nb_views: function() {
-        return 0;
-    },
-    /**
-     * @return {jQuery} the DOM fragment of the action
-     */
-    get_fragment: function() {
-        return this.$fragment;
-    },
-    /**
-     * @return {string} the active view, i.e. empty for client actions
-     */
-    get_active_view: function() {
-        return '';
-    },
-});
-/**
- * Specialization of Action for client actions that are Widgets
- */
-var WidgetAction = Action.extend({
-    /**
-     * Initializes the WidgetAction
-     * Sets the title of the widget
-     */
-    init: function(action, widget) {
-        this._super(action);
-
-        this.widget = widget;
-        if (!this.widget.get('title')) {
-            this.widget.set('title', this.title);
-        }
-        this.widget.on('change:title', this, function(widget) {
-            this.title = widget.get('title');
-        });
-    },
-    /**
-     * Restores WidgetAction by calling do_show on its widget
-     */
-    restore: function() {
-        var self = this;
-        return $.when(this._super()).then(function() {
-            return self.widget.do_show();
-        });
-    },
-    /**
-     * Detaches the action's widget from the DOM
-     * @return the widget's $el
-     */
-    detach: function() {
-        // Hack to remove badly inserted nvd3 tooltips ; should be removed when upgrading nvd3 lib
-        $('body > .nvtooltip').remove();
-
-        return dom.detach([{widget: this.widget}]);
-    },
-    /**
-     * Destroys the widget
-     */
-    destroy: function() {
-        this.widget.destroy();
-    },
-});
-/**
- * Specialization of WidgetAction for window actions (i.e. ViewManagers)
- */
-var ViewManagerAction = WidgetAction.extend({
-    /**
-     * Restores a ViewManagerAction
-     * Switches to the requested view by calling select_view on the ViewManager
-     * @param {int} [view_index] the index of the view to select
-     */
-    restore: function(view_index) {
-        var _super = this._super.bind(this);
-        return this.widget.select_view(view_index).then(function() {
-            return _super();
-        });
-    },
-    /**
-     * Sets the on_reverse_breadcrumb_callback and the scrollTop to apply when
-     * coming back to that action
-     * @param {Function} [callback] the callback
-     * @param {int} [scrollTop] the number of pixels to scroll
-     */
-    set_on_reverse_breadcrumb: function(callback, scrollTop) {
-        this._super(callback);
-        this.setScrollTop(scrollTop);
-    },
-    /**
-     * Sets the scroll position of the widgets's active_view
-     * @todo: replace this with a generic get/set local state mechanism.
-     * @see getScrollTop
-     *
-     * @override
-     * @param {integer} [scrollTop] the number of pixels to scroll
-     */
-    setScrollTop: function (scrollTop) {
-        var activeView = this.widget.active_view;
-        var viewController = activeView && activeView.controller;
-        if (viewController) {
-            viewController.setScrollTop(scrollTop);
-        }
-    },
-    /**
-     * Returns the current scrolling offset for the current action.  We have to
-     * ask nicely the question to the active view, because the answer depends
-     * on the view.
-     *
-     * @todo: replace this mechanism with a generic getLocalState and
-     * getLocalState.  Scrolling behaviour is only a part of what we might want
-     * to restore.
-     *
-     * @override
-     * @returns {integer} the number of pixels the webclient is currently
-     *  scrolled
-     */
-    getScrollTop: function () {
-        var activeView = this.widget.active_view;
-        var viewController = activeView && activeView.controller;
-        return viewController ? viewController.getScrollTop() : 0;
-    },
-    /**
-     * @return {Array} array of Objects that will be interpreted to display the breadcrumbs
-     */
-    get_breadcrumbs: function() {
-        var self = this;
-        return this.widget.view_stack.map(function (view, index) {
-            return {
-                title: view.controller && view.controller.get('title') || self.title,
-                index: index,
-                action: self,
-            };
-        });
-    },
-    /**
-     * @return {int} the number of views stacked in the ViewManager
-     */
-    get_nb_views: function() {
-        return this.widget.view_stack.length;
-    },
-    /**
-     * @return {string} the active view of the ViewManager
-     */
-    get_active_view: function() {
-        return this.widget.active_view.type;
-    }
-});
-
 var ActionManager = Widget.extend({
-    template: 'ActionManager',
+    className: 'o_content',
+    custom_events: {
+        breadcrumb_clicked: '_onBreadcrumbClicked',
+        history_back: '_onHistoryBack',
+        push_state: '_onPushState',
+    },
+
     /**
-     * Called each time the action manager is attached into the DOM
+     * @override
+     * @param {Object} [userContext={}]
+     */
+    init: function (parent, userContext) {
+        this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+        this.userContext = userContext || {};
+
+        // use a DropPrevious to drop previous actions when multiple actions are
+        // run simultaneously
+        this.dp = new concurrency.DropPrevious();
+
+        // 'actions' is an Object that registers the actions that are currently
+        // handled by the ActionManager (either stacked in the current window,
+        // or opened in dialogs)
+        this.actions = {};
+
+        // 'controllers' is an Object that registers the alive controllers
+        // linked registered actions, a controller being Object with keys
+        // (amongst others) 'jsID' (a local identifier) and 'widget' (the
+        // instance of the controller's widget)
+        this.controllers = {};
+
+        // 'controllerStack' is the stack of ids of the controllers currently
+        // displayed in the current window
+        this.controllerStack = [];
+
+        // 'currentDialogController' is the current controller opened in a
+        // dialog (i.e. coming from an action with target='new')
+        this.currentDialogController = null;
+    },
+
+    /**
+     * @override
+     */
+    start: function () {
+        // AAB: temporarily instantiate a unique main ControlPanel used by
+        // controllers in the controllerStack
+        this.controlPanel = new ControlPanel(this);
+        var def = this.controlPanel.insertBefore(this.$el);
+
+        return $.when(def, this._super.apply(this, arguments));
+    },
+    /**
+     * Called each time the action manager is attached into the DOM.
      */
     on_attach_callback: function() {
-        this.is_in_DOM = true;
-        if (this.inner_widget && this.inner_widget.on_attach_callback) {
-            this.inner_widget.on_attach_callback();
+        this.isInDOM = true;
+        var currentController = this.getCurrentController();
+        if (currentController && currentController.widget.on_attach_callback) {
+            currentController.widget.on_attach_callback();
         }
     },
     /**
-     * Called each time the action manager is detached from the DOM
+     * Called each time the action manager is detached from the DOM.
      */
     on_detach_callback: function() {
-        this.is_in_DOM = false;
-        if (this.inner_widget && this.inner_widget.on_detach_callback) {
-            this.inner_widget.on_detach_callback();
+        this.isInDOM = false;
+        var currentController = this.getCurrentController();
+        if (currentController && currentController.widget.on_detach_callback) {
+            currentController.widget.on_detach_callback();
         }
     },
-    init: function(parent, options) {
-        this._super(parent);
-        this.action_stack = [];
-        this.inner_action = null;
-        this.inner_widget = null;
-        this.webclient = options && options.webclient;
-        this.dialog = null;
-        this.dialog_widget = null;
-        this.on('history_back', this, this.proxy('history_back'));
-    },
-    start: function() {
-        this._super();
 
-        // Instantiate a unique main ControlPanel used by widgets of actions in this.action_stack
-        this.main_control_panel = new ControlPanel(this);
-        // Listen to event "on_breadcrumb_click" trigerred on the control panel when
-        // clicking on a part of the breadcrumbs. Call select_action for this breadcrumb.
-        this.main_control_panel.on("on_breadcrumb_click", this, _.debounce(function(action, index) {
-            this.select_action(action, index);
-        }, 200, true));
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Public
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-        // Listen to event "DOM_updated" to restore the scroll position
-        core.bus.on('DOM_updated', this, function() {
-            if (this.inner_action) {
-                this.trigger_up('scrollTo', {offset: this.inner_action.getScrollTop() || 0});
-            }
-        });
-
-        // Insert the main control panel into the DOM
-        return this.main_control_panel.insertBefore(this.$el);
-    },
-    dialog_stop: function (reason) {
-        if (this.dialog) {
-            this.dialog.destroy(reason);
-        }
-        this.dialog = null;
-    },
     /**
-     * Add a new action to the action manager
+     * This function is called when the current controller is about to be
+     * removed from the DOM, because a new one will be pushed, or an old one
+     * will be restored. It ensures that the current controller can be left (for
+     * instance, that it has no unsaved changes).
      *
-     * @param {Widget} widget typically, widgets added are openerp.web.ViewManager. The action manager uses the stack of actions to handle the breadcrumbs.
-     * @param {Object} action_descr new action description
-     * @param {Object} options
-     * @param options.on_reverse_breadcrumb will be called when breadcrumb is clicked on
-     * @param options.clear_breadcrumbs: boolean, if true, action stack is destroyed
+     * @returns {Deferred} resolved if the current controller can be left,
+     *   rejected otherwise.
      */
-    push_action: function(widget, action_descr, options) {
-        var self = this;
-        var old_action_stack = this.action_stack;
-        var old_action = this.inner_action;
-        var old_widget = this.inner_widget;
-        var actions_to_destroy;
-        options = options || {};
-
-        // Empty action_stack or replace last action if requested
-        if (options.clear_breadcrumbs) {
-            actions_to_destroy = this.action_stack;
-            this.action_stack = [];
-        } else if (options.replace_last_action && this.action_stack.length > 0) {
-            actions_to_destroy = [this.action_stack.pop()];
-        }
-
-        // Instantiate the new action
-        var new_action;
-        if (widget instanceof ViewManager) {
-            new_action = new ViewManagerAction(action_descr, widget);
-        } else if (widget instanceof Widget) {
-            new_action = new WidgetAction(action_descr, widget);
-        } else {
-            new_action = new Action(action_descr);
-        }
-
-        // Set on_reverse_breadcrumb callback on previous inner_action
-        if (this.webclient && old_action) {
-            old_action.set_on_reverse_breadcrumb(options.on_reverse_breadcrumb, this.webclient.getScrollTop());
-        }
-
-        // Update action_stack (must be done before appendTo to properly
-        // compute the breadcrumbs and to perform do_push_state)
-        this.action_stack.push(new_action);
-        this.inner_action = new_action;
-        this.inner_widget = widget;
-
-        if (widget.need_control_panel) {
-            // Set the ControlPanel bus on the widget to allow it to communicate its status
-            widget.set_cp_bus(this.main_control_panel.get_bus());
-        }
-
-        // render the inner_widget in a fragment, and append it to the
-        // document only when it's ready
-        var new_widget_fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
-        return $.when(this.inner_widget.appendTo(new_widget_fragment)).done(function() {
-            // Detach the fragment of the previous action and store it within the action
-            if (old_action) {
-                old_action.set_fragment(old_action.detach());
-            }
-            if (!widget.need_control_panel) {
-                // Hide the main ControlPanel for widgets that do not use it
-                self.main_control_panel.do_hide();
-            }
-
-            // most of the time, the self.$el element should already be empty,
-            // because we detached the old action just a few line up.  However,
-            // it may happen that it is not empty, for example when a view
-            // manager was unable to load a view because of a crash.  In any
-            // case, this is done as a safety measure to avoid the 'double view'
-            // situation that we had when the web client was unable to recover
-            // from a crash.
-            self.$el.empty();
-
-            dom.append(self.$el, new_widget_fragment, {
-                in_DOM: self.is_in_DOM,
-                callbacks: [{widget: self.inner_widget}],
+    clearUncommittedChanges: function () {
+        var currentController = this.getCurrentController();
+        // AAB: with AbstractAction, the second part of the condition won't be
+        // necessary anymore, as there will be such a function it its API
+        if (currentController && currentController.widget.discardChanges) {
+            return currentController.widget.discardChanges(undefined, {
+                // AAB: get rid of this option when on_hashchange mechanism is improved
+                readonlyIfRealDiscard: true,
             });
-            if (actions_to_destroy) {
-                self.clear_action_stack(actions_to_destroy);
-            }
-            self.toggle_fullscreen();
-            self.trigger_up('current_action_updated', {action: new_action});
-        }).fail(function () {
-            // Destroy failed action and restore internal state
-            new_action.destroy();
-            self.action_stack = old_action_stack;
-            self.inner_action = old_action;
-            self.inner_widget = old_widget;
-        });
-    },
-    setScrollTop: function(scrollTop) {
-        if (this.inner_action) {
-            this.inner_action.setScrollTop(scrollTop);
         }
-    },
-    get_breadcrumbs: function () {
-        return _.flatten(_.map(this.action_stack, function (action) {
-            return action.get_breadcrumbs();
-        }), true);
-    },
-    get_title: function () {
-        if (this.action_stack.length === 1) {
-            // horrible hack to display the action title instead of "New" for the actions
-            // that use a form view to edit something that do not correspond to a real model
-            // for example, point of sale "Your Session" or most settings form,
-            var action = this.action_stack[0];
-            if (action.get_breadcrumbs().length === 1) {
-                return action.title;
-            }
-        }
-        var last_breadcrumb = _.last(this.get_breadcrumbs());
-        return last_breadcrumb ? last_breadcrumb.title : "";
-    },
-    get_action_stack: function () {
-        return this.action_stack;
-    },
-    get_inner_action: function() {
-        return this.inner_action;
-    },
-    get_inner_widget: function() {
-        return this.inner_widget;
-    },
-    history_back: function() {
-        if (this.dialog) {
-            this.dialog.close();
-            return;
-        }
-        var nbViews = this.inner_action.get_nb_views();
-        if (nbViews > 1) {
-            // Stay on this action, but select the previous view
-            return this.select_action(this.inner_action, nbViews - 2);
-        }
-        var nbActions = this.action_stack.length;
-        if (nbActions > 1) {
-            // Select the previous action
-            var action = this.action_stack[nbActions - 2];
-            nbViews = action.get_nb_views();
-            return this.select_action(action, nbViews - 1);
-        }
-        else if (nbActions === 1 && nbViews === 1) {
-            return this.select_action(this.action_stack[0], 0);
-        }
-        return $.Deferred().reject();
-    },
-    select_action: function(action, index) {
-        var self = this;
-        var def = this.webclient && this.webclient.clear_uncommitted_changes() || $.when();
-
-        return def.then(function() {
-            // Set the new inner_action/widget and update the action stack
-            var old_action = self.inner_action;
-            var action_index = self.action_stack.indexOf(action);
-            var to_destroy = self.action_stack.splice(action_index + 1);
-            self.inner_action = action;
-            self.inner_widget = action.widget;
-
-            return $.when(action.restore(index)).done(function() {
-                // Hide the ControlPanel if the widget doesn't use it
-                if (!self.inner_widget.need_control_panel) {
-                    self.main_control_panel.do_hide();
-                }
-                // Attach the DOM of the action and restore the scroll position only if necessary
-                if (action !== old_action) {
-                    // Clear the action stack (this also removes the current action from the DOM)
-                    self.clear_action_stack(to_destroy);
-
-                    // Append the fragment of the action to restore to self.$el
-                    dom.append(self.$el, action.get_fragment(), {
-                        in_DOM: self.is_in_DOM,
-                        callbacks: [{widget: action.widget}],
-                    });
-                }
-                self.trigger_up('current_action_updated', {action: action});
-            });
-        }).fail(function() {
-            return $.Deferred().reject();
-        });
-    },
-    clear_action_stack: function(action_stack) {
-        _.map(action_stack || this.action_stack, function(action) {
-            action.destroy();
-        });
-        if (!action_stack) {
-            this.action_stack = [];
-            this.inner_action = null;
-            this.inner_widget = null;
-        }
-        this.toggle_fullscreen();
-    },
-    toggle_fullscreen: function() {
-        var is_fullscreen = _.some(this.action_stack, function(action) {
-            return action.action_descr.target === "fullscreen";
-        });
-        this.trigger_up("toggle_fullscreen", {fullscreen: is_fullscreen});
-    },
-    do_push_state: function(state) {
-        if (!this.webclient || this.dialog) {
-            return;
-        }
-        state = state || {};
-        if (this.inner_action) {
-            var inner_action_descr = this.inner_action.get_action_descr();
-            if (inner_action_descr._push_me === false) {
-                // this action has been explicitly marked as not pushable
-                return;
-            }
-            state.title = this.get_title();
-            if(inner_action_descr.type == 'ir.actions.act_window') {
-                state.model = inner_action_descr.res_model;
-            }
-            if (inner_action_descr.menu_id) {
-                state.menu_id = inner_action_descr.menu_id;
-            }
-            if (inner_action_descr.id) {
-                state.action = inner_action_descr.id;
-            } else if (inner_action_descr.type == 'ir.actions.client') {
-                state.action = inner_action_descr.tag;
-                var params = {};
-                _.each(inner_action_descr.params, function(v, k) {
-                    if(_.isString(v) || _.isNumber(v)) {
-                        params[k] = v;
-                    }
-                });
-                state = _.extend(params || {}, state);
-            }
-            if (inner_action_descr.context) {
-                var active_id = inner_action_descr.context.active_id;
-                if (active_id) {
-                    state.active_id = active_id;
-                }
-                var active_ids = inner_action_descr.context.active_ids;
-                if (active_ids && !(active_ids.length === 1 && active_ids[0] === active_id)) {
-                    // We don't push active_ids if it's a single element array containing the active_id
-                    // This makes the url shorter in most cases.
-                    state.active_ids = inner_action_descr.context.active_ids.join(',');
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        this.webclient.do_push_state(state);
-    },
-    do_load_state: function(state, warm) {
-        var self = this;
-        var action_loaded;
-        if (state.action) {
-            if (_.isString(state.action) && core.action_registry.contains(state.action)) {
-                var action_client = {
-                    type: "ir.actions.client",
-                    tag: state.action,
-                    params: state,
-                    _push_me: state._push_me,
-                };
-                if (warm) {
-                    this.null_action();
-                }
-                action_loaded = this.do_action(action_client);
-            } else {
-                var run_action = (!this.inner_widget || !this.inner_widget.action) || this.inner_widget.action.id !== state.action;
-                if (run_action) {
-                    var add_context = {};
-                    if (state.active_id) {
-                        add_context.active_id = state.active_id;
-                    }
-                    if (state.active_ids) {
-                        // The jQuery BBQ plugin does some parsing on values that are valid integers.
-                        // It means that if there's only one item, it will do parseInt() on it,
-                        // otherwise it will keep the comma seperated list as string.
-                        add_context.active_ids = state.active_ids.toString().split(',').map(function(id) {
-                            return parseInt(id, 10) || id;
-                        });
-                    } else if (state.active_id) {
-                        add_context.active_ids = [state.active_id];
-                    }
-                    add_context.params = state;
-                    if (warm) {
-                        this.null_action();
-                    }
-                    action_loaded = this.do_action(state.action, {
-                        additional_context: add_context,
-                        res_id: state.id,
-                        view_type: state.view_type,
-                    });
-                }
-            }
-        } else if (state.model && state.id) {
-            // TODO handle context & domain ?
-            if (warm) {
-                this.null_action();
-            }
-            var action = {
-                res_model: state.model,
-                res_id: state.id,
-                type: 'ir.actions.act_window',
-                views: [[_.isNumber(state.view_id) ? state.view_id : false, 'form']]
-            };
-            action_loaded = this.do_action(action);
-        } else if (state.sa) {
-            // load session action
-            if (warm) {
-                this.null_action();
-            }
-            action_loaded = this._rpc({
-                    route: '/web/session/get_session_action',
-                    params: {key: state.sa},
-                })
-                .then(function(action) {
-                    if (action) {
-                        return self.do_action(action);
-                    }
-                });
-        }
-
-        return $.when(action_loaded || null).then(function() {
-            if (self.inner_widget && self.inner_widget.do_load_state) {
-                return self.inner_widget.do_load_state(state, warm);
-            }
-        });
+        return $.when();
     },
     /**
-     * Execute an OpenERP action
+     * This is the entry point to execute Odoo actions, given as an ID in
+     * database, an xml ID, a client action tag or an action descriptor.
      *
-     * @param {Number|String|String|Object} action Can be either an action id, an action XML id, a client action tag or an action descriptor.
+     * @param {number|string|Object} action the action to execute
      * @param {Object} [options]
-     * @param {Boolean} [options.clear_breadcrumbs=false] Clear the breadcrumbs history list
-     * @param {Boolean} [options.replace_breadcrumb=false] Replace the current breadcrumb with the action
-     * @param {Function} [options.on_reverse_breadcrumb] Callback to be executed whenever an anterior breadcrumb item is clicked on.
-     * @param {Function} [options.hide_breadcrumb] Do not display this widget's title in the breadcrumb
-     * @param {Function} [options.on_close] Callback to be executed when the dialog is closed (only relevant for target=new actions)
-     * @param {Function} [options.action_menu_id] Manually set the menu id on the fly.
-     * @param {Object} [options.additional_context] Additional context to be merged with the action's context.
-     * @return {jQuery.Deferred} Action loaded
-     */
-    do_action: function(action, options) {
-        options = _.defaults(options || {}, {
-            clear_breadcrumbs: false,
-            replace_last_action: false,
-            on_reverse_breadcrumb: function() {},
-            hide_breadcrumb: false,
-            on_close: function() {},
-            on_load: function() {},
-            action_menu_id: null,
+     * @param {Object} [options.additional_context] additional context to be
+     *   merged with the action's context.
+     * @param {boolean} [options.clear_breadcrumbs=false] set to true to clear
+     *   the breadcrumbs history list
+     * @param {Function} [options.on_close] callback to be executed when the
+     *   current action is active again (typically, if the new action is
+     *   executed in target="new", on_close will be executed when the dialog is
+     *   closed, if the current controller is still active)
+     * @param {Function} [options.on_reverse_breadcrumb] callback to be executed
+     *   whenever an anterior breadcrumb item is clicked on
+     * @param {boolean} [options.pushState=true] set to false to prevent the
+     *   ActionManager from pushing the state when the action is executed (this
+     *   is useful when we come from a loadState())
+     * @param {boolean} [options.replace_last_action=false] set to true to
+     *   replace last part of the breadcrumbs with the action
+     * @return {Deferred} resolved when the action is loaded and appended to the
+     *   DOM ; rejected if the action can't be executed (e.g. if doAction has
+     *   been called to execute another action before this one was complete).
+    */
+    doAction: function (action, options) {
+        var self = this;
+        options = _.defaults({}, options, {
             additional_context: {},
+            clear_breadcrumbs: false,
+            on_close: function () {},
+            on_reverse_breadcrumb: function () {},
+            pushState: true,
+            replace_last_action: false,
         });
-        if (action === false) {
-            action = { type: 'ir.actions.act_window_close' };
-        } else if (_.isString(action) && core.action_registry.contains(action)) {
-            var action_client = { type: "ir.actions.client", tag: action, params: {} };
-            return this.do_action(action_client, options);
+
+        // build or load an action descriptor for the given action
+        var def;
+        if (_.isString(action) && core.action_registry.contains(action)) {
+            // action is a tag of a client action
+            action = { type: 'ir.actions.client', tag: action };
         } else if (_.isNumber(action) || _.isString(action)) {
-            var self = this;
-            var additional_context = {
-                active_id : options.additional_context.active_id,
-                active_ids : options.additional_context.active_ids,
-                active_model : options.additional_context.active_model
-            };
-            return data_manager.load_action(action, additional_context).then(function(result) {
-                return self.do_action(result, options);
+            // action is an id or xml id
+            def = this._loadAction(action, {
+                active_id: options.additional_context.active_id,
+                active_ids: options.additional_context.active_ids,
+                active_model: options.additional_context.active_model,
+            }).then(function (result) {
+                action = result;
             });
         }
 
-        core.bus.trigger('action', action);
+        return this.dp.add($.when(def)).then(function () {
+            action.jsID = _.uniqueId('action_');
+            action.pushState = options.pushState;
 
-        // Force clear breadcrumbs if action's target is main
-        options.clear_breadcrumbs = (action.target === 'main') || options.clear_breadcrumbs;
+            // action.target 'main' is equivalent to 'current' except that it
+            // also clears the breadcrumbs
+            options.clear_breadcrumbs = action.target === 'main' ||
+                                        options.clear_breadcrumbs;
 
-        // Ensure context & domain are evaluated and can be manipulated/used
-        var user_context = this.getSession().user_context;
-        var ncontext = new Context(user_context, options.additional_context, action.context || {});
-        action.context = pyeval.eval('context', ncontext);
-        if (action.context.active_id || action.context.active_ids) {
-            // Here we assume that when an `active_id` or `active_ids` is used
-            // in the context, we are in a `related` action, so we disable the
-            // searchview's default custom filters.
-            action.context.search_disable_custom_filters = true;
-        }
-        if (action.domain) {
-            action.domain = pyeval.eval(
-                'domain', action.domain, action.context || {});
-        }
+            // ensure that the context and domain are evaluated
+            var context = new Context(self.userContext, options.additional_context, action.context);
+            action.context = pyeval.eval('context', context);
+            if (action.domain) {
+                action.domain = pyeval.eval('domain', action.domain, action.context);
+            }
 
-        if (!action.type) {
-            console.error("No type for action", action);
-            return $.Deferred().reject();
-        }
-
-        var type = action.type.replace(/\./g,'_');
-        action.menu_id = options.action_menu_id;
-        action.res_id = options.res_id || action.res_id;
-        action.context.params = _.extend({ 'action' : action.id }, action.context.params);
-        if (!(type in this)) {
-            console.error("Action manager can't handle action of type " + action.type, action);
-            return $.Deferred().reject();
-        }
-
-        // Special case for Dashboards, this should definitively be done upstream
-        if (action.res_model === 'board.board' && action.view_mode === 'form') {
-            action.target = 'inline';
-            _.extend(action.flags, {
-                headless: true,
-                views_switcher: false,
-                display_title: false,
-                search_view: false,
-                pager: false,
-                sidebar: false,
-                action_buttons: false
-            });
-        } else {
-            var popup = action.target === 'new';
-            var inline = action.target === 'inline' || action.target === 'inlineview';
-            var form = _.str.startsWith(action.view_mode, 'form');
-            action.flags = _.defaults(action.flags || {}, {
-                views_switcher : !popup && !inline,
-                search_view : !(popup && form) && !inline,
-                action_buttons : !popup && !inline,
-                sidebar : !popup && !inline,
-                pager : (!popup || !form) && !inline,
-                display_title : !popup,
-                headless: (popup || inline) && form,
-                search_disable_custom_filters: action.context && action.context.search_disable_custom_filters,
-            });
-        }
-
-        return $.when(this[type](action, options)).then(function (executor_action) {
-            options.on_load(executor_action);
-            return action;
+            return self._handleAction(action, options);
         });
     },
-    null_action: function() {
-        this.dialog_stop();
-        this.clear_action_stack();
-    },
     /**
+     * Compatibility with client actions that are still using do_push_state.
      *
-     * @param {Object} executor
-     * @param {Object} executor.action original action
-     * @param {Function<instance.web.Widget>} executor.widget function used to fetch the widget instance
-     * @param {String} executor.klass CSS class to add on the dialog root, if action.target=new
-     * @param {Function<instance.web.Widget, undefined>} executor.post_process cleanup called after a widget has been added as inner_widget
-     * @param {Object} options
-     * @return {Deferred<*>}
+     * @todo: convert all of them to trigger_up('push_state') instead.
+     * @param {Object} state
      */
-    ir_actions_common: function(executor, options) {
-        var self = this;
-        if (executor.action.target === 'new') {
-            var pre_dialog = (this.dialog && !this.dialog.isDestroyed()) ? this.dialog : null;
-            if (pre_dialog){
-                // prevent previous dialog to consider itself closed,
-                // right now, as we're opening a new one (prevents
-                // reload of original form view)
-                pre_dialog.off('closed', null, pre_dialog.on_close);
-            }
-            if (this.dialog_widget && !this.dialog_widget.isDestroyed()) {
-                this.dialog_widget.destroy();
-            }
-            // explicitly passing a closing action to dialog_stop() prevents
-            // it from reloading the original form view
-            this.dialog_stop(executor.action);
-            this.dialog = new Dialog(this, _.defaults(options || {}, {
-                title: executor.action.name,
-                dialogClass: executor.klass,
-                buttons: [],
-                size: executor.action.context.dialog_size,
-            }));
-
-            // chain on_close triggers with previous dialog, if any
-            this.dialog.on_close = function(){
-                options.on_close.apply(null, arguments);
-                if (pre_dialog && pre_dialog.on_close){
-                    // no parameter passed to on_close as this will
-                    // only be called when the last dialog is truly
-                    // closing, and *should* trigger a reload of the
-                    // underlying form view (see comments above)
-                    pre_dialog.on_close();
-                }
-                if (!pre_dialog) {
-                    self.dialog = null;
-                }
-            };
-            this.dialog.on("closed", null, this.dialog.on_close);
-            this.dialog_widget = executor.widget();
-            var $dialogFooter;
-            if (this.dialog_widget instanceof ViewManager) {
-                executor.action.viewManager = this.dialog_widget;
-                $dialogFooter = $('<div/>'); // fake dialog footer in which view
-                                             // manager buttons will be put
-                _.defaults(this.dialog_widget.flags, {
-                    $buttons: $dialogFooter,
-                    footer_to_buttons: true,
-                });
-                if (this.dialog_widget.action.view_mode === 'form') {
-                    this.dialog_widget.flags.headless = true;
-                }
-            }
-            if (this.dialog_widget.need_control_panel) {
-                // Set a fake bus to Dialogs needing a ControlPanel as they should not
-                // communicate with the main ControlPanel
-                this.dialog_widget.set_cp_bus(new Bus());
-            }
-            this.dialog_widget.setParent(this.dialog);
-
-            var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
-            return this.dialog_widget.appendTo(fragment).then(function () {
-                var def = $.Deferred();
-                self.dialog.opened().then(function () {
-                    dom.append(self.dialog.$el, fragment, {
-                        in_DOM: true,
-                        callbacks: [{widget: self.dialog_widget}],
-                    });
-                    if ($dialogFooter) {
-                        self.dialog.$footer.empty().append($dialogFooter.contents());
-                    }
-                    if (options.state && self.dialog_widget.do_load_state) {
-                        return self.dialog_widget.do_load_state(options.state);
-                    }
-                })
-                .done(def.resolve.bind(def))
-                .fail(def.reject.bind(def));
-                self.dialog.open();
-                return def;
-            }).then(function () {
-                return executor.action;
-            });
+    do_push_state: function (state) {
+        this.trigger_up('push_state', {state: state});
+    },
+    /**
+     * Returns the action of the last controller in the controllerStack, i.e.
+     * the action of the currently displayed controller in the main window (not
+     * in a dialog), and null if there is no controller in the stack.
+     *
+     * @returns {Object|null}
+     */
+    getCurrentAction: function () {
+        var controller = this.getCurrentController();
+        return controller ? this.actions[controller.actionID] : null;
+    },
+    /**
+     * Returns the last controller in the controllerStack, i.e. the currently
+     * displayed controller in the main window (not in a dialog), and
+     * null if there is no controller in the stack.
+     *
+     * @returns {Object|null}
+     */
+    getCurrentController: function () {
+        var currentControllerID = _.last(this.controllerStack);
+        return currentControllerID ? this.controllers[currentControllerID] : null;
+    },
+    /**
+     * Updates the UI according to the given state, for instance, executes a new
+     * action, or updates the state of the current action.
+     *
+     * @param {Object} state
+     * @param {integer|string} [state.action] the action to execute (given its
+     *   id or tag for client actions)
+     * @returns {Deferred} resolved when the UI has been updated
+     */
+    loadState: function (state) {
+        var action;
+        if (!state.action) {
+            return $.when();
         }
-        var def = this.inner_action && this.webclient && this.webclient.clear_uncommitted_changes() || $.when();
-        return def.then(function() {
-            self.dialog_stop(executor.action);
-            return self.push_action(executor.action.viewManager = executor.widget(), executor.action, options).then(function () {
-                return executor.action;
-            });
-        }).fail(function() {
-            return $.Deferred().reject();
+        if (_.isString(state.action) && core.action_registry.contains(state.action)) {
+            action = {
+                params: state,
+                tag: state.action,
+                type: 'ir.actions.client',
+            };
+        } else {
+            action = state.action;
+        }
+        return this.doAction(action, {
+            clear_breadcrumbs: true,
+            pushState: false,
         });
     },
-    ir_actions_act_window: function (action, options) {
-        var self = this;
 
-        var flags = action.flags || {};
-        if (!('auto_search' in flags)) {
-            flags.auto_search = action.auto_search !== false;
-        }
-        options.action = action;
-        options.action_manager = this;
-        var dataset = new data.DataSetSearch(this, action.res_model, action.context, action.domain);
-        if (action.res_id) {
-            dataset.ids.push(action.res_id);
-            dataset.index = 0;
-        }
-        var views = action.views;
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Private
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-        return this.ir_actions_common({
-            widget: function () {
-                return new ViewManager(self, dataset, views, flags, options);
-            },
-            action: action,
-            klass: 'o_act_window',
-        }, options);
+    /**
+     * Appends the given controller to the DOM and restores its scroll position.
+     * Also updates the control panel.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} controller
+     */
+    _appendController: function (controller) {
+        dom.append(this.$el, controller.widget.$el, {
+            in_DOM: this.isInDOM,
+            callbacks: [{widget: controller.widget}],
+        });
+
+        this.trigger_up('scrollTo', {offset: controller.scrollTop || 0});
+
+        if (!controller.widget.need_control_panel) {
+            this.controlPanel.do_hide();
+        } else {
+            this.controlPanel.update({
+                breadcrumbs: this._getBreadcrumbs(),
+            }, {clear: false});
+        }
     },
-    ir_actions_client: function (action, options) {
-        var self = this;
-        var ClientWidget = core.action_registry.get(action.tag);
-        if (!ClientWidget) {
-            return self.do_warn("Action Error", "Could not find client action '" + action.tag + "'.");
+    /**
+     * Closes the current dialog, if any. Because we listen to the 'closed'
+     * event triggered by the dialog when it is closed, this also destroys the
+     * embedded controller and removes the reference to the corresponding action.
+     * This also executes the 'on_close' handler in some cases.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {boolean} [silent=false] if true, the 'on_close' handler won't be
+     *   called ; this is in general the case when the current dialog is closed
+     *   because another action is opened, so we don't want the former action
+     *   to execute its handler as it won't be displayed anyway
+     */
+    _closeDialog: function (silent) {
+        if (this.currentDialogController) {
+            this.currentDialogController.dialog.destroy(silent);
         }
-        if (!(ClientWidget.prototype instanceof Widget)) {
-            var next;
-            if ((next = ClientWidget(this, action))) {
-                return this.do_action(next, options);
+    },
+    /**
+     * Detaches the current controller from the DOM and stores its scroll
+     * position, in case we'd come back to that controller later.
+     *
+     * @private
+     */
+    _detachCurrentController: function () {
+        var currentController = this.getCurrentController();
+        if (currentController) {
+            currentController.scrollTop = this._getScrollTop();
+            dom.detach([{widget: currentController.widget}]);
+        }
+    },
+    /**
+     * Executes actions for which a controller has to be appended to the DOM,
+     * either in the main content (target="current", by default), or in a dialog
+     * (target="new").
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action
+     * @param {widget} action.controller a Widget instance to append to the DOM
+     * @param {string} [action.target="current"] set to "new" to render the
+     *   controller in a dialog
+     * @param {Object} options @see doAction for details
+     * @returns {Deferred} resolved when the controller is started and appended
+     */
+    _executeAction: function (action, options) {
+        var self = this;
+        this.actions[action.jsID] = action;
+
+        if (action.target === 'new') {
+            return this._executeActionInDialog(action, options);
+        }
+
+        return this.clearUncommittedChanges()
+            .then(function () {
+                var controller = self.controllers[action.controllerID];
+                var widget = controller.widget;
+                // AAB: this will be moved to the Controller
+                if (widget.need_control_panel) {
+                    // set the ControlPanel bus on the controller to allow it to
+                    // communicate its status
+                    widget.set_cp_bus(self.controlPanel.get_bus());
+                }
+                return self._startController(controller);
+            })
+            .then(function (controller) {
+                if (self.currentDialogController) {
+                    self._closeDialog(true);
+                }
+
+                // store the optional 'on_reverse_breadcrumb' handler
+                // AAB: store it on the AbstractAction instance, and call it
+                // automatically when the action is restored
+                if (options.on_reverse_breadcrumb) {
+                    var currentAction = self.getCurrentAction();
+                    if (currentAction) {
+                        currentAction.on_reverse_breadcrumb = options.on_reverse_breadcrumb;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // update the internal state and the DOM
+                self._pushController(controller, options);
+
+                // toggle the fullscreen mode for actions in target='fullscreen'
+                self._toggleFullscreen();
+
+                return action;
+            })
+            .fail(function () {
+                self._removeAction(action.jsID);
+            });
+    },
+    /**
+     * Executes actions with attribute target='new'. Such actions are rendered
+     * in a dialog.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action
+     * @param {Object} options @see doAction for details
+     * @returns {Deferred} resolved when the controller is rendered inside a
+     *   dialog appended to the DOM
+     */
+    _executeActionInDialog: function (action, options) {
+        var self = this;
+        var controller = this.controllers[action.controllerID];
+        var widget = controller.widget;
+        // AAB: this will be moved to the Controller
+        if (widget.need_control_panel) {
+            // set the ControlPanel bus on the controller to allow it to
+            // communicate its status
+            widget.set_cp_bus(new Bus());
+        }
+
+        return this._startController(controller).then(function (controller) {
+            if (self.currentDialogController) {
+                self._closeDialog(true);
+            }
+
+            var dialog = new Dialog(self, _.defaults({}, options, {
+                buttons: [],
+                dialogClass: controller.className,
+                title: action.name,
+                size: action.context.dialog_size,
+            }));
+            dialog.on('closed', self, function (silent) {
+                self._removeAction(action.jsID);
+                self.currentDialogController = null;
+                if (silent !== true) {
+                    options.on_close();
+                }
+            });
+            controller.dialog = dialog;
+
+            return dialog.open().opened(function () {
+                dom.append(dialog.$el, widget.$el, {
+                    in_DOM: true,
+                    callbacks: [{widget: dialog}],
+                });
+                // AAB: renderButtons will be a function of AbstractAction, so this
+                // test won't be necessary anymore
+                if (widget.renderButtons) {
+                    widget.renderButtons(dialog.$footer);
+                }
+
+                self.currentDialogController = controller;
+
+                return action;
+            });
+        }).fail(function () {
+            self._removeAction(action.jsID);
+        });
+    },
+    /**
+     * Executes actions of type 'ir.actions.client'.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action the description of the action to execute
+     * @param {string} action.tag the key of the action in the action_registry
+     * @param {Object} options @see doAction for details
+     * @returns {Deferred} resolved when the client action has been executed
+     */
+    _executeClientAction: function (action, options) {
+        var self = this;
+        var ClientAction = core.action_registry.get(action.tag);
+        if (!ClientAction) {
+            console.error("Could not find client action " + action.tag, action);
+            return $.Deferred().reject();
+        }
+        if (!(ClientAction.prototype instanceof Widget)) {
+            // the client action might be a function, which is executed and
+            // whose returned value might be another action to execute
+            var next = ClientAction(this, action);
+            if (next) {
+                return this.doAction(next, options);
             }
             return $.when();
         }
 
-        return this.ir_actions_common({
-            widget: function () {
-                return new ClientWidget(self, action, options);
+        var controllerID = _.uniqueId('controller_');
+        var controller = {
+            actionID: action.jsID,
+            jsID: controllerID,
+            widget: new ClientAction(this, action, options),
+        };
+        // AAB: TODO: simplify this with AbstractAction (implement a getTitle
+        // function that returns action.name by default, and that can be
+        // overriden in client actions and view controllers)
+        Object.defineProperty(controller, 'title', {
+            get: function () {
+                return controller.widget.get('title') || action.display_name || action.name;
             },
-            action: action,
-            klass: 'oe_act_client',
-        }, options).then(function () {
-            if (action.tag !== 'reload') {self.do_push_state({});}
+        });
+        this.controllers[controllerID] = controller;
+        action.controllerID = controllerID;
+        return this._executeAction(action, options).done(function () {
+            // AAB: this should be done automatically in AbstractAction, so that
+            // it can be overriden by actions that have specific stuff to push
+            // (e.g. Discuss, Views)
+            self._pushState(controllerID, {});
         });
     },
-    ir_actions_act_window_close: function (action, options) {
-        if (!this.dialog) {
+    /**
+     * Executes actions of type 'ir.actions.act_window_close', i.e. closes the
+     * last opened dialog.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action
+     * @returns {Deferred} resolved immediately
+     */
+    _executeCloseAction: function (action, options) {
+        if (!this.currentDialogController) {
             options.on_close();
         }
-        this.dialog_stop();
-        // Display rainbowman on appropriate actions
+
+        this._closeDialog();
+
+        // display some effect (like rainbowman) on appropriate actions
         if (action.effect) {
             this.trigger_up('show_effect', action.effect);
         }
 
         return $.when();
     },
-    ir_actions_server: function (action, options) {
+    /**
+     * Executes actions of type 'ir.actions.server'.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action the description of the action to execute
+     * @param {integer} action.id the db ID of the action to execute
+     * @param {Object} [action.context]
+     * @param {Object} options @see doAction for details
+     * @returns {Deferred} resolved when the action has been executed
+     */
+    _executeServerAction: function (action, options) {
         var self = this;
-        return this._rpc({
-                route: '/web/action/run',
-                params: {
-                    action_id: action.id,
-                    context: action.context || {}
-                },
-            })
-            .then(function (action) {
-                return self.do_action(action, options);
-            });
-    },
-    ir_actions_report: function(action, options) {
-        var self = this;
-        framework.blockUI();
-        action = _.clone(action);
-        var eval_contexts = ([session.user_context] || []).concat([action.context]);
-        action.context = pyeval.eval('contexts',eval_contexts);
-
-        // iOS devices doesn't allow iframe use the way we do it,
-        // opening a new window seems the best way to workaround
-        if (navigator.userAgent.match(/(iPod|iPhone|iPad)/)) {
-            var params = {
-                action: JSON.stringify(action),
-                token: new Date().getTime()
-            };
-            var url = session.url('/web/report', params);
-            framework.unblockUI();
-            $('<a href="'+url+'" target="_blank"></a>')[0].click();
-            return;
-        }
-        var c = crash_manager;
-        return $.Deferred(function (d) {
-            session.get_file({
-                url: '/web/report',
-                data: {action: JSON.stringify(action)},
-                complete: framework.unblockUI,
-                success: function(){
-                    if (!self.dialog) {
-                        options.on_close();
-                    }
-                    self.dialog_stop();
-                    d.resolve();
-                },
-                error: function () {
-                    c.rpc_error.apply(c, arguments);
-                    d.reject();
-                }
-            });
+        var runDef = this._rpc({
+            route: '/web/action/run',
+            params: {
+                action_id: action.id,
+                context: action.context || {},
+            },
+        });
+        return this.dp.add(runDef).then(function (action) {
+            return self.doAction(action, options);
         });
     },
-    ir_actions_act_url: function (action, options) {
+    /**
+     * Executes actions of type 'ir.actions.act_url', i.e. redirects to the
+     * given url.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action the description of the action to execute
+     * @param {string} action.url
+     * @param {string} [action.target] set to 'self' to redirect in the current page,
+     *   redirects to a new page by default
+     * @param {Object} options @see doAction for details
+     * @returns {Deferred} resolved when the redirection is done (immediately
+     *   when redirecting to a new page)
+     */
+    _executeURLAction: function (action, options) {
         var url = action.url;
-        if (session.debug && url && url.length && url[0] === '/') {
-            url = $.param.querystring(url, {debug: session.debug});
+        if (config.debug && url && url.length && url[0] === '/') {
+            url = $.param.querystring(url, {debug: config.debug});
         }
 
         if (action.target === 'self') {
             framework.redirect(url);
-            return $.Deferred(); // The action is finished only when the redirection is done
+            return $.Deferred();
         } else {
             window.open(url, '_blank');
-            options.on_close();
         }
+
+        options.on_close();
+
         return $.when();
     },
+    /**
+     * Returns a description of the current stack of controllers, used to render
+     * the breadcrumbs. It is an array of Objects with keys 'title' (what to
+     * display in the breadcrumbs) and 'controllerID' (the ID of the
+     * corresponding controller, used to restore it when this part of the
+     * breadcrumbs is clicked).
+     * Ignores the content of the stack of controllers if the action of the
+     * last controller of the stack is flagged with 'no_breadcrumbs', indicating
+     * that the breadcrumbs should not be displayed for that action.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @returns {Object[]}
+     */
+    _getBreadcrumbs: function () {
+        var self = this;
+        var currentController = this.getCurrentController();
+        var noBreadcrumbs = !currentController ||
+                            this.actions[currentController.actionID].context.no_breadcrumbs;
+        if (noBreadcrumbs) {
+            return [];
+        }
+        return _.map(this.controllerStack, function (controllerID) {
+            return {
+                title: self.controllers[controllerID].title,
+                controllerID: controllerID,
+            };
+        });
+    },
+    /**
+     * Returns an object containing information about the given controller, like
+     * its title, its action's id, the active_id and active_ids of the action...
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {string} controllerID
+     * @returns {Object}
+     */
+    _getControllerState: function (controllerID) {
+        var controller = this.controllers[controllerID];
+        var action = this.actions[controller.actionID];
+        var state = {
+            title: controller.title,
+        };
+        if (action.id) {
+            state.action = action.id;
+        } else if (action.type === 'ir.actions.client') {
+            state.action = action.tag;
+            var params = _.pick(action.params, function (v) {
+                return _.isString(v) || _.isNumber(v);
+            });
+            state = _.extend(params || {}, state);
+        }
+        if (action.context) {
+            var active_id = action.context.active_id;
+            if (active_id) {
+                state.active_id = active_id;
+            }
+            var active_ids = action.context.active_ids;
+            // we don't push active_ids if it's a single element array containing the active_id
+            // to make the url shorter in most cases
+            if (active_ids && !(active_ids.length === 1 && active_ids[0] === active_id)) {
+                state.active_ids = action.context.active_ids.join(',');
+            }
+        }
+        return state;
+    },
+    /**
+     * Returns the current vertical scroll position.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @returns {integer}
+     */
+    _getScrollTop: function () {
+        var scrollTop;
+        this.trigger_up('getScrollTop', {
+            callback: function (value) {
+                scrollTop = value;
+            }
+        });
+        return scrollTop;
+    },
+    /**
+     * Dispatches the given action to the corresponding handler to execute it,
+     * according to its type. This function can be overriden to extend the
+     * range of supported action types.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action
+     * @param {string} action.type
+     * @param {Object} options
+     * @returns {Deferred} resolved when the action has been executed ; rejected
+     *   if the type of action isn't supported, or if the action can't be
+     *   executed
+     */
+    _handleAction: function (action, options) {
+        if (!action.type) {
+            console.error("No type for action", action);
+            return $.Deferred().reject();
+        }
+        switch (action.type) {
+            case 'ir.actions.act_url':
+                return this._executeURLAction(action, options);
+            case 'ir.actions.act_window_close':
+                return this._executeCloseAction(action, options);
+            case 'ir.actions.client':
+                return this._executeClientAction(action, options);
+            case 'ir.actions.server':
+                return this._executeServerAction(action, options);
+            default:
+                console.error("The ActionManager can't handle actions of type " +
+                    action.type, action);
+                return $.Deferred().reject();
+        }
+    },
+    /**
+     * Updates the internal state and the DOM with the given controller as
+     * current controller.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} controller
+     * @param {string} controller.jsID
+     * @param {Widget} controller.widget
+     * @param {Object} [options]
+     * @param {Object} [options.clear_breadcrumbs=false] if true, destroys all
+     *   controllers from the controller stack before adding the given one
+     * @param {Object} [options.replace_last_action=false] if true, replaces the
+     *   last controller of the controller stack by the given one
+     * @param {integer} [options.index] if given, pushes the controller at that
+     *   position in the controller stack, and destroys the controllers with an
+     *   higher index
+     */
+    _pushController: function (controller, options) {
+        options = options || {};
+        var self = this;
+
+        // detach the current controller
+        this._detachCurrentController();
+
+        // empty the controller stack or replace the last controller as requested,
+        // destroy the removed controllers and push the new controller to the stack
+        var toDestroy;
+        if (options.clear_breadcrumbs) {
+            toDestroy = this.controllerStack;
+            this.controllerStack = [];
+        } else if (options.replace_last_action && this.controllerStack.length > 0) {
+            toDestroy = [this.controllerStack.pop()];
+        } else if (options.index !== undefined) {
+            toDestroy = this.controllerStack.splice(options.index);
+            // reject from the list of controllers to destroy the one that we are
+            // currently pushing, or those linked to the same action as the one
+            // linked to the controller that we are pushing
+            toDestroy = _.reject(toDestroy, function (controllerID) {
+                return controllerID === controller.jsID ||
+                       self.controllers[controllerID].actionID === controller.actionID;
+            });
+        }
+        this._removeControllers(toDestroy);
+        this.controllerStack.push(controller.jsID);
+
+        // append the new controller to the DOM
+        this._appendController(controller);
+
+        // notify the environment of the new action
+        this.trigger_up('current_action_updated', {
+            action: this.getCurrentAction(),
+            controller: controller,
+        });
+    },
+    /**
+     * Pushes the given state, with additional information about the given
+     * controller, like the action's id and the controller's title.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {string} controllerID
+     * @param {Object} [state={}]
+     */
+    _pushState: function (controllerID, state) {
+        var controller = this.controllers[controllerID];
+        if (controller) {
+            var action = this.actions[controller.actionID];
+            if (action.target === 'new' || action.pushState === false) {
+                // do not push state for actions in target="new" or for actions
+                // that have been explicitly marked as not pushable
+                return;
+            }
+            state = _.extend({}, state, this._getControllerState(controller.jsID));
+            this.trigger_up('push_state', {state: state});
+        }
+    },
+    /**
+     * Loads an action from the database given its ID.
+     *
+     * @todo: turn this in a service (DataManager)
+     * @private
+     * @param {integer|string} action's ID or xml ID
+     * @param {Object} context
+     * @returns {Deferred<Object>} resolved with the description of the action
+     */
+    _loadAction: function (actionID, context) {
+        var def = $.Deferred();
+        this.trigger_up('load_action', {
+            actionID: actionID,
+            context: context,
+            on_success: def.resolve.bind(def),
+        });
+        return def;
+    },
+    /**
+     * Unlinks the given action and its controller from the internal structures
+     * and destroys its controllers.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {string} actionID the id of the action to remove
+     */
+    _removeAction: function (actionID) {
+        var action = this.actions[actionID];
+        var controller = this.controllers[action.controllerID];
+        delete this.actions[action.jsID];
+        delete this.controllers[action.controllerID];
+        controller.widget.destroy();
+    },
+    /**
+     * Removes the given controllers and their corresponding actions.
+     *
+     * @see _removeAction
+     * @private
+     * @param {string[]} controllerIDs
+     */
+    _removeControllers: function (controllerIDs) {
+        var self = this;
+        var actionsToRemove = _.map(controllerIDs, function (controllerID) {
+            return self.controllers[controllerID].actionID;
+        });
+        _.each(_.uniq(actionsToRemove), this._removeAction.bind(this));
+    },
+    /**
+     * Restores a controller from the controllerStack and destroys all
+     * controllers stacked over the given controller (called when coming back
+     * using the breadcrumbs).
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {string} controllerID
+     * @returns {Deferred} resolved when the controller has been restored
+     */
+    _restoreController: function (controllerID) {
+        var self = this;
+        var controller = this.controllers[controllerID];
+        // AAB: AbstractAction should define a proper hook to execute code when
+        // it is restored (other than do_show), and it should return a deferred
+        var action = this.actions[controller.actionID];
+        var def;
+        if (action.on_reverse_breadcrumb) {
+            def = action.on_reverse_breadcrumb();
+        }
+        return $.when(def).then(function () {
+            return $.when(controller.widget.do_show()).then(function () {
+                var index = _.indexOf(self.controllerStack, controllerID);
+                self._pushController(controller, {index: index});
+            });
+        });
+    },
+    /**
+     * Starts the controller by appending it in a document fragment, so that it
+     * is ready when it will be appended to the DOM. This allows to prevent
+     * flickering for widgets doing async stuff in willStart() or start().
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} controller
+     * @returns {Deferred<Object>} resolved with the controller when it is ready
+     */
+    _startController: function (controller) {
+        var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
+        return controller.widget.appendTo(fragment).then(function () {
+            return controller;
+        });
+    },
+    /**
+     * Toggles the fullscreen mode if there is an action in target='fullscreen'
+     * in the current stack.
+     *
+     * @private
+     */
+    _toggleFullscreen: function () {
+        var self = this;
+        var fullscreen = _.some(this.controllerStack, function (controllerID) {
+            var controller = self.controllers[controllerID];
+            return self.actions[controller.actionID].target === 'fullscreen';
+        });
+        this.trigger_up('toggle_fullscreen', {fullscreen: fullscreen});
+    },
+
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Handlers
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @param {OdooEvent} ev
+     * @param {OdooEvent} ev.data.controllerID
+     */
+    _onBreadcrumbClicked: function (ev) {
+        ev.stopPropagation();
+        this._restoreController(ev.data.controllerID);
+    },
+    /**
+     * Goes back in the history: if a controller is opened in a dialog, closes
+     * the dialog, otherwise, restores the second to last controller from the
+     * stack.
+     *
+     * @private
+     */
+    _onHistoryBack: function () {
+        if (this.currentDialogController) {
+            this._closeDialog();
+        } else {
+            var length = this.controllerStack.length;
+            if (length > 1) {
+                this._restoreController(this.controllerStack[length - 2]);
+            }
+        }
+    },
+    /**
+     * Intercepts and triggers a new push_state event, with additional
+     * information about the given controller.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {OdooEvent} ev
+     * @param {string} ev.controllerID
+     * @param {Object} [ev.state={}]
+     */
+    _onPushState: function (ev) {
+        if (ev.target !== this) {
+            ev.stopPropagation();
+            this._pushState(ev.data.controllerID, ev.data.state);
+        }
+    },
 });
 
 return ActionManager;
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/action_manager_act_window.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/action_manager_act_window.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a37b37fca73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/action_manager_act_window.js
@@ -0,0 +1,756 @@
+odoo.define('web.ActWindowActionManager', function (require) {
+"use strict";
+
+/**
+ * The purpose of this file is to add the support of Odoo actions of type
+ * 'ir.actions.act_window' to the ActionManager.
+ */
+
+var ActionManager = require('web.ActionManager');
+var config = require('web.config');
+var Context = require('web.Context');
+var core = require('web.core');
+var data = require('web.data'); // this will be removed at some point
+var pyeval = require('web.pyeval');
+var SearchView = require('web.SearchView');
+var view_registry = require('web.view_registry');
+
+var _t = core._t;
+
+ActionManager.include({
+    custom_events: _.extend({}, ActionManager.prototype.custom_events, {
+        env_updated: '_onEnvUpdated',
+        execute_action: '_onExecuteAction',
+        search: '_onSearch',
+        switch_view: '_onSwitchView',
+    }),
+
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Public
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * Overrides to handle the case where an 'ir.actions.act_window' has to be
+     * loaded.
+     *
+     * @override
+     * @param {Object} state
+     * @param {integer|string} [state.action] the ID or xml ID of the action to
+     *   execute
+     * @param {integer} [state.active_id]
+     * @param {string} [state.active_ids]
+     * @param {integer} [state.id]
+     * @param {integer} [state.view_id=false]
+     * @param {string} [state.view_type]
+     */
+    loadState: function (state) {
+        var action;
+        var options = {pushState: false};
+        if (state.action) {
+            var currentController = this.getCurrentController();
+            var currentAction = currentController && this.actions[currentController.actionID];
+            if (currentAction && currentAction.id === state.action) {
+                // the action to load is already the current one, so update it
+                this._closeDialog(true); // there may be a currently opened dialog, close it
+                currentAction.env.currentId = state.id;
+                var viewType = state.view_type || currentController.viewType;
+                return this._switchController(currentAction, viewType);
+            } else if (!core.action_registry.contains(state.action)) {
+                // the action to load isn't the current one, so execute it
+                var context = {};
+                if (state.active_id) {
+                    context.active_id = state.active_id;
+                }
+                if (state.active_ids) {
+                    // jQuery's BBQ plugin does some parsing on values that are valid integers
+                    // which means that if there's only one item, it will do parseInt() on it,
+                    // otherwise it will keep the comma seperated list as string
+                    context.active_ids = state.active_ids.split(',').map(function (id) {
+                        return parseInt(id, 10) || id;
+                    });
+                } else if (state.active_id) {
+                    context.active_ids = [state.active_id];
+                }
+                context.params = state;
+                action = state.action;
+                options = _.extend(options, {
+                    additional_context: context,
+                    resID: state.id,
+                    viewType: state.view_type,
+                });
+            }
+        } else if (state.model && state.id) {
+            action = {
+                res_model: state.model,
+                res_id: state.id,
+                type: 'ir.actions.act_window',
+                views: [[state.view_id || false, 'form']],
+            };
+        }
+        if (action) {
+            return this.doAction(action, options);
+        }
+        return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+    },
+
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Private
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * Instantiates a search view for a given action, and starts it so that it
+     * is ready to be appended to the DOM.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action
+     * @returns {Deferred} resolved with the search view when it is ready
+     */
+    _createSearchView: function (action) {
+        // AAB: temporarily create a dataset, until the SearchView is refactored
+        // and stops using it
+        var dataset = new data.DataSetSearch(this, action.res_model, action.context, action.domain);
+        if (action.res_id) {
+            dataset.ids.push(action.res_id);
+            dataset.index = 0;
+        }
+
+        // find 'search_default_*' keys in actions's context
+        var searchDefaults = {};
+        _.each(action.context, function (value, key) {
+            var match = /^search_default_(.*)$/.exec(key);
+            if (match) {
+                searchDefaults[match[1]] = value;
+            }
+        });
+        var searchView = new SearchView(this, dataset, action.searchFieldsView, {
+            $buttons: $('<div>'),
+            action: action,
+            disable_custom_filters: action.flags.disableCustomFilters,
+            search_defaults: searchDefaults,
+        });
+
+        return searchView.appendTo(document.createDocumentFragment()).then(function () {
+            action.searchView = searchView;
+            return searchView;
+        });
+    },
+    /**
+     * Instantiates the controller for a given action and view type, and adds it
+     * to the list of controllers in the action.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action
+     * @param {AbstractController[]} action.controllers the already created
+     *   controllers for this action
+     * @param {Object[]} action.views the views available for the action, each
+     *   one containing its fieldsView
+     * @param {Object} action.env
+     * @param {string} viewType
+     * @param {Object} [viewOptions] dict of options passed to the initialization
+     *   of the controller's widget
+     * @param {Object} [options]
+     * @param {boolean} [options.lazy=false] set to true to differ the
+     *   initialization of the controller's widget
+     * @returns {Deferred<Object>} resolved with the created controller
+     */
+    _createViewController: function (action, viewType, viewOptions, options) {
+        var self = this;
+        var controllerID = _.uniqueId('controller_');
+        var controller = {
+            actionID: action.jsID,
+            className: 'o_act_window', // used to remove the padding in dialogs
+            jsID: controllerID,
+            viewType: viewType,
+        };
+        Object.defineProperty(controller, 'title', {
+            get: function () {
+                // handle the case where the widget is lazy loaded
+                return controller.widget ? controller.widget.getTitle() : (action.display_name || action.name);
+            },
+        });
+        this.controllers[controllerID] = controller;
+
+        if (!options || !options.lazy) {
+            // build the view options from different sources
+            viewOptions = _.extend({
+                action: action,
+                limit: action.limit,
+            }, action.flags, action.flags[viewType], viewOptions, action.env);
+            // pass the controllerID to the views as an hook for further
+            // communication with trigger_up (e.g. for 'env_updated' event)
+            viewOptions = _.extend(viewOptions, { controllerID: controllerID });
+
+            var viewDescr = _.findWhere(action.views, {type: viewType});
+            var view = new viewDescr.Widget(viewDescr.fieldsView, viewOptions);
+            var def = $.Deferred();
+            action.controllers[viewType] = def;
+            view.getController(this).then(function (widget) {
+                if (def.state() === 'rejected') {
+                    // the deferred has been rejected meanwhile, meaning that
+                    // the action has been removed, so simply destroy the widget
+                    widget.destroy();
+                } else {
+                    // AAB: change this logic to stop using the properties mixin
+                    widget.on("change:title", this, function () {
+                        if (!action.flags.headless) {
+                            var breadcrumbs = self._getBreadcrumbs();
+                            self.controlPanel.update({breadcrumbs: breadcrumbs}, {clear: false});
+                        }
+                    });
+                    controller.widget = widget;
+
+                    def.resolve(controller);
+                }
+            }).fail(def.reject.bind(def));
+            def.fail(function () {
+                delete self.controllers[controllerID];
+            });
+        } else {
+            action.controllers[viewType] = $.Deferred().resolve(controller);
+        }
+
+        return action.controllers[viewType];
+    },
+    /**
+     * Executes actions of type 'ir.actions.act_window'.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action the description of the action to execute
+     * @param {Array} action.views list of tuples [viewID, viewType]
+     * @param {Object} options @see doAction for details
+     * @param {integer} [options.resID] the current res ID
+     * @param {string} [options.viewType] the view to open
+     * @returns {Deferred} resolved when the action is appended to the DOM
+     */
+    _executeWindowAction: function (action, options) {
+        var self = this;
+
+        if (action.context.active_id || action.context.active_ids) {
+            // we assume that when 'active_id' or 'active_ids' is used in the
+            // context, we are in a 'related' action, so we disable the
+            // searchview's default custom filters
+            action.context.search_disable_custom_filters = true;
+        }
+        action.flags = this._generateActionFlags(action);
+
+        return this._loadViews(action).then(function (fieldsViews) {
+            var views = self._generateActionViews(action, fieldsViews);
+            action._views = action.views;  // save the initial attribute
+            action.views = views;
+            if (fieldsViews.search) {
+                action.searchFieldsView = fieldsViews.search;
+            }
+            action.env = self._generateActionEnv(action, options);
+            action.controllers = {};
+
+            // select the first view to display
+            var lazyLoadFirstView = false;
+            var firstView = options.viewType && _.findWhere(views, {type: options.viewType});
+            if (firstView) {
+                if (!firstView.multiRecord && views[0].multiRecord) {
+                    lazyLoadFirstView = true;
+                }
+            } else {
+                firstView = views[0];
+            }
+            if (config.device.isMobile && !firstView.isMobileFriendly) {
+                firstView = _.findWhere(action.views, {isMobileFriendly: true}) || firstView;
+            }
+
+            var def;
+            if (action.flags.hasSearchView) {
+                def = self._createSearchView(action).then(function (searchView) {
+                    // udpate domain, context and groupby in the env
+                    var searchData = searchView.build_search_data();
+                    _.extend(action.env, self._processSearchData(action, searchData));
+                });
+            }
+            return $.when(def).then(function () {
+                var defs = [];
+                defs.push(self._createViewController(action, firstView.type));
+                if (lazyLoadFirstView) {
+                    defs.push(self._createViewController(action, views[0].type, {}, {lazy: true}));
+                }
+                return $.when.apply($, defs);
+            }).then(function (controller, lazyLoadedController) {
+                action.controllerID = controller.jsID;
+                return self._executeAction(action, options).done(function () {
+                    if (lazyLoadedController) {
+                        self.controllerStack.unshift(lazyLoadedController.jsID);
+                        self.controlPanel.update({
+                            breadcrumbs: self._getBreadcrumbs(),
+                        }, {clear: false});
+                    }
+                });
+            });
+        });
+    },
+    /**
+     * Generates the initial environment of a given action, which is a dict
+     * containing information like the model name, the domain, the context...
+     * That information is shared between the controllers of the corresponding
+     * action.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action
+     * @param {Object} options
+     * @param {integer} [options.resID]
+     * @returns {Object}
+     */
+    _generateActionEnv: function (action, options) {
+        var actionGroupBy = action.context.group_by || [];
+        if (typeof actionGroupBy === 'string') {
+            actionGroupBy = [actionGroupBy];
+        }
+        var resID = options.resID || action.res_id;
+        return {
+            modelName: action.res_model,
+            ids: resID ? [resID] : undefined,
+            currentId: resID || undefined,
+            domain: [],
+            context: action.context || {},
+            groupBy: actionGroupBy,
+        };
+    },
+    /**
+     * Generates the flags of a given action.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action
+     * @returns {Object}
+     */
+    _generateActionFlags: function (action) {
+        var popup = action.target === 'new';
+        var inline = action.target === 'inline';
+        var form = _.str.startsWith(action.view_mode, 'form');
+        return _.defaults({}, action.flags, {
+            disableCustomFilters: action.context && action.context.search_disable_custom_filters,
+            footerToButtons: popup,
+            hasSearchView: !(popup && form) && !inline,
+            hasSidebar: !popup && !inline,
+            headless: (popup || inline) && form,
+            mode: (popup || inline || action.target === 'fullscreen') && 'edit',
+        });
+    },
+    /**
+     * Generate the description of the views of a given action. For each view,
+     * it generates a dict with information like the fieldsView, the view type,
+     * the Widget to use...
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action
+     * @param {Object} fieldsViews
+     * @returns {Object}
+     */
+    _generateActionViews: function (action, fieldsViews) {
+        var views = [];
+        _.each(action.views, function (view) {
+            var viewType = view[1];
+            var fieldsView = fieldsViews[viewType];
+            var View = view_registry.get(fieldsView.arch.attrs.js_class || viewType);
+            if (View) {
+                views.push({
+                    accessKey: View.prototype.accessKey,
+                    fieldsView: fieldsViews[viewType],
+                    icon: View.prototype.icon,
+                    isMobileFriendly: View.prototype.mobile_friendly,
+                    multiRecord: View.prototype.multi_record,
+                    type: viewType,
+                    viewID: view[0],
+                    Widget: View,
+                });
+            } else {
+                console.error("View type '" + viewType + "' is not present in the view registry.");
+            }
+        });
+        return views;
+    },
+    /**
+     * Overrides to add specific information for controllers from actions of
+     * type 'ir.actions.act_window', like the res_model and the view_type.
+     *
+     * @override
+     * @private
+     */
+    _getControllerState: function (controllerID) {
+        var state = this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+        var controller = this.controllers[controllerID];
+        var action = this.actions[controller.actionID];
+        if (action.type === 'ir.actions.act_window') {
+            state.model = action.res_model;
+            state.view_type = controller.viewType;
+        }
+        return state;
+    },
+    /**
+     * Overrides to handle the 'ir.actions.act_window' actions.
+     *
+     * @override
+     * @private
+     */
+    _handleAction: function (action, options) {
+        if (action.type === 'ir.actions.act_window') {
+            return this._executeWindowAction(action, options);
+        }
+        return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+    },
+    /**
+     * Loads the fields_views and fields for the given action.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action
+     * @returns {Deferred}
+     */
+    _loadViews: function (action) {
+        var options = {
+            action_id: action.id,
+            toolbar: action.flags.hasSidebar,
+        };
+        var views = action.views.slice();
+        if (action.flags.hasSearchView) {
+            options.load_filters = true;
+            var searchviewID = action.search_view_id && action.search_view_id[0];
+            views.push([searchviewID || false, 'search']);
+        }
+        return this.loadViews(action.res_model, action.context, views, options);
+    },
+    /**
+     * Processes the search data sent by the search view.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} action
+     * @param {Object} searchData
+     * @param {Object} [searchData.contexts=[]]
+     * @param {Object} [searchData.domains=[]]
+     * @param {Object} [searchData.groupbys=[]]
+     * @returns {Object} an object with keys 'context', 'domain', 'groupBy'
+     */
+    _processSearchData: function (action, searchData) {
+        var contexts = searchData.contexts;
+        var domains = searchData.domains;
+        var groupbys = searchData.groupbys;
+        var action_context = action.context || {};
+        var results = pyeval.eval_domains_and_contexts({
+            domains: [action.domain || []].concat(domains || []),
+            contexts: [action_context].concat(contexts || []),
+            group_by_seq: groupbys || [],
+            eval_context: this.userContext,
+        });
+        if (results.error) {
+            throw new Error(_.str.sprintf(_t("Failed to evaluate search criterions")+": \n%s",
+                            JSON.stringify(results.error)));
+        }
+        return {
+            context: results.context,
+            domain: results.domain,
+            groupBy: results.group_by,
+        };
+    },
+    /**
+     * Overrides to handle the case of 'ir.actions.act_window' actions, i.e.
+     * destroys all controllers associated to the given action, and its search
+     * view.
+     *
+     * @override
+     * @private
+     */
+    _removeAction: function (actionID) {
+        var self = this;
+        var action = this.actions[actionID];
+        if (action.type === 'ir.actions.act_window') {
+            delete this.actions[action.jsID];
+            _.each(action.controllers, function (controllerDef) {
+                controllerDef.then(function (controller) {
+                    delete self.controllers[controller.jsID];
+                    if (controller.widget) {
+                        controller.widget.destroy();
+                    }
+                });
+                // reject the deferred if it is not yet resolved, so that the
+                // controller is correctly destroyed as soon as it is ready, and
+                // its reference is removed
+                controllerDef.reject();
+            });
+            if (action.searchView) {
+                action.searchView.destroy();
+            }
+        } else {
+            this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+        }
+    },
+    /**
+     * Overrides to handle the case where the controller to restore is from an
+     * 'ir.actions.act_window' action. In this case, only the controllers
+     * stacked over the one to restore *that are not from the same action* are
+     * destroyed.
+     * For instance, when going back to the list controller from a form
+     * controller of the same action using the breadcrumbs, the form controller
+     * isn't destroyed, as it might be reused in the future.
+     *
+     * @override
+     * @private
+     */
+    _restoreController: function (controllerID) {
+        var self = this;
+        var controller = this.controllers[controllerID];
+        var action = this.actions[controller.actionID];
+        if (action.type === 'ir.actions.act_window') {
+            return this.clearUncommittedChanges().then(function () {
+                // AAB: this will be done directly in AbstractAction's restore
+                // function
+                var def;
+                if (action.on_reverse_breadcrumb) {
+                    def = action.on_reverse_breadcrumb();
+                }
+                return $.when(def).then(function () {
+                    return self._switchController(action, controller.viewType);
+                });
+            });
+        }
+        return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+    },
+    /**
+     * Handles the switch from a controller to another inside the same window
+     * action.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} controller the controller to switch to
+     * @param {Object} [viewOptions]
+     * @return {Deferred} resolved when the new controller is in the DOM
+     */
+    _switchController: function (action, viewType, viewOptions) {
+        var self = this;
+
+        var newController = function () {
+            return self
+                ._createViewController(action, viewType, viewOptions)
+                .then(function (controller) {
+                    // AAB: this will be moved to the Controller
+                    var widget = controller.widget;
+                    if (widget.need_control_panel) {
+                        // set the ControlPanel bus on the controller to allow it to
+                        // communicate its status
+                        widget.set_cp_bus(self.controlPanel.get_bus());
+                    }
+                    return self._startController(controller);
+                });
+        };
+
+        var controllerDef = action.controllers[viewType];
+        if (!controllerDef) {
+            controllerDef = newController();
+        } else {
+            controllerDef = controllerDef.then(function (controller) {
+                if (!controller.widget) {
+                    // lazy loaded -> load it now
+                    return newController().done(function (newController) {
+                        // replace the old controller (without widget) by the new one
+                        var index = self.controllerStack.indexOf(controller.jsID);
+                        self.controllerStack[index] = newController.jsID;
+                        delete self.controllers[controller.jsID];
+                    });
+                } else {
+                    viewOptions = _.extend(viewOptions || {}, action.env);
+                    return controller.widget.reload(viewOptions).then(function () {
+                        return controller;
+                    });
+                }
+            });
+        }
+
+        return this.dp.add(controllerDef).then(function (controller) {
+            var view = _.findWhere(action.views, {type: viewType});
+            var currentController = self.getCurrentController();
+            var index;
+            if (currentController.actionID !== action.jsID) {
+                index = _.indexOf(self.controllerStack, controller.jsID);
+            } else if (view.multiRecord) {
+                // remove other controllers linked to the same action from the stack
+                index = _.findIndex(self.controllerStack, function (controllerID) {
+                    return self.controllers[controllerID].actionID === action.jsID;
+                });
+            } else if (!_.findWhere(action.views, {type: currentController.viewType}).multiRecord) {
+                // replace the last controller by the new one if they are from the
+                // same action and if they both are mono record
+                index = self.controllerStack.length - 1;
+            }
+            return self._pushController(controller, {index: index});
+        });
+    },
+
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Handlers
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @param {OdooEvent} ev
+     * @param {string} ev.data.controllerID
+     * @param {Object} ev.data.env
+     */
+    _onEnvUpdated: function (ev) {
+        ev.stopPropagation();
+        var controller = this.controllers[ev.data.controllerID];
+        var action = this.actions[controller.actionID];
+        _.extend(action.env, ev.data.env);
+    },
+    /**
+     * Handler for event 'execute_action', which is typically called when a
+     * button is clicked. The button may be of type 'object' (call a given
+     * method of a given model) or 'action' (execute a given action).
+     * Alternatively, the button may have the attribute 'special', and in this
+     * case an 'ir.actions.act_window_close' is executed.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {OdooEvent} ev
+     * @param {Object} ev.data.action_data typically, the html attributes of the
+     *   button extended with additional information like the context
+     * @param {Object} [ev.data.action_data.special=false]
+     * @param {Object} [ev.data.action_data.type] 'object' or 'action', if set
+     * @param {Object} ev.data.env
+     * @param {function} [ev.data.on_closed]
+     * @param {function} [ev.data.on_fail]
+     * @param {function} [ev.data.on_success]
+     */
+    _onExecuteAction: function (ev) {
+        ev.stopPropagation();
+        var self = this;
+        var actionData = ev.data.action_data;
+        var env = ev.data.env;
+        var context = new Context(env.context, actionData.context || {});
+        var recordID = env.currentID || null; // pyeval handles null value, not undefined
+        var def;
+
+        // determine the action to execute according to the actionData
+        if (actionData.special) {
+            def = $.when({type: 'ir.actions.act_window_close'});
+        } else if (actionData.type === 'object') {
+            // call a Python Object method, which may return an action to execute
+            var args = recordID ? [[recordID]] : [env.resIDs];
+            if (actionData.args) {
+                try {
+                    // warning: quotes and double quotes problem due to json and xml clash
+                    // maybe we should force escaping in xml or do a better parse of the args array
+                    var additionalArgs = JSON.parse(actionData.args.replace(/'/g, '"'));
+                    args = args.concat(additionalArgs);
+                } catch (e) {
+                    console.error("Could not JSON.parse arguments", actionData.args);
+                }
+            }
+            args.push(context.eval());
+            def = this._rpc({
+                route: '/web/dataset/call_button',
+                params: {
+                    args: args,
+                    method: actionData.name,
+                    model: env.model,
+                },
+            });
+        } else if (actionData.type === 'action') {
+            // execute a given action, so load it first
+            def = this._loadAction(actionData.name, _.extend(pyeval.eval('context', context), {
+                active_model: env.model,
+                active_ids: env.resIDs,
+                active_id: recordID,
+            }));
+        }
+
+        // use the DropPrevious to prevent from executing the handler if another
+        // request (doAction, switchView...) has been done meanwhile ; execute
+        // the fail handler if the 'call_button' or 'loadAction' failed but not
+        // if the request failed due to the DropPrevious,
+        def.fail(ev.data.on_fail);
+        this.dp.add(def).then(function (action) {
+            // show effect if button have effect attribute
+            // rainbowman can be displayed from two places: from attribute on a button or from python
+            // code below handles the first case i.e 'effect' attribute on button.
+            var effect = false;
+            if (actionData.effect) {
+                effect = pyeval.py_eval(actionData.effect);
+            }
+
+            if (action && action.constructor === Object) {
+                // filter out context keys that are specific to the current action, because:
+                //  - wrong default_* and search_default_* values won't give the expected result
+                //  - wrong group_by values will fail and forbid rendering of the destination view
+                var ctx = new Context(
+                    _.object(_.reject(_.pairs(env.context), function (pair) {
+                        return pair[0].match('^(?:(?:default_|search_default_|show_).+|' +
+                                             '.+_view_ref|group_by|group_by_no_leaf|active_id|' +
+                                             'active_ids)$') !== null;
+                    }))
+                );
+                ctx.add(actionData.context || {});
+                ctx.add({active_model: env.model});
+                if (recordID) {
+                    ctx.add({
+                        active_id: recordID,
+                        active_ids: [recordID],
+                    });
+                }
+                ctx.add(action.context || {});
+                action.context = ctx;
+                // in case an effect is returned from python and there is already an effect
+                // attribute on the button, the priority is given to the button attribute
+                action.effect = effect || action.effect;
+            } else {
+                // if action doesn't return anything, but there is an effect
+                // attribute on the button, display rainbowman
+                action = {
+                    effect: effect,
+                    type: 'ir.actions.act_window_close',
+                };
+            }
+            var options = {on_close: ev.data.on_closed};
+            return self.doAction(action, options).then(ev.data.on_success, ev.data.on_fail);
+        });
+    },
+    /**
+     * Called when there is a change in the search view, so the current action's
+     * environment needs to be updated with the new domain, context and groupby.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {OdooEvent} ev
+     */
+    _onSearch: function (ev) {
+        ev.stopPropagation();
+        // AAB: the id of the correct controller should be given in data
+        var currentController = this.getCurrentController();
+        var action = this.actions[currentController.actionID];
+        _.extend(action.env, this._processSearchData(action, ev.data));
+        currentController.widget.reload(_.extend({offset: 0}, action.env));
+    },
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @param {OdooEvent} ev
+     * @param {string} ev.data.controllerID the id of the controller that
+     *   triggered the event
+     * @param {string} ev.data.viewType the type of view to switch to
+     * @param {integer} [ev.data.res_id] the id of the record to open (for
+     *   mono-record views)
+     * @param {mode} [ev.data.mode] the mode to open, i.e. 'edit' or 'readonly'
+     *   (only relevant for form views)
+     */
+    _onSwitchView: function (ev) {
+        ev.stopPropagation();
+        var viewType = ev.data.view_type;
+        var currentController = this.getCurrentController();
+        if (currentController.jsID === ev.data.controllerID) {
+            // only switch to the requested view if the controller that
+            // triggered the request is the current controller
+            var action = this.actions[currentController.actionID];
+            if ('res_id' in ev.data) {
+                action.env.currentId = ev.data.res_id;
+            }
+            var options = {};
+            if (viewType === 'form' && !action.env.currentId) {
+                options.mode = 'edit';
+            } else if (ev.data.mode) {
+                options.mode = ev.data.mode;
+            }
+            this._switchController(action, viewType, options);
+        }
+    },
+});
+
+});
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/control_panel.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/control_panel.js
index 98ce7814b7a..3f85d32d2b6 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/control_panel.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/control_panel.js
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ odoo.define('web.ControlPanelMixin', function (require) {
  *         },
  *         _updateControlPanel: function () {
  *             this.update_control_panel({
- *                 breadcrumbs: this.action_manager.get_breadcrumbs(),
  *                 cp_content: {
  *                    $buttons: this.$buttons,
  *                 },
@@ -51,7 +50,9 @@ var ControlPanelMixin = {
      * @param {Object} [options] see web.ControlPanel.update() for a description
      */
     update_control_panel: function(cp_status, options) {
-        this.cp_bus.trigger("update", cp_status || {}, options || {});
+        if (this.cp_bus) {
+            this.cp_bus.trigger("update", cp_status || {}, options || {});
+        }
     },
 };
 
@@ -88,7 +89,6 @@ var ControlPanel = Widget.extend({
     start: function() {
         // Exposed jQuery nodesets
         this.nodes = {
-            $breadcrumbs: this.$('.breadcrumb'),
             $buttons: this.$('.o_cp_buttons'),
             $pager: this.$('.o_cp_pager'),
             $searchview: this.$('.o_cp_searchview'),
@@ -107,10 +107,6 @@ var ControlPanel = Widget.extend({
 
         return this._super();
     },
-    destroy: function() {
-        this._clear_breadcrumbs_handlers();
-        return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
-    },
     /**
      * @return {Object} the Bus the ControlPanel is listening on
      */
@@ -143,9 +139,7 @@ var ControlPanel = Widget.extend({
 
             // Render the breadcrumbs
             if (status.breadcrumbs) {
-                this._clear_breadcrumbs_handlers();
-                this.$breadcrumbs = this._render_breadcrumbs(status.breadcrumbs);
-                new_cp_content.$breadcrumbs = this.$breadcrumbs;
+                this.$('.breadcrumb').html(this._render_breadcrumbs(status.breadcrumbs));
             }
 
             // Detach control_panel old content and attach new elements
@@ -239,22 +233,11 @@ var ControlPanel = Widget.extend({
             .toggleClass('active', is_last);
         if (!is_last) {
             $bc.click(function () {
-                self.trigger("on_breadcrumb_click", bc.action, bc.index);
+                self.trigger_up('breadcrumb_clicked', {controllerID: bc.controllerID});
             });
         }
         return $bc;
     },
-    /**
-     * Private function that removes event handlers attached on the currently
-     * displayed breadcrumbs.
-     */
-    _clear_breadcrumbs_handlers: function () {
-        if (this.$breadcrumbs) {
-            _.each(this.$breadcrumbs, function ($bc) {
-                $bc.off();
-            });
-        }
-    },
     /**
      * Private function that updates the SearchView's visibility and extend the
      * breadcrumbs area if the SearchView is not visible
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/menu.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/menu.js
index c9d58d89c81..1e5e2922186 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/menu.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/menu.js
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ var Menu = Widget.extend({
             $main_menu = $clicked_menu;
         }
 
+        this.current_primary_menu = $main_menu.data('menu');
+
         // Activate current main menu
         this.$el.find('.active').removeClass('active');
         $main_menu.parent().addClass('active');
@@ -206,6 +208,19 @@ var Menu = Widget.extend({
         ev.preventDefault();
         this.menu_click($(ev.currentTarget).data('menu'));
     },
+
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Public
+    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the id of the current primary (first level) menu.
+     *
+     * @returns {integer}
+     */
+    getCurrentPrimaryMenu: function () {
+        return this.current_primary_menu;
+    },
 });
 
 return Menu;
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/search_menus.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/search_menus.js
index fe2ce5f3c32..38f2bb7374c 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/search_menus.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/search_menus.js
@@ -30,12 +30,13 @@ return Widget.extend({
             }
         },
     },
-    init: function (parent, query, target_model, action_id, filters) {
+    init: function (parent, query, target_model, action, filters) {
         this._super.apply(this,arguments);
         this.searchview = parent;
         this.query = query;
         this.target_model = target_model;
-        this.action_id = action_id;
+        this.action = action;
+        this.action_id = action.id;
         this.filters = {};
         _.each(filters, this.add_filter.bind(this));
     },
@@ -96,11 +97,7 @@ return Widget.extend({
         }
         var user_context = this.getSession().user_context;
         var search = this.searchview.build_search_data();
-        var view_manager = this.findAncestor(function (a) {
-                // HORRIBLE HACK. PLEASE SAVE ME FROM MYSELF (BUT IN A PAINLESS WAY IF POSSIBLE)
-                return 'active_view' in a;
-            });
-        var view_context = view_manager ? view_manager.active_view.controller.getContext() : {};
+        var view_context = this.action.env.context;
         var results = pyeval.eval_domains_and_contexts({
                 domains: search.domains,
                 contexts: [user_context].concat(search.contexts.concat(view_context || [])),
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/search_view.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/search_view.js
index 1e199e76dff..6fbda215814 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/search_view.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/search_view.js
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ var SearchView = Widget.extend({
         this.fields = this.fields_view.fields;
         this.query = undefined;
         this.title = this.options.action && this.options.action.name;
-        this.action_id = this.options.action && this.options.action.id;
+        this.action = this.options.action || {};
         this.search_fields = [];
         this.filters = [];
         this.groupbys = [];
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ var SearchView = Widget.extend({
         var self = this;
         var def;
         if (!this.options.disable_favorites) {
-            def = this.loadFilters(this.dataset, this.action_id).then(function (filters) {
+            def = this.loadFilters(this.dataset, this.action.id).then(function (filters) {
                 self.favorite_filters = filters;
             });
         }
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ var SearchView = Widget.extend({
                 menu_defs.push(this.groupby_menu.appendTo(this.$buttons));
             }
             if (!this.options.disable_favorites) {
-                this.favorite_menu = new FavoriteMenu(this, this.query, this.dataset.model, this.action_id, this.favorite_filters);
+                this.favorite_menu = new FavoriteMenu(this, this.query, this.dataset.model, this.action, this.favorite_filters);
                 menu_defs.push(this.favorite_menu.appendTo(this.$buttons));
             }
         }
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/view_manager.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/view_manager.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 75029d4cc27..00000000000
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/view_manager.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,671 +0,0 @@
-odoo.define('web.ViewManager', function (require) {
-"use strict";
-
-var Context = require('web.Context');
-var ControlPanelMixin = require('web.ControlPanelMixin');
-var core = require('web.core');
-var data = require('web.data');
-var data_manager = require('web.data_manager');
-var dom = require('web.dom');
-var pyeval = require('web.pyeval');
-var SearchView = require('web.SearchView');
-var view_registry = require('web.view_registry');
-var Widget = require('web.Widget');
-
-var QWeb = core.qweb;
-var _t = core._t;
-
-var ViewManager = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
-    className: "o_view_manager_content",
-    custom_events: {
-        execute_action: function(event) {
-            var data = event.data;
-            this.do_execute_action(data.action_data, data.env, data.on_closed)
-                .then(data.on_success, data.on_fail);
-        },
-        search: function(event) {
-            var d = event.data;
-            _.extend(this.env, this._process_search_data(d.domains, d.contexts, d.groupbys));
-            this.active_view.controller.reload(_.extend({offset: 0}, this.env));
-        },
-        switch_view: function(event) {
-            if ('res_id' in event.data) {
-                this.env.currentId = event.data.res_id;
-            }
-            var options = {};
-            if (event.data.view_type === 'form' && !this.env.currentId) {
-                options.mode = 'edit';
-            } else if (event.data.mode) {
-                options.mode = event.data.mode;
-            }
-            this.switch_mode(event.data.view_type, options);
-        },
-        env_updated: function(event) {
-            _.extend(this.env, event.data);
-        },
-        push_state: function(event) {
-            this.do_push_state(event.data);
-        },
-        switch_to_previous_view: '_onSwitchToPreviousView',
-    },
-    /**
-     * Called each time the view manager is attached into the DOM
-     */
-    on_attach_callback: function() {
-        this.is_in_DOM = true;
-        var controller = this.active_view && this.active_view.controller;
-        if (controller && this.active_view.controller.on_attach_callback) {
-            this.active_view.controller.on_attach_callback();
-        }
-    },
-    /**
-     * Called each time the view manager is detached from the DOM
-     */
-    on_detach_callback: function() {
-        this.is_in_DOM = false;
-        var controller = this.active_view && this.active_view.controller;
-        if (controller && controller.on_detach_callback) {
-            this.active_view.controller.on_detach_callback();
-        }
-    },
-    /**
-     * @param {Object} [dataset]
-     * @param {Array} [views] List of [view_id, view_type[, fields_view]]
-     * @param {Object} [flags] various boolean describing UI state
-     */
-    init: function(parent, dataset, views, flags, options) {
-        var self = this;
-        this._super(parent);
-
-        this.action = options && options.action || {};
-        this.action_manager = options && options.action_manager;
-        this.flags = flags || {};
-        this.dataset = dataset;
-        this.view_order = [];
-        this.views = {};
-        this.view_stack = []; // used for breadcrumbs
-        this.active_view = null;
-        this.registry = view_registry;
-        this.title = this.action.name;
-        var actionGroupBy = self.action.context.group_by;
-        if (!actionGroupBy) {
-            actionGroupBy = [];
-        } else if (typeof actionGroupBy === 'string') {
-            actionGroupBy = [actionGroupBy];
-        }
-        _.each(views, function (view) {
-            var view_type = view[1] || view.view_type;
-            var View = self.registry.get(view_type); //.prototype.config.Controller;
-            if (!View) {
-                console.error("View type", "'"+view_type+"'", "is not present in the view registry.");
-                return;
-            }
-            var view_label = View.prototype.display_name;
-            var view_descr = {
-                accesskey: View.prototype.accesskey,
-                button_label: _.str.sprintf(_t('%(view_type)s view'), {'view_type': (view_label || view_type)}),
-                controller: null,
-                fields_view: view[2] || view.fields_view,
-                icon: View.prototype.icon,
-                label: view_label,
-                mobile_friendly: View.prototype.mobile_friendly,
-                multi_record: View.prototype.multi_record,
-                options: _.extend({
-                    action: self.action,
-                    limit: self.action.limit,
-                    views: self.action.views,
-                    groupBy: actionGroupBy,
-                }, self.flags, self.flags[view_type], view.options),
-                searchable: View.prototype.searchable,
-                title: self.title,
-                type: view_type,
-                view_id: view[0] || view.view_id,
-            };
-            self.view_order.push(view_descr);
-            self.views[view_type] = view_descr;
-        });
-        this.first_view = this.views[options && options.view_type]; // view to open first
-        this.default_view = this.get_default_view();
-
-        // env registers properties shared between views
-        this.env = {
-            modelName: this.dataset.model,
-            ids: this.dataset.ids.length ? this.dataset.ids : undefined,
-            currentId: this.dataset.ids.length ? this.dataset.ids[this.dataset.index] : undefined,
-            domain: undefined,
-            context: this.dataset.context,
-            groupBy: undefined,
-        };
-    },
-    willStart: function () {
-        var views_def;
-        var first_view_to_display = this.first_view || this.default_view;
-        if (!first_view_to_display.fields_view || (this.flags.search_view && !this.search_fields_view)) {
-            views_def = this.load_views();
-        }
-        return $.when(this._super(), views_def);
-    },
-    /**
-     * @return {Deferred} initial view and search view (if any) loading promise
-     */
-    start: function() {
-        var self = this;
-        var _super = this._super.bind(this, arguments);
-        var def;
-        if (this.flags.search_view) {
-            def = this.setup_search_view().then(function() {
-                // udpate domain, context and groupby in the env
-                var d = self.searchview.build_search_data();
-                _.extend(self.env, self._process_search_data(d.domains, d.contexts, d.groupbys));
-            });
-        }
-        return $.when(def).then(function() {
-            var defs = [];
-            defs.push(_super());
-
-            if (self.flags.views_switcher) {
-                self.render_switch_buttons();
-            }
-
-            // If a non multi-record first_view is given, switch to it but first push the default_view
-            // to the view_stack to complete the breadcrumbs
-            if (self.first_view && !self.first_view.multi_record && self.default_view.multi_record) {
-                self.view_stack.push(self.default_view);
-            }
-            var view_to_load = self.first_view || self.default_view;
-            var options = _.extend({}, view_to_load.options);
-            defs.push(self.switch_mode(view_to_load.type, options));
-
-            return $.when.apply($, defs);
-        }).then(function() {
-            if (self.flags.on_load) {
-                self.flags.on_load(self);
-            }
-            core.bus.on('clear_uncommitted_changes', self, function(chain_callbacks) {
-                chain_callbacks(function() {
-                    if (self.active_view.controller) {
-                        return self.active_view.controller.discardChanges(undefined, {
-                            readonlyIfRealDiscard: true,
-                        });
-                    }
-                });
-            });
-        });
-    },
-    /**
-     * Loads all missing field_views of views in this.views and the search view.
-     *
-     * @return {Deferred}
-     */
-    load_views: function () {
-        var self = this;
-        var views = [];
-        _.each(this.views, function (view) {
-            if (!view.fields_view) {
-                views.push([view.view_id, view.type]);
-            }
-        });
-        var options = {
-            action_id: this.action.id,
-            toolbar: this.flags.sidebar,
-        };
-        if (this.flags.search_view && !this.search_fields_view) {
-            options.load_filters = true;
-            var searchview_id = this.action.search_view_id && this.action.search_view_id[0];
-            views.push([searchview_id || false, 'search']);
-        }
-        var params = {
-            model: this.dataset.model,
-            context: this.dataset.get_context(),
-            views_descr: views,
-        };
-        return data_manager.load_views(params, options).then(function (fields_views) {
-            _.each(fields_views, function (fields_view, view_type) {
-                if (view_type === 'search') {
-                    self.search_fields_view = fields_view;
-                } else {
-                    self.views[view_type].fields_view = fields_view;
-                }
-            });
-        });
-    },
-    /**
-     * Returns the default view with the following fallbacks:
-     *
-     * - use the default_view defined in the flags, if any
-     * - use the first view in the view_order
-     *
-     * @returns {Object} the default view
-     */
-    get_default_view: function() {
-        return this.views[this.flags.default_view || this.view_order[0].type];
-    },
-    switch_mode: function(view_type, view_options) {
-        var self = this;
-        var view = this.views[view_type];
-
-        if (!view || this.currently_switching) {
-            return $.Deferred().reject();
-        } else {
-            this.currently_switching = true;  // prevent overlapping switches
-        }
-
-        var old_view = this.active_view;
-
-        // Ensure that the fields_view has been loaded
-        var views_def;
-        if (!view.fields_view) {
-            views_def = this.load_views();
-        }
-
-        return $.when(views_def).then(function () {
-            if (view.multi_record) {
-                self.view_stack = [];
-            } else if (self.view_stack.length > 0 && !(_.last(self.view_stack).multi_record)) {
-                // Replace the last view by the new one if both are mono_record
-                self.view_stack.pop();
-            }
-            self.view_stack.push(view);
-
-            self.active_view = view;
-
-            if (!view.loaded) {
-                view_options = _.extend({}, view.options, view_options, self.env);
-                if (view_options.groupBy && !view_options.groupBy.length) {
-                    var actionContext = view_options ? view_options.action.context : {};
-                    var actionGroupBy = actionContext.group_by;
-                    if (!actionGroupBy) {
-                        actionGroupBy = [];
-                    } else if (typeof actionGroupBy === 'string') {
-                        actionGroupBy = [actionGroupBy];
-                    }
-                    view_options.groupBy = actionGroupBy;
-                }
-                view.loaded = $.Deferred();
-                self.create_view(view, view_options).then(function(controller) {
-                    view.controller = controller;
-                    view.$fragment = $('<div>');
-                    controller.appendTo(view.$fragment).done(function() {
-                        // Remove the unnecessary outer div
-                        view.$fragment = view.$fragment.contents();
-                        view.loaded.resolve();
-                    });
-                }).fail(view.loaded.reject.bind(view.loaded));
-            } else {
-                view.loaded = view.loaded.then(function() {
-                    view_options = _.extend({}, view_options, self.env);
-                    return view.controller.reload(view_options);
-                });
-            }
-
-            return $.when(view.loaded)
-                .then(function() {
-                    self._display_view(old_view);
-                    self.trigger('switch_mode', view_type, view_options);
-                }).fail(function(e) {
-                    if (!(e && e.code === 200 && e.data.exception_type)) {
-                        self.do_warn(_t("Error"), view.label + _t(" view couldn't be loaded"));
-                    }
-                    // Restore internal state
-                    self.active_view = old_view;
-                    self.view_stack.pop();
-                });
-        }).always(function () {
-            self.currently_switching = false;
-        });
-    },
-    _display_view: function (old_view) {
-        var view_controller = this.active_view.controller;
-        var view_fragment = this.active_view.$fragment;
-
-        // Prepare the ControlPanel content and update it
-        var view_control_elements = this.render_view_control_elements();
-        var cp_status = {
-            active_view_selector: '.o_cp_switch_' + this.active_view.type,
-            breadcrumbs: this.action_manager && this.action_manager.get_breadcrumbs(),
-            cp_content: _.extend({}, this.searchview_elements, view_control_elements),
-            hidden: this.flags.headless,
-            searchview: this.searchview,
-            search_view_hidden: !this.active_view.searchable || this.active_view.searchview_hidden,
-        };
-        this.update_control_panel(cp_status);
-
-        // Detach the old view and store it
-        if (old_view && old_view !== this.active_view) {
-            // Store the scroll position
-            if (this.action_manager && this.action_manager.webclient) {
-                old_view.controller.setScrollTop(this.action_manager.webclient.getScrollTop());
-            }
-            // Do not detach ui-autocomplete elements to let jquery-ui garbage-collect them
-            var $to_detach = this.$el.contents().not('.ui-autocomplete');
-            old_view.$fragment = dom.detach([{widget: old_view.controller}], {$to_detach: $to_detach});
-        }
-
-        // If the user switches from a multi-record to a mono-record view,
-        // the action manager should be scrolled to the top.
-        if (old_view && old_view.controller.multi_record === true && view_controller.multi_record === false) {
-            view_controller.setScrollTop(0);
-        }
-
-        // Append the view fragment to this.$el
-        dom.append(this.$el, view_fragment, {
-            in_DOM: this.is_in_DOM,
-            callbacks: [{widget: view_controller}],
-        });
-    },
-    create_view: function(view_descr, view_options) {
-        var self = this;
-        var arch = view_descr.fields_view.arch;
-        var View = this.registry.get(arch.attrs.js_class || view_descr.type);
-        var params = _.extend({}, view_options, {userContext: this.getSession().user_context});
-        if (view_descr.type === "form" && ((this.action.target === 'new' || this.action.target === 'inline' || this.action.target === 'fullscreen') ||
-            (view_options && (view_options.mode === 'edit' || view_options.context.form_view_initial_mode)))) {
-            params.mode = params.initial_mode || 'edit';
-        }
-        view_descr.searchview_hidden = View.prototype.searchview_hidden;
-        var view = new View(view_descr.fields_view, params);
-        return view.getController(this).then(function(controller) {
-            controller.on('history_back', this, function() {
-                if (self.action_manager) self.action_manager.trigger('history_back');
-            });
-            controller.on("change:title", this, function() {
-                if (self.action_manager && !self.flags.headless) {
-                    var breadcrumbs = self.action_manager.get_breadcrumbs();
-                    self.update_control_panel({breadcrumbs: breadcrumbs}, {clear: false});
-                }
-            });
-            return controller;
-        });
-    },
-    select_view: function (index) {
-        var viewType = this.view_stack[index].type;
-        var viewOptions = {};
-        if (viewType === 'form') {
-            // reload form views in readonly, except for inline actions (i.e.
-            // settings views) that stay in edit
-            viewOptions.mode = this.action.target === 'inline' ? 'edit' : 'readonly';
-        }
-        return this.switch_mode(viewType, viewOptions);
-    },
-    /**
-     * Renders the switch buttons for multi- and mono-record views and adds
-     * listeners on them, but does not append them to the DOM
-     * Sets switch_buttons.$mono and switch_buttons.$multi to send to the ControlPanel
-     */
-    render_switch_buttons: function() {
-        var self = this;
-
-        // Partition the views according to their multi-/mono-record status
-        var views = _.partition(this.view_order, function(view) {
-            return view.multi_record === true;
-        });
-        var multi_record_views = views[0];
-        var mono_record_views = views[1];
-
-        // Inner function to render and prepare switch_buttons
-        var _render_switch_buttons = function(views) {
-            if (views.length > 1) {
-                var $switch_buttons = $(QWeb.render('ViewManager.switch-buttons', {views: views}));
-                // Create bootstrap tooltips
-                _.each(views, function(view) {
-                    $switch_buttons.filter('.o_cp_switch_' + view.type).tooltip();
-                });
-                // Add onclick event listener
-                $switch_buttons.filter('button').click(_.debounce(function(event) {
-                    var view_type = $(event.target).data('view-type');
-                    self.switch_mode(view_type);
-                }, 200, true));
-                return $switch_buttons;
-            }
-        };
-
-        // Render switch buttons but do not append them to the DOM as this will
-        // be done later, simultaneously to all other ControlPanel elements
-        this.switch_buttons = {};
-        this.switch_buttons.$multi = _render_switch_buttons(multi_record_views);
-        this.switch_buttons.$mono = _render_switch_buttons(mono_record_views);
-    },
-    /**
-     * Renders the control elements (buttons, sidebar, pager) of the current view.
-     * Fills this.active_view.control_elements dictionnary with the rendered
-     * elements and the adequate view switcher, to send to the ControlPanel.
-     * Warning: it should be called before calling do_show on the view as the
-     * sidebar is extended to listen on the load_record event triggered as soon
-     * as do_show is done (the sidebar should thus be instantiated before).
-     */
-    render_view_control_elements: function() {
-        if (!this.active_view.control_elements) {
-            var view_controller = this.active_view.controller;
-            var $buttons = this.flags.$buttons;
-            var elements = {};
-            if (!this.flags.headless) {
-                elements = {
-                    $buttons: $("<div>"),
-                    $sidebar: $("<div>"),
-                    $pager: $("<div>"),
-                };
-            }
-            view_controller.renderButtons($buttons ? $buttons.empty() : elements.$buttons);
-            view_controller.renderSidebar(elements.$sidebar);
-            view_controller.renderPager(elements.$pager);
-            // Remove the unnecessary outer div
-            elements = _.mapObject(elements, function($node) {
-                return $node && $node.contents();
-            });
-            // Use the adequate view switcher (mono- or multi-record)
-            if (this.switch_buttons) {
-                if (this.active_view.multi_record) {
-                    elements.$switch_buttons = this.switch_buttons.$multi;
-                } else {
-                    elements.$switch_buttons = this.switch_buttons.$mono;
-                }
-            }
-
-            // Store the rendered elements in the active_view to allow restoring them later
-            this.active_view.control_elements = elements;
-        }
-        return this.active_view.control_elements;
-    },
-    /**
-     * Sets up the current viewmanager's search view.
-     * Sets $searchview and $searchview_buttons in searchview_elements to send to the ControlPanel
-     */
-    setup_search_view: function() {
-        var self = this;
-        var search_defaults = {};
-        var context = this.action.context || [];
-        _.each(context, function (value, key) {
-            var match = /^search_default_(.*)$/.exec(key);
-            if (match) {
-                search_defaults[match[1]] = value;
-            }
-        });
-
-        var options = {
-            hidden: this.flags.search_view === false,
-            disable_custom_filters: this.flags.search_disable_custom_filters,
-            $buttons: $("<div>"),
-            action: this.action,
-            search_defaults: search_defaults,
-        };
-        // Instantiate the SearchView, but do not append it nor its buttons to the DOM as this will
-        // be done later, simultaneously to all other ControlPanel elements
-        this.searchview = new SearchView(this, this.dataset, this.search_fields_view, options);
-
-        return $.when(this.searchview.appendTo($("<div>"))).done(function() {
-            self.searchview_elements = {};
-            self.searchview_elements.$searchview = self.searchview.$el;
-            self.searchview_elements.$searchview_buttons = self.searchview.$buttons.contents();
-        });
-    },
-    _process_search_data: function(domains, contexts, groupbys) {
-        // var controller = this.active_view.controller; // the correct view must be loaded here
-        var action_context = this.action.context || {};
-        var view_context = {}; //controller.get_context();
-        var results = pyeval.eval_domains_and_contexts({
-            domains: [this.action.domain || []].concat(domains || []),
-            contexts: [action_context, view_context].concat(contexts || []),
-            group_by_seq: groupbys || [],
-            eval_context: this.getSession().user_context,
-        });
-        if (results.error) {
-            throw new Error(_.str.sprintf(_t("Failed to evaluate search criterions")+": \n%s",
-                            JSON.stringify(results.error)));
-        }
-        // this.dataset._model = new Model(this.dataset.model, results.context, results.domain);
-        // var groupby = results.group_by.length ? results.group_by : action_context.group_by;
-        // if (_.isString(groupby)) {
-        //     groupby = [groupby];
-        // }
-        // if (!controller.grouped && !_.isEmpty(groupby)){
-        //     this.dataset.set_sort([]);
-        // }
-        return {
-            context: results.context,
-            domain: results.domain,
-            groupBy: results.group_by,
-        };
-    },
-    do_push_state: function(state) {
-        if (this.action_manager) {
-            state.view_type = this.active_view.type;
-            this.action_manager.do_push_state(state);
-        }
-    },
-    do_load_state: function(state) {
-        var stateChanged = false;
-        if ('id' in state && state.id !== '' && state.id !== this.env.currentId) {
-            this.env.currentId = state.id;
-            stateChanged = true;
-        }
-        if (state.view_type && state.view_type !== this.active_view.type) {
-            stateChanged = true;
-        }
-        if (stateChanged) {
-            return this.switch_mode(state.view_type);
-        }
-    },
-    /**
-     * Fetches and executes the action identified by ``action_data``.
-     *
-     * @param {Object} action_data the action descriptor data
-     * @param {String} action_data.name the action name, used to uniquely identify the action to find and execute it
-     * @param {String} [action_data.special=null] special action handlers, closes the dialog if set
-     * @param {String} [action_data.type='workflow'] the action type, if present, one of ``'object'``, ``'action'`` or ``'workflow'``
-     * @param {Object} [action_data.context=null] additional action context, to add to the current context
-     * @param {string} [action_data.effect] if given, a visual effect (a
-     *   rainbowman by default) will be displayed when the action is complete,
-     *   with the string (evaluated) given as options.
-     * @param {Object} env
-     * @param {string} env.model the model of the record(s) triggering the action
-     * @param {integer[]} [env.resIDs] the current ids in the environment where the action is triggered
-     * @param {integer} [env.currentID] the id of the record triggering the action
-     * @param {Object} [env.context] a context to pass to the action
-     * @param {Function} on_closed callback to execute when dialog is closed or when the action does not generate any result (no new action)
-     */
-    do_execute_action: function (action_data, env, on_closed) {
-        var self = this;
-        var result_handler = on_closed || function () {};
-        var context = new Context(env.context, action_data.context || {});
-        // OR NULL hereunder: pyeval waits specifically for a null value, different from undefined
-        var recordID = env.currentID || null;
-
-        // response handler
-        var handler = function (action) {
-            // show effect if button have effect attribute
-            // Rainbowman can be displayed from two places : from attribute on a button, or from python.
-            // Code below handles the first case i.e 'effect' attribute on button.
-            var effect = false;
-            if (action_data.effect) {
-                effect = pyeval.py_eval(action_data.effect);
-            };
-
-            if (action && action.constructor === Object) {
-                // filter out context keys that are specific to the current action.
-                // Wrong default_* and search_default_* values will no give the expected result
-                // Wrong group_by values will simply fail and forbid rendering of the destination view
-                var ncontext = new Context(
-                    _.object(_.reject(_.pairs(self.env.context), function(pair) {
-                      return pair[0].match('^(?:(?:default_|search_default_|show_).+|.+_view_ref|group_by|group_by_no_leaf|active_id|active_ids)$') !== null;
-                    }))
-                );
-                ncontext.add(action_data.context || {});
-                ncontext.add({active_model: env.model});
-                if (recordID) {
-                    ncontext.add({
-                        active_id: recordID,
-                        active_ids: [recordID],
-                    });
-                }
-                ncontext.add(action.context || {});
-                action.context = ncontext;
-                // In case effect data is returned from python and also there is rainbow
-                // attribute on button, priority is given to button attribute
-                action.effect = effect || action.effect;
-                return self.do_action(action, {
-                    on_close: result_handler,
-                });
-            } else {
-                // If action doesn't return anything, but have effect
-                // attribute on button, display rainbowman
-                self.do_action({"type":"ir.actions.act_window_close", 'effect': effect});
-                return result_handler();
-            }
-        };
-
-        if (action_data.special) {
-            return handler({"type":"ir.actions.act_window_close"});
-        } else if (action_data.type === "object") {
-            var args = recordID ? [[recordID]] : [env.resIDs];
-            if (action_data.args) {
-                try {
-                    // Warning: quotes and double quotes problem due to json and xml clash
-                    // Maybe we should force escaping in xml or do a better parse of the args array
-                    var additional_args = JSON.parse(action_data.args.replace(/'/g, '"'));
-                    args = args.concat(additional_args);
-                } catch(e) {
-                    console.error("Could not JSON.parse arguments", action_data.args);
-                }
-            }
-            args.push(context);
-            var dataset = new data.DataSet(this, env.model, env.context);
-            return dataset.call_button(action_data.name, args).then(handler);
-        } else if (action_data.type === "action") {
-            return data_manager.load_action(action_data.name, _.extend(pyeval.eval('context', context), {
-                active_model: env.model,
-                active_ids: env.resIDs,
-                active_id: recordID,
-            })).then(handler);
-        }
-    },
-    destroy: function () {
-        if (this.control_elements) {
-            if (this.control_elements.$switch_buttons) {
-                this.control_elements.$switch_buttons.off();
-            }
-        }
-        return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
-    },
-
-    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    // Handlers
-    //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-    /**
-     * This handler is probably called by a sub form view when the user discards
-     * its value.  The usual result of this is that we switch back to the
-     * previous view (the first in our action stack).  We do this in a really
-     * stupid way: we trigger a 'history_back' event, and the action manager
-     * will call this very view manager to activate the previous view.
-     * @todo: directly switch to previous view
-     *
-     * @private
-     */
-    _onSwitchToPreviousView: function () {
-        this.trigger_up('history_back');
-    }
-});
-
-return ViewManager;
-
-});
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/web_client.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/web_client.js
index e725aaee8f6..c39917d5118 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/web_client.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/chrome/web_client.js
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ return AbstractWebClient.extend({
                             action_buttons: true,
                             headless: true,
                         };
-                        self.action_manager.do_action(result).then(function () {
+                        self.action_manager.doAction(result).then(function () {
                             var form = self.action_manager.dialog_widget.views.form.controller;
                             form.on("on_button_cancel", self.action_manager, self.action_manager.dialog_stop);
                             form.on('record_saved', self, function() {
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ return AbstractWebClient.extend({
                     .done(function(result) {
                         var data = result[0];
                         if(data.action_id) {
-                            self.action_manager.do_action(data.action_id[0]);
+                            self.action_manager.doAction(data.action_id[0]);
                             self.menu.open_action(data.action_id[0]);
                         } else {
                             var first_menu_id = self.menu.$el.find("a:first").data("menu");
@@ -140,11 +140,10 @@ return AbstractWebClient.extend({
                         self.menu.menu_click(state.menu_id);
                     });
                 } else {
-                    state._push_me = false;  // no need to push state back...
-                    self.action_manager.do_load_state(state, !!self._current_state).then(function () {
-                        var action = self.action_manager.get_inner_action();
+                    self.action_manager.loadState(state, !!self._current_state).then(function () {
+                        var action = self.action_manager.getCurrentAction();
                         if (action) {
-                            self.menu.open_action(action.action_descr.id);
+                            self.menu.open_action(action.id);
                         }
                     });
                 }
@@ -163,10 +162,10 @@ return AbstractWebClient.extend({
             .then(function (result) {
                 return self.action_mutex.exec(function() {
                     var completed = $.Deferred();
-                    $.when(self.action_manager.do_action(result, {
+                    self.action_manager.doAction(result, {
                         clear_breadcrumbs: true,
                         action_menu_id: self.menu.current_menu,
-                    })).fail(function() {
+                    }).fail(function() {
                         self.menu.open_menu(options.previous_menu_id);
                     }).always(function() {
                         completed.resolve();
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/core/dialog.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/core/dialog.js
index 0bc370f782a..d5be248b16e 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/core/dialog.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/core/dialog.js
@@ -165,12 +165,12 @@ var Dialog = Widget.extend({
         this.destroy();
     },
 
-    destroy: function (reason) {
+    destroy: function (arg) {
         // Need to trigger before real destroy but if 'closed' handler destroys
         // the widget again, we want to avoid infinite recursion
         if (!this.__closed) {
             this.__closed = true;
-            this.trigger("closed", reason);
+            this.trigger("closed", arg);
         }
 
         if (this.isDestroyed()) {
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/core/misc.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/core/misc.js
index 99c21c14038..be0f012752c 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/core/misc.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/core/misc.js
@@ -140,17 +140,6 @@ function Home (parent, action) {
 }
 core.action_registry.add("home", Home);
 
-/**
- * Client action to go back in breadcrumb history.
- * If can't go back in history stack, will go back to home.
- */
-function HistoryBack (parent) {
-    parent.history_back().fail(function () {
-        Home(parent);
-    });
-}
-core.action_registry.add("history_back", HistoryBack);
-
 function login() {
     redirect('/web/login');
 }
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/report/client_action.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/report/client_action.js
index cf6f4c94dfe..2fd2ccd44b3 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/report/client_action.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/report/client_action.js
@@ -94,7 +94,6 @@ var ReportAction = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
 
     _update_control_panel: function () {
         this.update_control_panel({
-            breadcrumbs: this.action_manager.get_breadcrumbs(),
             cp_content: {
                 $buttons: this.$buttons,
             },
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/abstract_controller.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/abstract_controller.js
index 3bdf8ab08ca..150b4803a7a 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/abstract_controller.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/abstract_controller.js
@@ -12,12 +12,16 @@ odoo.define('web.AbstractController', function (require) {
  * reading localstorage, ...) has to go through the controller.
  */
 
+var ControlPanelMixin = require('web.ControlPanelMixin');
+var core = require('web.core');
 var Widget = require('web.Widget');
 
+var QWeb = core.qweb;
 
-var AbstractController = Widget.extend({
+var AbstractController = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
     custom_events: {
         open_record: '_onOpenRecord',
+        switch_view: '_onSwitchView',
     },
     events: {
         'click a[type="action"]': '_onActionClicked',
@@ -30,8 +34,15 @@ var AbstractController = Widget.extend({
      * @param {AbstractRenderer} renderer
      * @param {object} params
      * @param {string} params.modelName
+     * @param {string} [params.controllerID] an id to ease the communication
+     *   with upstream components
      * @param {any} [params.handle] a handle that will be given to the model (some id)
      * @param {any} params.initialState the initialState
+     * @param {boolean} params.isMultiRecord
+     * @param {Object[]} params.actionViews
+     * @param {string} params.viewType
+     * @param {boolean} params.withControlPanel set to false to hide the
+     *   ControlPanel
      */
     init: function (parent, model, renderer, params) {
         this._super.apply(this, arguments);
@@ -40,7 +51,23 @@ var AbstractController = Widget.extend({
         this.modelName = params.modelName;
         this.handle = params.handle;
         this.activeActions = params.activeActions;
+        this.controllerID = params.controllerID;
         this.initialState = params.initialState;
+
+        // those arguments are temporary, they won't be necessary as soon as the
+        // ControlPanel will be handled by the View
+        this.displayName = params.displayName;
+        this.isMultiRecord = params.isMultiRecord;
+        this.searchable = params.searchable;
+        this.searchView = params.searchView;
+        this.searchViewHidden = params.searchViewHidden;
+        this.actionViews = params.actionViews;
+        this.viewType = params.viewType;
+        this.withControlPanel = params.withControlPanel !== false;
+        // override this.need_control_panel so that the ActionManager doesn't
+        // update the control panel when it isn't visible (this is a temporary
+        // hack that can be removed as soon as the CP'll be handled by the view)
+        this.need_control_panel = this.withControlPanel;
     },
     /**
      * Simply renders and updates the url.
@@ -48,10 +75,19 @@ var AbstractController = Widget.extend({
      * @returns {Deferred}
      */
     start: function () {
+        var self = this;
+
+        this.$el.addClass('o_view_controller');
+
+        // render the ControlPanel elements (buttons, pager, sidebar...)
+        this.controlPanelElements = this._renderControlPanelElements();
+
         return $.when(
             this._super.apply(this, arguments),
             this.renderer.appendTo(this.$el)
-        ).then(this._update.bind(this, this.initialState));
+        ).then(function () {
+            self._update(self.initialState);
+        });
     },
     /**
      * @override
@@ -60,6 +96,9 @@ var AbstractController = Widget.extend({
         if (this.$buttons) {
             this.$buttons.off();
         }
+        if (this.controlPanelElements && this.controlPanelElements.$switch_buttons) {
+            this.controlPanelElements.$switch_buttons.off();
+        }
         return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
     },
 
@@ -70,7 +109,7 @@ var AbstractController = Widget.extend({
     /**
      * Discards the changes made on the record associated to the given ID, or
      * all changes made by the current controller if no recordID is given. For
-     * example, when the user open the 'home' screen, the view manager will call
+     * example, when the user opens the 'home' screen, the action manager calls
      * this method on the active view to make sure it is ok to open the home
      * screen (and lose all current state).
      *
@@ -95,24 +134,16 @@ var AbstractController = Widget.extend({
     getContext: function () {
         return {};
     },
-    /**
-     * @see setScrollTop
-     * @returns {number}
-     */
-    getScrollTop: function () {
-        return this.scrollTop;
-    },
     /**
      * Returns a title that may be displayed in the breadcrumb area.  For
      * example, the name of the record.
      *
-     * Note: this seems wrong right now, it should not be implemented, we have
-     * no guarantee that there is a display_name variable in a controller.
+     * note: this will be moved to AbstractAction
      *
      * @returns {string}
      */
     getTitle: function () {
-        return this.display_name;
+        return this.displayName;
     },
     /**
      * The use of this method is discouraged.  It is still snakecased, because
@@ -136,12 +167,9 @@ var AbstractController = Widget.extend({
         return this.update(params || {});
     },
     /**
-     * Most likely called by the view manager, this method is responsible for
-     * adding buttons in the control panel (buttons such as save/discard/...)
-     *
-     * Note that there is no guarantee that this method will be called. The
-     * controller is supposed to work even without a view manager, for example
-     * in the frontend (odoo frontend = public website)
+     * Renders the buttons to append, in most cases, to the control panel (in
+     * the bottom left corner). When the view is rendered in a dialog, those
+     * buttons might be moved to the dialog's footer.
      *
      * @param {jQuery Node} $node
      */
@@ -153,7 +181,7 @@ var AbstractController = Widget.extend({
      * controller can actually render whatever he wants in the pager zone.  If
      * your view does not want a pager, just let this method empty.
      *
-     * @param {Query Node} $node
+     * @param {jQuery Node} $node
      */
     renderPager: function ($node) {
     },
@@ -161,20 +189,10 @@ var AbstractController = Widget.extend({
      * Same as renderPager, but for the 'sidebar' zone (the zone with the menu
      * dropdown in the control panel next to the buttons)
      *
-     * @param {Query Node} $node
+     * @param {jQuery Node} $node
      */
     renderSidebar: function ($node) {
     },
-    /**
-     * Not sure about this one, it probably needs to be reworked, maybe merged
-     * in get/set local state methods.
-     *
-     * @see getScrollTop
-     * @param {number} scrollTop
-     */
-    setScrollTop: function (scrollTop) {
-        this.scrollTop = scrollTop;
-    },
     /**
      * This is the main entry point for the controller.  Changes from the search
      * view arrive in this method, and internal changes can sometimes also call
@@ -219,7 +237,68 @@ var AbstractController = Widget.extend({
      *   world
      */
     _pushState: function (state) {
-        this.trigger_up('push_state', state || {});
+        this.trigger_up('push_state', {
+            controllerID: this.controllerID,
+            state: state || {},
+        });
+    },
+    /**
+     * Renders the control elements (buttons, pager and sidebar) of the current
+     * view.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @returns {Object} an object containing the control panel jQuery elements
+     */
+    _renderControlPanelElements: function () {
+        var elements = {};
+
+        if (this.withControlPanel) {
+            elements = {
+                $buttons: $('<div>'),
+                $sidebar: $('<div>'),
+                $pager: $('<div>'),
+            };
+
+            this.renderButtons(elements.$buttons);
+            this.renderSidebar(elements.$sidebar);
+            this.renderPager(elements.$pager);
+            // remove the unnecessary outer div
+            elements = _.mapObject(elements, function($node) {
+                return $node && $node.contents();
+            });
+            elements.$switch_buttons = this._renderSwitchButtons();
+        }
+
+        return elements;
+    },
+    /**
+     * Renders the switch buttons and binds listeners on them.
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @returns {jQuery}
+     */
+    _renderSwitchButtons: function () {
+        var self = this;
+        var views = _.filter(this.actionViews, {multiRecord: this.isMultiRecord});
+
+        if (views.length <= 1) {
+            return $();
+        }
+
+        var $switchButtons = $(QWeb.render('ControlPanel.SwitchButtons', {
+            views: views,
+        }));
+        // create bootstrap tooltips
+        _.each(views, function (view) {
+            $switchButtons.filter('.o_cp_switch_' + view.type).tooltip();
+        });
+        // add onclick event listener
+        $switchButtons.filter('button').click(_.debounce(function (event) {
+            var viewType = $(event.target).data('view-type');
+            self.trigger_up('switch_view', {view_type: viewType});
+        }, 200, true));
+
+        return $switchButtons;
     },
     /**
      * This method is called after each update or when the start method is
@@ -235,6 +314,22 @@ var AbstractController = Widget.extend({
      * @returns {Deferred}
      */
     _update: function (state) {
+        // AAB: update the control panel -> this will be moved elsewhere at some point
+        var cpContent = _.extend({}, this.controlPanelElements);
+        if (this.searchView) {
+            _.extend(cpContent, {
+                $searchview: this.searchView.$el,
+                $searchview_buttons: this.searchView.$buttons.contents(),
+            });
+        }
+        this.update_control_panel({
+            active_view_selector: '.o_cp_switch_' + this.viewType,
+            cp_content: cpContent,
+            hidden: !this.withControlPanel,
+            searchview: this.searchView,
+            search_view_hidden: !this.searchable || this.searchviewHidden,
+        });
+
         this._pushState();
         return $.when();
     },
@@ -249,7 +344,7 @@ var AbstractController = Widget.extend({
      *
      * Note: this method seems wrong, it relies on the model being a basic model,
      * to get the res_id.  It should receive the res_id in the event data
-     * @todo move this to basic controller? or view manager
+     * @todo move this to basic controller?
      *
      * @private
      * @param {OdooEvent} event
@@ -278,6 +373,15 @@ var AbstractController = Widget.extend({
         event.preventDefault();
         this.do_action(event.target.name);
     },
+    /**
+     * Intercepts the 'switch_view' event to add the controllerID into the data,
+     * and lets the event bubble up.
+     *
+     * @param {OdooEvent} event
+     */
+    _onSwitchView: function (event) {
+        event.data.controllerID = this.controllerID;
+    },
 
 });
 
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/abstract_view.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/abstract_view.js
index 2a1ba16a33e..58b2c85a670 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/abstract_view.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/abstract_view.js
@@ -67,11 +67,18 @@ var AbstractView = Class.extend({
      * @param {string} params.modelName The actual model name
      * @param {Object} params.context
      * @param {number} [params.count]
+     * @param {string} [params.controllerID]
      * @param {string[]} params.domain
      * @param {string[]} params.groupBy
      * @param {number} [params.currentId]
      * @param {number[]} [params.ids]
+     * @param {boolean} [params.withControlPanel]
+     * @param {boolean} [params.action.flags.headless]
+     * @param {string} [params.action.display_name]
+     * @param {string} [params.action.name]
      * @param {string} [params.action.help]
+     * @param {string} [params.action.jsID]
+     * @param {boolean} [params.action.views]
      */
     init: function (viewInfo, params) {
         this.rendererParams = {
@@ -87,7 +94,23 @@ var AbstractView = Class.extend({
                 delete: viewInfo.arch.attrs.delete ? JSON.parse(viewInfo.arch.attrs.delete) : true,
                 duplicate: viewInfo.arch.attrs.duplicate ? JSON.parse(viewInfo.arch.attrs.duplicate) : true,
             },
+            controllerID: params.controllerID,
         };
+        // AAB: these params won't be necessary as soon as the ControlPanel will
+        // be instantiated by the View
+        this.controllerParams.displayName = params.action && (params.action.display_name || params.action.name);
+        this.controllerParams.isMultiRecord = this.multi_record;
+        this.controllerParams.searchable = this.searchable;
+        this.controllerParams.searchView = params.action && params.action.searchView;
+        this.controllerParams.searchViewHidden = this.searchview_hidden; // AAB: use searchable instead where it is used?
+        this.controllerParams.actionViews = params.action ? params.action.views : [];
+        this.controllerParams.viewType = this.viewType;
+        this.controllerParams.withControlPanel = true;
+        if (params.action && params.action.flags) {
+            this.controllerParams.withControlPanel = !params.action.flags.headless;
+        } else if ('withControlPanel' in params) {
+            this.controllerParams.withControlPanel = params.withControlPanel;
+        }
 
         this.loadParams = {
             context: params.context,
@@ -133,7 +156,7 @@ var AbstractView = Class.extend({
      * load itself, and the renderer needs the data in its constructor.
      *
      * @param {Widget} parent The parent of the resulting Controller (most
-     *      likely a view manager)
+     *      likely an action manager)
      * @returns {Deferred} The deferred resolves to a controller
      */
     getController: function (parent) {
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/basic/basic_controller.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/basic/basic_controller.js
index 1c8060a6fe1..2c7c1c40210 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/basic/basic_controller.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/basic/basic_controller.js
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ var BasicController = AbstractController.extend(FieldManagerMixin, {
     _abandonRecord: function (recordID) {
         recordID = recordID || this.handle;
         if (recordID === this.handle) {
-            this.trigger_up('switch_to_previous_view');
+            this.trigger_up('history_back');
         } else {
             this.model.removeLine(recordID);
         }
@@ -244,17 +244,11 @@ var BasicController = AbstractController.extend(FieldManagerMixin, {
                 model: record.model,
                 resIDs: record.res_ids,
             },
-            on_closed: function (reason) {
-                if (!_.isObject(reason)) {
-                    reload(reason);
-                }
-            },
-            on_fail: function (reason) {
-                reload().always(function() {
-                    def.reject(reason);
-                });
-            },
             on_success: def.resolve.bind(def),
+            on_fail: function () {
+                reload().always(def.reject.bind(def));
+            },
+            on_closed: reload,
         });
         return this.alive(def);
     },
@@ -313,13 +307,13 @@ var BasicController = AbstractController.extend(FieldManagerMixin, {
      * @param {Object} [options]
      * @param {boolean} [options.readonlyIfRealDiscard=false]
      *        After discarding record changes, the usual option is to make the
-     *        record readonly. However, the view manager calls this function
+     *        record readonly. However, the action manager calls this function
      *        at inappropriate times in the current code and in that case, we
      *        don't want to go back to readonly if there is nothing to discard
      *        (e.g. when switching record in edit mode in form view, we expect
      *        the new record to be in edit mode too, but the view manager calls
      *        this function as the URL changes...) @todo get rid of this when
-     *        the view manager is improved.
+     *        the webclient/action_manager's hashchange mechanism is improved.
      * @returns {Deferred}
      */
     _discardChanges: function (recordID, options) {
@@ -467,7 +461,7 @@ var BasicController = AbstractController.extend(FieldManagerMixin, {
             var sidebarEnv = this._getSidebarEnv();
             this.sidebar.updateEnv(sidebarEnv);
         }
-        this.trigger_up('env_updated', env);
+        this.trigger_up('env_updated', {controllerID: this.controllerID, env: env});
     },
     /**
      * Helper method, to make sure the information displayed by the pager is up
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/form/form_controller.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/form/form_controller.js
index 2820dad448f..7b279d44bcd 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/form/form_controller.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/form/form_controller.js
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ var FormController = BasicController.extend({
      *   inserted
      **/
     renderSidebar: function ($node) {
-        if (!this.sidebar && this.hasSidebar) {
+        if (this.hasSidebar) {
             var otherItems = [];
             if (this.is_action_enabled('delete')) {
                 otherItems.push({
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ var FormController = BasicController.extend({
     _onDeletedRecords: function () {
         var state = this.model.get(this.handle, {raw: true});
         if (!state.res_ids.length) {
-            this.do_action('history_back');
+            this.trigger_up('history_back');
         } else {
             this._super.apply(this, arguments);
         }
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/form/form_view.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/form/form_view.js
index 42cf5de12e4..2851d3ac72a 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/form/form_view.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/form/form_view.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ odoo.define('web.FormView', function (require) {
 "use strict";
 
 var BasicView = require('web.BasicView');
-var Context = require('web.Context');
 var core = require('web.core');
 var FormController = require('web.FormController');
 var FormRenderer = require('web.FormRenderer');
@@ -25,15 +24,16 @@ var FormView = BasicView.extend({
     init: function (viewInfo, params) {
         this._super.apply(this, arguments);
 
-        var mode = params.mode || (params.currentId ? 'readonly' : 'edit');
+        var mode = params.mode || params.context.form_view_initial_mode ||
+                   (params.currentId ? 'readonly' : 'edit');
         this.loadParams.type = 'record';
 
         this.controllerParams.disableAutofocus = params.disable_autofocus;
-        this.controllerParams.hasSidebar = params.sidebar;
+        this.controllerParams.hasSidebar = params.hasSidebar;
         this.controllerParams.toolbarActions = viewInfo.toolbar;
-        this.controllerParams.footerToButtons = params.footer_to_buttons;
+        this.controllerParams.footerToButtons = params.footerToButtons;
         if ('action' in params && 'flags' in params.action) {
-            this.controllerParams.footerToButtons = params.action.flags.footer_to_buttons;
+            this.controllerParams.footerToButtons = params.action.flags.footerToButtons;
         }
         var defaultButtons = 'default_buttons' in params ? params.default_buttons : true;
         this.controllerParams.defaultButtons = defaultButtons;
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/list/list_controller.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/list/list_controller.js
index 982d5456bca..33c1d234c7a 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/list/list_controller.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/list/list_controller.js
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ var ListController = BasicController.extend({
      * @param {jQuery Node} $node
      */
     renderSidebar: function ($node) {
-        if (this.hasSidebar && !this.sidebar) {
+        if (this.hasSidebar) {
             var other = [{
                 label: _t("Export"),
                 callback: this._onExportData.bind(this)
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/list/list_view.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/list/list_view.js
index 8a989dad35e..e970f825846 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/list/list_view.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/list/list_view.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ var ListView = BasicView.extend({
      *
      * @param {Object} viewInfo
      * @param {Object} params
-     * @param {boolean} params.sidebar
+     * @param {boolean} params.hasSidebar
      * @param {boolean} [params.hasSelectors=true]
      */
     init: function (viewInfo, params) {
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ var ListView = BasicView.extend({
         var mode = arch.attrs.editable && !params.readonly ? "edit" : "readonly";
 
         this.controllerParams.editable = arch.attrs.editable;
-        this.controllerParams.hasSidebar = params.sidebar;
+        this.controllerParams.hasSidebar = params.hasSidebar;
         this.controllerParams.toolbarActions = viewInfo.toolbar;
         this.controllerParams.noLeaf = !!this.loadParams.context.group_by_no_leaf;
         this.controllerParams.mode = mode;
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/view_dialogs.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/view_dialogs.js
index aea29d96ee2..72e215f9c24 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/view_dialogs.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/view_dialogs.js
@@ -175,8 +175,9 @@ var FormViewDialog = ViewDialog.extend({
                 currentId: self.res_id || undefined,
                 index: 0,
                 mode: self.res_id && self.options.readonly ? 'readonly' : 'edit',
-                footer_to_buttons: true,
+                footerToButtons: true,
                 default_buttons: false,
+                withControlPanel: false,
                 model: self.model,
                 parentID: self.parentID,
                 recordID: self.recordID,
@@ -190,9 +191,9 @@ var FormViewDialog = ViewDialog.extend({
             }
             self.form_view.appendTo(fragment)
                 .then(function () {
-                    var $buttons = $('<div>');
-                    self.form_view.renderButtons($buttons);
                     self.opened().always(function () {
+                        var $buttons = $('<div>');
+                        self.form_view.renderButtons($buttons);
                         if ($buttons.children().length) {
                             self.$footer.empty().append($buttons.contents());
                         }
@@ -257,7 +258,7 @@ var SelectCreateDialog = ViewDialog.extend({
             this.$footer.find(".o_select_button").prop('disabled', !event.data.selection.length);
         },
         search: function (event) {
-            event.stopPropagation(); // prevent this event from bubbling up to the view manager
+            event.stopPropagation(); // prevent this event from bubbling up to the action manager
             var d = event.data;
             var searchData = this._process_search_data(d.domains, d.contexts, d.groupbys);
             this.list_controller.reload(searchData);
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/widgets/debug_manager.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/widgets/debug_manager.js
index 2c9cf3d4457..50e0497b91b 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/widgets/debug_manager.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/widgets/debug_manager.js
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ var field_utils = require('web.field_utils');
 var session = require('web.session');
 var SystrayMenu = require('web.SystrayMenu');
 var utils = require('web.utils');
-var ViewManager = require('web.ViewManager');
 var WebClient = require('web.WebClient');
 var Widget = require('web.Widget');
 
@@ -332,42 +331,35 @@ DebugManager.include({
         );
     },
     update: function (tag, descriptor, widget) {
-        switch (tag) {
-        case 'action':
-            if (this._view_manager) {
-                this._view_manager.off('switch_mode', this);
-            }
-            if (!(widget instanceof ViewManager)) {
-                this._active_view = null;
-                this._view_manager = null;
-                break;
-            }
-            this._view_manager = widget;
-            widget.on('switch_mode', this, function () {
-                this.update('view', null, widget);
-            });
-        case 'view':
-            this._active_view = widget.active_view;
+        if (tag === 'action' || tag === 'view') {
+            this._controller = widget;
         }
-
         return this._super(tag, descriptor).then(function () {
             this.$dropdown.find(".o_debug_leave_section").before(QWeb.render('WebClient.DebugManager.View', {
-                manager: this,
                 action: this._action,
-                view: this._active_view,
                 can_edit: this._can_edit_views,
-                searchview: this._view_manager && this._view_manager.searchview,
+                controller: this._controller,
+                manager: this,
+                searchview: this._controller && this._controller.searchView,
+                view: this._controller && _.findWhere(this._action.views, {
+                    type: this._controller.viewType,
+                }),
             }));
         }.bind(this));
     },
 
     get_metadata: function() {
-        var ds = this._view_manager.dataset;
-        if (!this._active_view.controller.getSelectedIds().length) {
+        var self = this;
+        var selectedIDs = this._controller.getSelectedIds();
+        if (!selectedIDs.length) {
             console.warn(_t("No metadata available"));
             return;
         }
-        ds.call('get_metadata', [this._active_view.controller.getSelectedIds()]).done(function(result) {
+        this._rpc({
+            model: this._action.res_model,
+            method: 'get_metadata',
+            args: [selectedIDs],
+        }).done(function(result) {
             var metadata = result[0];
             metadata.creator = field_utils.format.many2one(metadata.create_uid);
             metadata.lastModifiedBy = field_utils.format.many2one(metadata.write_uid);
@@ -376,7 +368,7 @@ DebugManager.include({
             var modificationDate = field_utils.parse.datetime(metadata.write_date);
             metadata.write_date = field_utils.format.datetime(modificationDate);
             new Dialog(this, {
-                title: _.str.sprintf(_t("Metadata (%s)"), ds.model),
+                title: _.str.sprintf(_t("Metadata (%s)"), self._action.res_model),
                 size: 'medium',
                 $content: QWeb.render('WebClient.DebugViewLog', {
                     perm : metadata,
@@ -400,11 +392,12 @@ DebugManager.include({
             return [value, displayed];
         };
 
-        var renderer = this._active_view.controller.renderer;
-        var fields = self._active_view.fields_view.fields;
-        var fieldsInfo = self._active_view.fields_view.fieldsInfo.form;
-        var fieldNamesInView = renderer.state.getFieldNames();
-        var fieldsValues = renderer.state.data;
+        var renderer = this._controller.renderer;
+        var state = renderer.state;
+        var fields = state.fields;
+        var fieldsInfo = state.fieldsInfo.form;
+        var fieldNamesInView = state.getFieldNames();
+        var fieldsValues = state.data;
         var modifierDatas = {};
         _.each(fieldNamesInView, function (fieldName) {
             modifierDatas[fieldName] = _.find(renderer.allModifiersData, function (modifierdata) {
@@ -416,14 +409,14 @@ DebugManager.include({
                 var modifierData = modifierDatas[fieldName];
                 var invisibleOrReadOnly;
                 if (modifierData) {
-                    var evaluatedModifiers = modifierData.evaluatedModifiers[renderer.state.id];
+                    var evaluatedModifiers = modifierData.evaluatedModifiers[state.id];
                     invisibleOrReadOnly = evaluatedModifiers.invisible || evaluatedModifiers.readonly;
                 }
                 var fieldInfo = fields[fieldName];
                 var valueDisplayed = display(fieldInfo, fieldsValues[fieldName]);
                 var value = valueDisplayed[0];
                 var displayed = valueDisplayed[1];
-                 // ignore fields which are empty, invisible, readonly, o2m
+                // ignore fields which are empty, invisible, readonly, o2m
                 // or m2m
                 if (!value || invisibleOrReadOnly || fieldInfo.type === 'one2many' ||
                     fieldInfo.type === 'many2many' || fieldInfo.type === 'binary' ||
@@ -479,7 +472,7 @@ DebugManager.include({
                         model: 'ir.default',
                         method: 'set',
                         args: [
-                            self._active_view.fields_view.model,
+                            self._controller.fields_view.model,
                             fieldToSet,
                             value,
                             allUsers,
@@ -502,7 +495,7 @@ DebugManager.include({
         var dialog = new Dialog(this, { title: _t("Fields View Get") });
         dialog.opened().then(function () {
             $('<pre>').text(utils.json_node_to_xml(
-                self._active_view.controller.renderer.arch, true)
+                self._controller.renderer.arch, true)
             ).appendTo(dialog.$el);
         });
         dialog.open();
@@ -788,30 +781,80 @@ if (config.debug) {
     SystrayMenu.Items.push(DebugManager);
 
     WebClient.include({
-        current_action_updated: function(action) {
+        //----------------------------------------------------------------------
+        // Public
+        //----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        /**
+         * @override
+         */
+        current_action_updated: function (action, controller) {
             this._super.apply(this, arguments);
-            var action_descr = action && action.action_descr;
-            var action_widget = action && action.widget;
-            var debug_manager = _.find(this.systray_menu.widgets, function(item) {return item instanceof DebugManager; });
-            debug_manager.update('action', action_descr, action_widget);
+            var debugManager = _.find(this.systray_menu.widgets, function(item) {
+                return item instanceof DebugManager;
+            });
+            debugManager.update('action', action, controller && controller.widget);
+        },
+    });
+
+    ActionManager.include({
+        //----------------------------------------------------------------------
+        // Public
+        //----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        /**
+         * Returns the action of the controller currently opened in a dialog,
+         * i.e. a target='new' action, if any.
+         *
+         * @returns {Object|null}
+         */
+        getCurrentActionInDialog: function () {
+            if (this.currentDialogController) {
+                return this.actions[this.currentDialogController.actionID];
+            }
+            return null;
+        },
+        /**
+         * Returns the controller currently opened in a dialog, if any.
+         *
+         * @returns {Object|null}
+         */
+        getCurrentControllerInDialog: function () {
+            return this.currentDialogController;
         },
     });
 
     Dialog.include({
+        //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+        // Public
+        //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+        /**
+         * @override
+         */
         open: function() {
             var self = this;
-
-            var parent = self.getParent();
-            if (parent instanceof ActionManager && parent.dialog_widget) {
-                // Instantiate the DebugManager and insert it into the DOM once dialog is opened
-                this.opened(function() {
-                    self.debug_manager = new DebugManager(self);
-                    var $header = self.$modal.find('.modal-header:first');
-                    return self.debug_manager.prependTo($header).then(function() {
-                        self.debug_manager.update('action', parent.dialog_widget.action, parent.dialog_widget);
-                    });
-                });
-            }
+            // if the dialog is opened by the ActionManager, instantiate a
+            // DebugManager and insert it into the DOM once the dialog is opened
+            // (delay this with a setTimeout(0) to ensure that the internal
+            // state, i.e. the current action and controller, of the
+            // ActionManager is set to properly update the DebugManager)
+            this.opened(function() {
+                setTimeout(function () {
+                    var parent = self.getParent();
+                    if (parent instanceof ActionManager) {
+                        var action = parent.getCurrentActionInDialog();
+                        if (action) {
+                            var controller = parent.getCurrentControllerInDialog();
+                            self.debugManager = new DebugManager(self);
+                            var $header = self.$modal.find('.modal-header:first');
+                            return self.debugManager.prependTo($header).then(function () {
+                                self.debugManager.update('action', action, controller.widget);
+                            });
+                        }
+                    }
+                }, 0);
+            });
 
             return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
         },
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/less/fields.less b/addons/web/static/src/less/fields.less
index 3c6428e5c75..e8bf81c9448 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/less/fields.less
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/less/fields.less
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
     }
 
     // Block fields
-    &.note-editor, &.oe_form_field_html, &.oe_form_field_html_text, &.oe_form_field_text, &.o_view_manager_content, &.o_field_domain, &.o_graph_linechart, &.o_graph_barchart {
+    &.note-editor, &.oe_form_field_html, &.oe_form_field_html_text, &.oe_form_field_text, &.o_field_domain, &.o_graph_linechart, &.o_graph_barchart {
         display: block;
     }
 
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/less/form_view.less b/addons/web/static/src/less/form_view.less
index 36002ace912..8a053a8cca3 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/less/form_view.less
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/less/form_view.less
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@
 
     // One2Many, Many2Many outside of group
     .o_field_widget {
-        &.o_view_manager_content, &.o_field_one2many, &.o_field_many2many {
+        &.o_field_one2many, &.o_field_many2many {
             width: 100%;
             > div {
                 width: 100%;
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/less/graph_view.less b/addons/web/static/src/less/graph_view.less
index f77b4faa9d0..fc8fc323582 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/less/graph_view.less
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/less/graph_view.less
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 .o_graph {
-    height: 100%;
-
     .o_graph_svg_container {
         height: 100%;
         overflow: auto;
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/less/modal.less b/addons/web/static/src/less/modal.less
index a223deb55ef..5b74583ee41 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/less/modal.less
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/less/modal.less
@@ -23,10 +23,6 @@
                     float: right;
                 }
             }
-
-            .o_view_manager_content {
-                position: static;  // Reset position for view managers in modals (default value: absolute)
-            }
         }
 
         .modal-footer {
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/less/pivot_view.less b/addons/web/static/src/less/pivot_view.less
index 2fa6e1a6f44..d7dfdd45de5 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/less/pivot_view.less
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/less/pivot_view.less
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 .o_pivot {
-    height: 100%;
     overflow: auto;
 
     // Inform the user that he may click on a cell to be redirected to a list view of the
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/less/views.less b/addons/web/static/src/less/views.less
index ee82aa5d9e5..48117cb1b75 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/less/views.less
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/less/views.less
@@ -4,9 +4,6 @@
  */
 
 // No content helper
-.o_view_manager_content > div {
-    height: 100%;
-}
 .oe_view_nocontent {
     a {
         cursor: pointer;
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/less/webclient_layout.less b/addons/web/static/src/less/webclient_layout.less
index b389a919a1e..f876d8b3527 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/less/webclient_layout.less
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/less/webclient_layout.less
@@ -155,14 +155,9 @@
                 overflow: auto;
                 position: relative;
 
-                .o_view_manager_content {
+                > .o_view_controller {
                     .o-position-absolute(0, 0, 0, 0);  // Get the 100% height of its flex parent
                     height: 100%;
-
-                    .o_view_manager_content {
-                        position: static;  // Reset position for nested view managers
-                        height: auto;  // reset height inheritance for nested view managers
-                    }
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/xml/base.xml b/addons/web/static/src/xml/base.xml
index 509c03fdf4b..ea4f554b183 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/xml/base.xml
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/xml/base.xml
@@ -177,8 +177,6 @@
     </div>
 </form>
 
-<div t-name="ActionManager" class="o_content"/>
-
 <t t-name="ControlPanel">
     <div class="o_control_panel">
         <ol class="breadcrumb"/>
@@ -201,9 +199,9 @@
     </div>
 </t>
 
-<t t-name="ViewManager.switch-buttons">
+<t t-name="ControlPanel.SwitchButtons">
     <t t-foreach="views" t-as="view">
-        <button type="button" t-att-accesskey="view.accesskey"
+        <button type="button" t-att-accesskey="view.accessKey"
             t-attf-class="btn btn-icon fa fa-lg #{view.icon} o_cp_switch_#{view.type}"
             t-att-aria-label="view.type"
             t-att-data-view-type="view.type" t-att-title="view.label"/>
@@ -259,14 +257,14 @@
         <li class="divider"/>
         <t t-if="view.type === 'form'">
             <li><a href="#" data-action="set_defaults">Set Defaults</a></li>
-            <t t-if="view.controller.getSelectedIds().length === 1">
+            <t t-if="controller.getSelectedIds().length === 1">
                 <li><a href="#" data-action="get_metadata">View Metadata</a></li>
             </t>
         </t>
         <li><a href="#" data-action="fvg">Fields View Get</a></li>
         <t t-if="can_edit">
             <li>
-              <a href="#" data-action="edit" data-model="ir.ui.view" t-att-data-id="view.fields_view.view_id">
+              <a href="#" data-action="edit" data-model="ir.ui.view" t-att-data-id="view.fieldsView.view_id">
                 <t t-if="view.type == 'form'">Edit Form view</t>
                 <t t-elif="view.type == 'list'">Edit List view</t>
                 <t t-elif="view.type == 'kanban'">Edit Kanban view</t>
@@ -277,7 +275,7 @@
                 <t t-else="1">Edit view, type: <t t-esc="_.str.capitalize(view.type)"/></t>
               </a>
             </li>
-            <li t-if="searchview and searchview.$el.is(':visible')"><a href="#" data-action="edit" data-model="ir.ui.view" t-att-data-id="searchview.fields_view.view_id">Edit Search view</a></li>
+            <li t-if="searchview and searchview.$el.is(':visible')"><a href="#" data-action="edit" data-model="ir.ui.view" t-att-data-id="action.searchFieldsView.view_id">Edit SearchView</a></li>
         </t>
     </t>
 </t>
diff --git a/addons/web/static/tests/chrome/action_manager_mobile_tests.js b/addons/web/static/tests/chrome/action_manager_mobile_tests.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c23d7be19f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/addons/web/static/tests/chrome/action_manager_mobile_tests.js
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+odoo.define('web.action_manager_mobile_tests', function (require) {
+"use strict";
+
+var testUtils = require('web.test_utils');
+
+var createActionManager = testUtils.createActionManager;
+
+QUnit.module('ActionManager', {
+    beforeEach: function () {
+        this.data = {
+            partner: {
+                fields: {
+                    foo: {string: "Foo", type: "char"},
+                },
+                records: [
+                    {id: 1, display_name: "First record", foo: "yop"},
+                ],
+            },
+        };
+
+        this.actions = [{
+            id: 1,
+            name: 'Partners Action 1',
+            res_model: 'partner',
+            type: 'ir.actions.act_window',
+            views: [[false, 'list'], [false, 'kanban'], [false, 'form']],
+        }, {
+            id: 2,
+            name: 'Partners Action 2',
+            res_model: 'partner',
+            type: 'ir.actions.act_window',
+            views: [[false, 'list'], [false, 'form']],
+        }];
+
+        this.archs = {
+            // kanban views
+            'partner,false,kanban': '<kanban><templates><t t-name="kanban-box">' +
+                    '<div class="oe_kanban_global_click"><field name="foo"/></div>' +
+                '</t></templates></kanban>',
+
+            // list views
+            'partner,false,list': '<tree><field name="foo"/></tree>',
+
+            // form views
+            'partner,false,form': '<form>' +
+                    '<group>' +
+                        '<field name="display_name"/>' +
+                    '</group>' +
+                '</form>',
+
+            // search views
+            'partner,false,search': '<search><field name="foo" string="Foo"/></search>',
+        };
+    },
+}, function () {
+    QUnit.test('uses a mobile-friendly view by default (if possible)', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(4);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+        });
+
+        // should default on a mobile-friendly view (kanban) for action 1
+        actionManager.doAction(1);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 0,
+            "should not have rendered the list view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered the kanban view");
+
+        // there is no mobile-friendly view for action 2, should use the first one (list)
+        actionManager.doAction(2);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered the list view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 0,
+            "there should be no kanban view in the DOM");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+});
+
+});
diff --git a/addons/web/static/tests/chrome/action_manager_tests.js b/addons/web/static/tests/chrome/action_manager_tests.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..848d7eb1570
--- /dev/null
+++ b/addons/web/static/tests/chrome/action_manager_tests.js
@@ -0,0 +1,1667 @@
+odoo.define('web.action_manager_tests', function (require) {
+"use strict";
+
+var ControlPanelMixin = require('web.ControlPanelMixin');
+var core = require('web.core');
+var testUtils = require('web.test_utils');
+var Widget = require('web.Widget');
+
+var createActionManager = testUtils.createActionManager;
+
+QUnit.module('ActionManager', {
+    beforeEach: function () {
+        this.data = {
+            partner: {
+                fields: {
+                    foo: {string: "Foo", type: "char"},
+                },
+                records: [
+                    {id: 1, display_name: "First record", foo: "yop"},
+                    {id: 2, display_name: "Second record", foo: "blip"},
+                    {id: 3, display_name: "Third record", foo: "gnap"},
+                    {id: 4, display_name: "Fourth record", foo: "plop"},
+                    {id: 5, display_name: "Fifth record", foo: "zoup"},
+                ],
+            },
+        };
+
+        this.actions = [{
+            id: 1,
+            name: 'Partners Action 1',
+            res_model: 'partner',
+            type: 'ir.actions.act_window',
+            views: [[1, 'kanban']],
+        }, {
+            id: 2,
+            type: 'ir.actions.server',
+        }, {
+            id: 3,
+            name: 'Partners',
+            res_model: 'partner',
+            type: 'ir.actions.act_window',
+            views: [[false, 'list'], [1, 'kanban'], [false, 'form']],
+        }, {
+            id: 4,
+            name: 'Partners Action 4',
+            res_model: 'partner',
+            type: 'ir.actions.act_window',
+            views: [[1, 'kanban'], [2, 'list'], [false, 'form']],
+        }, {
+            id: 5,
+            name: 'Create a Partner',
+            res_model: 'partner',
+            target: 'new',
+            type: 'ir.actions.act_window',
+            view_mode: 'form',
+            views: [[false, 'form']],
+        }, {
+            id: 6,
+            name: 'Partner',
+            res_id: 2,
+            res_model: 'partner',
+            target: 'inline',
+            type: 'ir.actions.act_window',
+            view_mode: 'form',
+            views: [[false, 'form']],
+        }];
+        this.archs = {
+            // kanban views
+            'partner,1,kanban': '<kanban><templates><t t-name="kanban-box">' +
+                    '<div><field name="foo"/></div>' +
+                '</t></templates></kanban>',
+
+            // list views
+            'partner,false,list': '<tree><field name="foo"/></tree>',
+            'partner,2,list': '<tree limit="3"><field name="foo"/></tree>',
+
+            // form views
+            'partner,false,form': '<form>' +
+                    '<header>' +
+                        '<button name="object" string="Call method" type="object"/>' +
+                        '<button name="4" string="Execute action" type="action"/>' +
+                    '</header>' +
+                    '<group>' +
+                        '<field name="display_name"/>' +
+                        '<field name="foo"/>' +
+                    '</group>' +
+                '</form>',
+
+            // search views
+            'partner,false,search': '<search><field name="foo" string="Foo"/></search>',
+        };
+    },
+}, function () {
+    QUnit.module('Misc');
+
+    QUnit.test('no widget memory leaks when executing actions in dialog', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(1);
+
+        var delta = 0;
+        testUtils.patch(Widget, {
+            init: function () {
+                delta++;
+                this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+            destroy: function () {
+                if (!this.isDestroyed()) {
+                    delta--;
+                }
+                this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+        });
+        var n = delta;
+
+        actionManager.doAction(5);
+        actionManager.doAction({type: 'ir.actions.act_window_close'});
+
+        assert.strictEqual(delta, n,
+            "should have properly destroyed all widgets");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+        testUtils.unpatch(Widget);
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('no memory leaks when executing an action while switching view', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(1);
+
+        var def;
+        var delta = 0;
+        testUtils.patch(Widget, {
+            init: function () {
+                delta += 1;
+                this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+            destroy: function () {
+                delta -= 1;
+                this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                var result = this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+                if (args.method === 'read') {
+                    return $.when(def).then(_.constant(result));
+                }
+                return result;
+            },
+        });
+
+        actionManager.doAction(4);
+        var n = delta;
+
+        actionManager.doAction(3, {clear_breadcrumbs: true});
+
+        // switch to the form view (this request is blocked)
+        def = $.Deferred();
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+
+        // execute another action meanwhile (don't block this request)
+        actionManager.doAction(4, {clear_breadcrumbs: true});
+
+        // unblock the switch to the form view in action 3
+        def.resolve();
+
+        assert.strictEqual(n, delta,
+            "all widgets of action 3 should have been destroyed");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+        testUtils.unpatch(Widget);
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('action with "no_breadcrumbs" set to true', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(2);
+
+        _.findWhere(this.actions, {id: 4}).context = {no_breadcrumbs: true};
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 1,
+            "there should be one controller in the breadcrumbs");
+
+        // push another action flagged with 'no_breadcrumbs=true'
+        actionManager.doAction(4);
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 0,
+            "the breadcrumbs should be empty");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('on_reverse_breadcrumb handler is correctly called', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(3);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+        });
+
+        // execute action 3 and open a record in form view
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+
+        // execute action 4 without 'on_reverse_breadcrumb' handler, then go back
+        actionManager.doAction(4);
+        $('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb a:first').click();
+        assert.verifySteps([]);
+
+        // execute action 4 with an 'on_reverse_breadcrumb' handler, then go back
+        actionManager.doAction(4, {
+            on_reverse_breadcrumb: function () {
+                assert.step('on_reverse_breadcrumb');
+            }
+        });
+        $('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb a:first').click();
+        assert.verifySteps(['on_reverse_breadcrumb']);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('handles "history_back" event', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(2);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+        });
+
+        actionManager.doAction(4);
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+        actionManager.trigger_up('history_back');
+
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 1,
+            "there should be one controller in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').text(), 'Partners Action 4',
+            "breadcrumbs should display the display_name of the action");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.module('Load State');
+
+    QUnit.test('should not crash on invalid state', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(2);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.loadState({
+            res_model: 'partner', // the valid key for the model is 'model', not 'res_model'
+        });
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$el.text(), '', "should display nothing");
+        assert.verifySteps([]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('properly load client actions', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(2);
+
+        var ClientAction = Widget.extend({
+            className: 'o_client_action_test',
+            start: function () {
+                this.$el.text('Hello World');
+            },
+        });
+        core.action_registry.add('HelloWorldTest', ClientAction);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.loadState({
+            action: 'HelloWorldTest',
+        });
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_client_action_test').text(),
+            'Hello World', "should have correctly rendered the client action");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+        delete core.action_registry.map.HelloWorldTest;
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('properly load act window actions', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(6);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.loadState({
+            action: 1,
+        });
+
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a control panel");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a kanban view");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            '/web/dataset/search_read',
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('properly load records', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(5);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.loadState({
+            id: 2,
+            model: 'partner',
+        });
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a form view");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').text(), 'Second record',
+            "should have opened the second record");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            'load_views',
+            'read',
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('load requested view for act window actions', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(6);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.loadState({
+            action: 3,
+            view_type: 'kanban',
+        });
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 0,
+            "should not have rendered a list view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a kanban view");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            '/web/dataset/search_read',
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('lazy load multi record view if mono record one is requested', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(11);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.loadState({
+            action: 3,
+            id: 2,
+            view_type: 'form',
+        });
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 0,
+            "should not have rendered a list view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a form view");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 2,
+            "there should be two controllers in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li:last').text(), 'Second record',
+            "breadcrumbs should contain the display_name of the opened record");
+
+        // go back to Lst
+        $('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb a').click();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should now display the list view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 0,
+            "should not display the form view anymore");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            'read', // read the opened record
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // search read when coming back to List
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('change the viewType of the current action', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(13);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a list view");
+
+        // switch to kanban view
+        actionManager.loadState({
+            action: 3,
+            view_type: 'kanban',
+        });
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 0,
+            "should not display the list view anymore");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 1,
+            "should have switched to the kanban view");
+
+        // switch to form view, open record 4
+        actionManager.loadState({
+            action: 3,
+            id: 4,
+            view_type: 'form',
+        });
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 0,
+            "should not display the kanban view anymore");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 1,
+            "should have switched to the form view");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 2,
+            "there should be two controllers in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li:last').text(), 'Fourth record',
+            "should have opened the requested record");
+
+        // verify steps to ensure that the whole action hasn't been re-executed
+        // (if it would have been, /web/action/load and load_views would appear
+        // several times)
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list view
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // kanban view
+            'read', // form view
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('change the id of the current action', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(11);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+
+        // execute action 3 and open the first record in a form view
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a form view");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li:last').text(), 'First record',
+            "should have opened the first record");
+
+        // switch to record 4
+        actionManager.loadState({
+            action: 3,
+            id: 4,
+            view_type: 'form',
+        });
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 1,
+            "should still display the form view");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 2,
+            "there should be two controllers in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li:last').text(), 'Fourth record',
+            "should have switched to the requested record");
+
+        // verify steps to ensure that the whole action hasn't been re-executed
+        // (if it would have been, /web/action/load and load_views would appear
+        // twice)
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list view
+            'read', // form view, record 1
+            'read', // form view, record 4
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('should not push a loaded state', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(1);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            intercepts: {
+                push_state: function () {
+                    assert.step('push_state');
+                },
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.loadState({action: 1});
+
+        assert.verifySteps([]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.module('Concurrency management');
+
+    QUnit.test('execute a new action while loading a lazy-loaded controller', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(15);
+
+        var def;
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                var result = this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                if (route === '/web/dataset/search_read' && args.model === 'partner') {
+                    return $.when(def).then(_.constant(result));
+                }
+                return result;
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.loadState({
+            action: 4,
+            id: 2,
+            view_type: 'form',
+        });
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 1,
+            "should display the form view of action 4");
+
+        // click to go back to Kanban (this request is blocked)
+        def = $.Deferred();
+        $('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb a').click();
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 1,
+            "should still display the form view of action 4");
+
+        // execute another action meanwhile (don't block this request)
+        actionManager.doAction(8, {clear_breadcrumbs: true});
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should display action 8");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 0,
+            "should no longer display the form view");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load', // load state action 4
+            'load_views', // load state action 4
+            'read', // read the opened record (action 4)
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // blocked search read when coming back to Kanban (action 4)
+            '/web/action/load', // action 8
+            'load_views', // action 8
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // search read action 8
+        ]);
+
+        // unblock the switch to Kanban in action 4
+        def.resolve();
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should still display action 8");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 0,
+            "should not display the kanban view of action 4");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load', // load state action 4
+            'load_views', // load state action 4
+            'read', // read the opened record (action 4)
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // blocked search read when coming back to Kanban (action 4)
+            '/web/action/load', // action 8
+            'load_views', // action 8
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // search read action 8
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('execute a new action while handling a call_button', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(16);
+
+        var self = this;
+        var def = $.Deferred();
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                if (route === '/web/dataset/call_button') {
+                    return def.then(_.constant(self.actions[0]));
+                }
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+
+        // execute action 3 and open a record in form view
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 1,
+            "should display the form view of action 3");
+
+        // click on 'Call method' button (this request is blocked)
+        actionManager.$('.o_form_view button:contains(Call method)').click();
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 1,
+            "should still display the form view of action 3");
+
+        // execute another action
+        actionManager.doAction(8, {clear_breadcrumbs: true});
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should display the list view of action 8");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 0,
+            "should no longer display the form view");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load', // action 3
+            'load_views', // action 3
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list for action 3
+            'read', // form for action 3
+            'object', // click on 'Call method' button (this request is blocked)
+            '/web/action/load', // action 8
+            'load_views', // action 8
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list for action 8
+        ]);
+
+        // unblock the call_button request
+        def.resolve();
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should still display the list view of action 8");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 0,
+            "should not display action 1");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load', // action 3
+            'load_views', // action 3
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list for action 3
+            'read', // form for action 3
+            'object', // click on 'Call method' button (this request is blocked)
+            '/web/action/load', // action 8
+            'load_views', // action 8
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list for action 8
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('execute a new action while switching to another controller', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(15);
+
+        var def;
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                var result = this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                if (args.method === 'read') {
+                    return $.when(def).then(_.constant(result));
+                }
+                return result;
+            },
+        });
+
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should display the list view of action 3");
+
+        // switch to the form view (this request is blocked)
+        def = $.Deferred();
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should still display the list view of action 3");
+
+        // execute another action meanwhile (don't block this request)
+        actionManager.doAction(4, {clear_breadcrumbs: true});
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 1,
+            "should display the kanban view of action 8");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 0,
+            "should no longer display the list view");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load', // action 3
+            'load_views', // action 3
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // search read of list view of action 3
+            'read', // read the opened record of action 3 (this request is blocked)
+            '/web/action/load', // action 4
+            'load_views', // action 4
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // search read action 4
+        ]);
+
+        // unblock the switch to the form view in action 3
+        def.resolve();
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 1,
+            "should still display the kanban view of action 8");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 0,
+            "should not display the form view of action 3");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load', // action 3
+            'load_views', // action 3
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // search read of list view of action 3
+            'read', // read the opened record of action 3 (this request is blocked)
+            '/web/action/load', // action 4
+            'load_views', // action 4
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // search read action 4
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.module('Client Actions');
+
+    QUnit.test('can execute client actions from tag name', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(3);
+
+        var ClientAction = Widget.extend({
+            className: 'o_client_action_test',
+            start: function () {
+                this.$el.text('Hello World');
+            },
+        });
+        core.action_registry.add('HelloWorldTest', ClientAction);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            }
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction('HelloWorldTest');
+
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel:visible').length, 0, // AAB: global selector until the ControlPanel is moved from ActionManager to the Views
+            "shouldn't have rendered a control panel");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_client_action_test').text(),
+            'Hello World', "should have correctly rendered the client action");
+        assert.verifySteps([]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+        delete core.action_registry.map.HelloWorldTest;
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('client action with control panel', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(4);
+
+        var ClientAction = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
+            className: 'o_client_action_test',
+            start: function () {
+                this.$el.text('Hello World');
+                this.set('title', 'Hello'); // AAB: drop this and replace by getTitle()
+            },
+        });
+        core.action_registry.add('HelloWorldTest', ClientAction);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager();
+        actionManager.doAction('HelloWorldTest');
+
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel:visible').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a control panel");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 1,
+            "there should be one controller in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').text(), 'Hello',
+            "breadcrumbs should still display the title of the controller");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_client_action_test').text(),
+            'Hello World', "should have correctly rendered the client action");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+        delete core.action_registry.map.HelloWorldTest;
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('state is pushed for client actions', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(2);
+
+        var ClientAction = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
+            className: 'o_client_action_test',
+            start: function () {
+                this.$el.text('Hello World');
+            },
+        });
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            intercepts: {
+                push_state: function () {
+                    assert.step('push state');
+                },
+            },
+        });
+        core.action_registry.add('HelloWorldTest', ClientAction);
+
+        actionManager.doAction('HelloWorldTest');
+
+        assert.verifySteps(['push state']);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+        delete core.action_registry.map.HelloWorldTest;
+    });
+
+    QUnit.module('Server actions');
+
+    QUnit.test('can execute server actions from db ID', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(9);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                if (route === '/web/action/run') {
+                    assert.strictEqual(args.action_id, 2,
+                        "should call the correct server action");
+                    return $.when(1); // execute action 1
+                }
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(2);
+
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel:visible').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a control panel");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a kanban view");
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            '/web/action/run',
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            '/web/dataset/search_read',
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.module('Window Actions');
+
+    QUnit.test('can execute act_window actions from db ID', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(6);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(1);
+
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a control panel");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a kanban view");
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            '/web/dataset/search_read',
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('can switch between views', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(18);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should display the list view");
+
+        // switch to kanban view
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_kanban').click();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 0,
+            "should no longer display the list view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 1,
+            "should display the kanban view");
+
+        // switch back to list view
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_list').click();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should display the list view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 0,
+            "should no longer display the kanban view");
+
+        // open a record in form view
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 0,
+            "should no longer display the list view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 1,
+            "should display the form view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_field_widget[name=foo]').text(), 'yop',
+            "should have opened the correct record");
+
+        // go back to list view using the breadcrumbs
+        $('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb a').click();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should display the list view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 0,
+            "should no longer display the form view");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // kanban
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list
+            'read', // form
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('breadcrumbs are updated when switching between views', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(10);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 1,
+            "there should be one controller in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').text(), 'Partners',
+            "breadcrumbs should display the display_name of the action");
+
+        // switch to kanban view
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_kanban').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 1,
+            "there should still be one controller in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').text(), 'Partners',
+            "breadcrumbs should still display the display_name of the action");
+
+        // switch back to list view
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_list').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 1,
+            "there should still be one controller in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').text(), 'Partners',
+            "breadcrumbs should still display the display_name of the action");
+
+        // open a record in form view
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 2,
+            "there should be two controllers in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li:last').text(), 'First record',
+            "breadcrumbs should contain the display_name of the opened record");
+
+        // go back to list view using the breadcrumbs
+        $('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb a').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 1,
+            "there should be one controller in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').text(), 'Partners',
+            "breadcrumbs should display the display_name of the action");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('switch buttons are updated when switching between views', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(13);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_buttons button').length, 2,
+            "should have two switch buttons (list and kanban)");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_buttons button.active').length, 1,
+            "should have only one active button");
+        assert.ok($('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_buttons button:first').hasClass('o_cp_switch_list'),
+            "list switch button should be the first one");
+        assert.ok($('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_list').hasClass('active'),
+            "list should be the active view");
+
+        // switch to kanban view
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_kanban').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_buttons button').length, 2,
+            "should still have two switch buttons (list and kanban)");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_buttons button.active').length, 1,
+            "should still have only one active button");
+        assert.ok($('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_buttons button:first').hasClass('o_cp_switch_list'),
+            "list switch button should still be the first one");
+        assert.ok($('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_kanban').hasClass('active'),
+            "kanban should now be the active view");
+
+        // switch back to list view
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_list').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_buttons button').length, 2,
+            "should still have two switch buttons (list and kanban)");
+        assert.ok($('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_list').hasClass('active'),
+            "list should now be the active view");
+
+        // open a record in form view
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_buttons button').length, 0,
+            "should not have any switch buttons");
+
+        // go back to list view using the breadcrumbs
+        $('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb a').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_buttons button').length, 2,
+            "should have two switch buttons (list and kanban)");
+        assert.ok($('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_list').hasClass('active'),
+            "list should be the active view");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('pager is updated when switching between views', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(10);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(4);
+
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_pager_value').text(), '1-5',
+            "value should be correct for kanban");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_pager_limit').text(), '5',
+            "limit should be correct for kanban");
+
+        // switch to list view
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_list').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_pager_value').text(), '1-3',
+            "value should be correct for list");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_pager_limit').text(), '5',
+            "limit should be correct for list");
+
+        // open a record in form view
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_pager_value').text(), '1',
+            "value should be correct for form");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_pager_limit').text(), '3',
+            "limit should be correct for form");
+
+        // go back to list view using the breadcrumbs
+        $('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb a').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_pager_value').text(), '1-3',
+            "value should be correct for list");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_pager_limit').text(), '5',
+            "limit should be correct for list");
+
+        // switch back to kanban view
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_kanban').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_pager_value').text(), '1-5',
+            "value should be correct for kanban");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .o_pager_limit').text(), '5',
+            "limit should be correct for kanban");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('there is no flickering when switching between views', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(20);
+
+        var def;
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function () {
+                var result = this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+                return $.when(def).then(_.constant(result));
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+
+        // switch to kanban view
+        def = $.Deferred();
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_kanban').click();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should still display the list view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 0,
+            "shouldn't display the kanban view yet");
+        def.resolve();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 0,
+            "shouldn't display the list view anymore");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 1,
+            "should now display the kanban view");
+
+        // switch back to list view
+        def = $.Deferred();
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_list').click();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 1,
+            "should still display the kanban view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 0,
+            "shouldn't display the list view yet");
+        def.resolve();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 0,
+            "shouldn't display the kanban view anymore");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should now display the list view");
+
+        // open a record in form view
+        def = $.Deferred();
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should still display the list view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 0,
+            "shouldn't display the form view yet");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 1,
+            "there should still be one controller in the breadcrumbs");
+        def.resolve();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 0,
+            "should no longer display the list view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 1,
+            "should display the form view");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 2,
+            "there should be two controllers in the breadcrumbs");
+
+        // go back to list view using the breadcrumbs
+        def = $.Deferred();
+        $('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb a').click();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 1,
+            "should still display the form view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 0,
+            "shouldn't display the list view yet");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 2,
+            "there should still be two controllers in the breadcrumbs");
+        def.resolve();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view').length, 0,
+            "should no longer display the form view");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should display the list view");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 1,
+            "there should be one controller in the breadcrumbs");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('breadcrumbs are updated when display_name changes', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(4);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+
+        // open a record in form view
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 2,
+            "there should be two controllers in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li:last').text(), 'First record',
+            "breadcrumbs should contain the display_name of the opened record");
+
+        // switch to edit mode and change the display_name
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_form_button_edit').click();
+        actionManager.$('.o_field_widget[name=display_name]').val('New name').trigger('input');
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_form_button_save').click();
+
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 2,
+            "there should still be two controllers in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li:last').text(), 'New name',
+            "breadcrumbs should contain the display_name of the opened record");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('reload previous controller when discarding a new record', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(8);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+
+        // create a new record
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_list_button_add').click();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view.o_form_editable').length, 1,
+            "should have opened the form view in edit mode");
+
+        // discard
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_form_button_cancel').click();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_list_view').length, 1,
+            "should have switched back to the list view");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list
+            'default_get', // form
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('requests for execute_action of type object are handled', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(10);
+
+        var self = this;
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                if (route === '/web/dataset/call_button') {
+                    assert.deepEqual(args, {
+                        args: [[1], {some_key: 2}],
+                        method: 'object',
+                        model: 'partner',
+                    }, "should call route with correct arguments");
+                    var record = _.findWhere(self.data.partner.records, {id: args.args[0][0]});
+                    record.foo = 'value changed';
+                    return $.when(false);
+                }
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+            session: {user_context: {
+                some_key: 2,
+            }},
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+
+        // open a record in form view
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_field_widget[name=foo]').text(), 'yop',
+            "check initial value of 'yop' field");
+
+        // click on 'Call method' button (should call an Object method)
+        actionManager.$('.o_form_view button:contains(Call method)').click();
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_field_widget[name=foo]').text(), 'value changed',
+            "'yop' has been changed by the server, and should be updated in the UI");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list for action 3
+            'read', // form for action 3
+            'object', // click on 'Call method' button
+            'read', // re-read form view
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('requests for execute_action of type action are handled', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(11);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+
+        // open a record in form view
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+
+        // click on 'Execute action' button (should execute an action)
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 2,
+            "there should be two parts in the breadcrumbs");
+        actionManager.$('.o_form_view button:contains(Execute action)').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 3,
+            "the returned action should have been stacked over the previous one");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 1,
+            "the returned action should have been executed");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list for action 3
+            'read', // form for action 3
+            '/web/action/load', // click on 'Execute action' button
+            'load_views',
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // kanban for action 4
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('can open different records from a multi record view', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(11);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+
+        // open the first record in form view
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li:last').text(), 'First record',
+            "breadcrumbs should contain the display_name of the opened record");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_field_widget[name=foo]').text(), 'yop',
+            "should have opened the correct record");
+
+        // go back to list view using the breadcrumbs
+        $('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb a').click();
+
+        // open the second record in form view
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:nth(1)').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li:last').text(), 'Second record',
+            "breadcrumbs should contain the display_name of the opened record");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_field_widget[name=foo]').text(), 'blip',
+            "should have opened the correct record");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list
+            'read', // form
+            '/web/dataset/search_read', // list
+            'read', // form
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('limit set in action is passed to each created controller', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(2);
+
+        _.findWhere(this.actions, {id: 3}).limit = 2;
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_data_row').length, 2,
+            "should only display 2 record");
+
+        // switch to kanban view
+        $('.o_control_panel .o_cp_switch_kanban').click();
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_record:not(.o_kanban_ghost)').length, 2,
+            "should only display 2 record");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('go back to a previous action using the breadcrumbs', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(10);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(3);
+
+        // open a record in form view
+        actionManager.$('.o_list_view .o_data_row:first').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 2,
+            "there should be two controllers in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li:last').text(), 'First record',
+            "breadcrumbs should contain the display_name of the opened record");
+
+        // push another action on top of the first one, and come back to the form view
+        actionManager.doAction(4);
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 3,
+            "there should be three controllers in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li:last').text(), 'Partners Action 4',
+            "breadcrumbs should contain the name of the current action");
+        // go back using the breadcrumbs
+        $('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb a:nth(1)').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 2,
+            "there should be two controllers in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li:last').text(), 'First record',
+            "breadcrumbs should contain the display_name of the opened record");
+
+        // push again the other action on top of the first one, and come back to the list view
+        actionManager.doAction(4);
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 3,
+            "there should be three controllers in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li:last').text(), 'Partners Action 4',
+            "breadcrumbs should contain the name of the current action");
+        // go back using the breadcrumbs
+        $('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb a:first').click();
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li').length, 1,
+            "there should be one controller in the breadcrumbs");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel .breadcrumb li:last').text(), 'Partners',
+            "breadcrumbs should contain the name of the current action");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.module('Actions in target="new"');
+
+    QUnit.test('can execute act_window actions in target="new"', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(7);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(5);
+
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_technical_modal .o_form_view').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a form view in a modal");
+        assert.ok($('.o_technical_modal .modal-body').hasClass('o_act_window'),
+            "modal-body element should have classname 'o_act_window'");
+        assert.ok($('.o_technical_modal .o_form_view').hasClass('o_form_editable'),
+            "form view should be in edit mode");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            'default_get',
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('footer buttons are moved to the dialog footer', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(3);
+
+        this.archs['partner,false,form'] = '<form>' +
+                '<field name="display_name"/>' +
+                '<footer>' +
+                    '<button string="Create" type="object" class="infooter"/>' +
+                '</footer>' +
+            '</form>';
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(5);
+
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_technical_modal .modal-body button.infooter').length, 0,
+            "the button should not be in the body");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_technical_modal .modal-footer button.infooter').length, 1,
+            "the button should be in the footer");
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_technical_modal .modal-footer button').length, 1,
+            "the modal footer should only contain one button");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.module('Actions in target="inline"');
+
+    QUnit.test('form views for actions in target="inline" open in edit mode', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(5);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(6);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_form_view.o_form_editable').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a form view in edit mode");
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            'read',
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.module('Actions in target="fullscreen"');
+
+    QUnit.test('correctly execute act_window actions in target="fullscreen"', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(7);
+
+        this.actions[0].target = 'fullscreen';
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+            },
+            intercepts: {
+                toggle_fullscreen: function () {
+                    assert.step('toggle_fullscreen');
+                },
+            },
+        });
+        actionManager.doAction(1);
+
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_control_panel').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a control panel");
+        assert.strictEqual(actionManager.$('.o_kanban_view').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a kanban view");
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            '/web/action/load',
+            'load_views',
+            '/web/dataset/search_read',
+            'toggle_fullscreen',
+        ]);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.module('"ir.actions.act_window_close" actions');
+
+    QUnit.test('close the currently opened dialog', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(2);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+        });
+
+        // execute an action in target="new"
+        actionManager.doAction(5);
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_technical_modal .o_form_view').length, 1,
+            "should have rendered a form view in a modal");
+
+        // execute an 'ir.actions.act_window_close' action
+        actionManager.doAction({
+            type: 'ir.actions.act_window_close',
+        });
+        assert.strictEqual($('.o_technical_modal').length, 0,
+            "should have closed the modal");
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+
+    QUnit.test('execute "on_close" only if there is no dialog to close', function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(3);
+
+        var actionManager = createActionManager({
+            actions: this.actions,
+            archs: this.archs,
+            data: this.data,
+        });
+
+        // execute an action in target="new"
+        actionManager.doAction(5);
+
+        var options = {
+            on_close: assert.step.bind(assert, 'on_close'),
+        };
+        // execute an 'ir.actions.act_window_close' action
+        // should not call 'on_close' as there is a dialog to close
+        actionManager.doAction({type: 'ir.actions.act_window_close'}, options);
+
+        assert.verifySteps([]);
+
+        // execute again an 'ir.actions.act_window_close' action
+        // should call 'on_close' as there is no dialog to close
+        actionManager.doAction({type: 'ir.actions.act_window_close'}, options);
+
+        assert.verifySteps(['on_close']);
+
+        actionManager.destroy();
+    });
+});
+
+});
diff --git a/addons/web/static/tests/helpers/mock_server.js b/addons/web/static/tests/helpers/mock_server.js
index 4bc58dd097d..dbe1a2c49e0 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/tests/helpers/mock_server.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/tests/helpers/mock_server.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ var MockServer = Class.extend({
      * @constructor
      * @param {Object} data
      * @param {Object} options
+     * @param {Object[]} [options.actions=[]]
      * @param {Object} [options.archs={}] dict of archs with keys being strings like
      *    'model,id,viewType'
      * @param {boolean} [options.debug=false] logs RPCs if set to true
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ var MockServer = Class.extend({
 
         this.currentDate = options.currentDate || moment().format("YYYY-MM-DD");
 
+        this.actions = options.actions || [];
         this.archs = options.archs || {};
     },
 
@@ -431,6 +433,23 @@ var MockServer = Class.extend({
         }
         return modelFields;
     },
+    /**
+     * Simulate a call to the '/web/action/load' route
+     *
+     * @private
+     * @param {Object} kwargs
+     * @param {integer} kwargs.action_id
+     * @returns {Object}
+     */
+    _mockLoadAction: function (kwargs) {
+        var action = _.findWhere(this.actions, {id: parseInt(kwargs.action_id)});
+        if (!action) {
+            // when the action doesn't exist, the real server doesn't crash, it
+            // simply returns false
+            console.warn("No action found for ID " + event.data.actionID);
+        }
+        return action || false;
+    },
     /**
      * Simulate a 'load_views' operation
      *
@@ -943,7 +962,7 @@ var MockServer = Class.extend({
     _performRpc: function (route, args) {
         switch (route) {
             case '/web/action/load':
-                return $.when(this._mockLoadAction(args));
+                return $.when(this._mockLoadAction(args.kwargs));
 
             case '/web/dataset/search_read':
                 return $.when(this._mockSearchReadController(args));
diff --git a/addons/web/static/tests/helpers/test_utils.js b/addons/web/static/tests/helpers/test_utils.js
index e049ba968b2..afeb579eb02 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/tests/helpers/test_utils.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/tests/helpers/test_utils.js
@@ -10,9 +10,11 @@ odoo.define('web.test_utils', function (require) {
  * instance of a view, appended in the dom, ready to be tested.
  */
 
+var ActionManager = require('web.ActionManager');
 var ajax = require('web.ajax');
 var basic_fields = require('web.basic_fields');
 var config = require('web.config');
+var ControlPanel = require('web.ControlPanel');
 var core = require('web.core');
 var dom = require('web.dom');
 var session = require('web.session');
@@ -58,6 +60,58 @@ function observe(widget) {
     };
 }
 
+/**
+ * create and return an instance of ActionManager with all rpcs going through a
+ * mock method using the data, actions and archs objects as sources.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} [params]
+ * @param {Object} [params.actions] the actions given to the mock server
+ * @param {Object} [params.archs] this archs given to the mock server
+ * @param {Object} [params.data] the business data given to the mock server
+ * @param {boolean} [params.debug]
+ * @param {function} [params.mockRPC]
+ * @returns {ActionManager}
+ */
+var createActionManager = function (params) {
+    params = params || {};
+    var $target = $('#qunit-fixture');
+    if (params.debug) {
+        $target = $('body');
+    }
+
+    var widget = new Widget();
+    // when 'document' addon is installed, the sidebar does a 'search_read' on
+    // model 'ir_attachment' each time a record is open, so we monkey-patch
+    // 'mockRPC' to mute those RPCs, so that the tests can be written uniformly,
+    // whether or not 'document' is installed
+    var mockRPC = params.mockRPC;
+    _.extend(params, {
+        mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+            if (args.model === 'ir.attachment') {
+                return $.when([]);
+            }
+            if (mockRPC) {
+                return mockRPC.apply(this, arguments);
+            }
+            return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+        },
+    });
+    addMockEnvironment(widget, _.defaults(params, {debounce: false}));
+    widget.appendTo($target);
+    widget.$el.addClass('o_web_client');
+
+    var userContext = params.context && params.context.user_context || {};
+    var actionManager = new ActionManager(widget, userContext);
+    var originalDestroy = ActionManager.prototype.destroy;
+    actionManager.destroy = function () {
+        actionManager.destroy = originalDestroy;
+        widget.destroy();
+    };
+    actionManager.appendTo(widget.$el);
+
+    return actionManager;
+};
+
 /**
  * create a view synchronously.  This method uses the createAsyncView method.
  * Most views are synchronous, so the deferred can be resolved immediately and
@@ -87,8 +141,7 @@ function createView(params) {
  *
  * It returns the instance of the view, properly created, with all rpcs going
  * through a mock method using the data object as source, and already loaded/
- * started (with a do_search).  The buttons/pager should also be created, if
- * appropriate.
+ * started.
  *
  * Most views can be tested synchronously (@see createView), but some view have
  * external dependencies (like lazy loaded libraries). In that case, it is
@@ -145,9 +198,9 @@ function createAsyncView(params) {
 
     // reproduce the DOM environment of views
     var $web_client = $('<div>').addClass('o_web_client').prependTo($target);
-    var $control_panel = $('<div>').addClass('o_control_panel').appendTo($web_client);
+    var controlPanel = new ControlPanel(widget);
+    controlPanel.appendTo($web_client);
     var $content = $('<div>').addClass('o_content').appendTo($web_client);
-    var $view_manager = $('<div>').addClass('o_view_manager_content').appendTo($content);
 
     return view.getController(widget).then(function (view) {
         // override the view's 'destroy' so that it calls 'destroy' on the widget
@@ -159,29 +212,21 @@ function createAsyncView(params) {
             widget.destroy();
             $('#qunit-fixture').off('DOMNodeInserted.removeSRC');
         };
+
+        // link the view to the control panel
+        view.set_cp_bus(controlPanel.get_bus());
+
         // render the view in a fragment as they must be able to render correctly
         // without being in the DOM
         var fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
         return view.appendTo(fragment).then(function () {
-            dom.append($view_manager, fragment, {
+            dom.append($content, fragment, {
                 callbacks: [{widget: view}],
                 in_DOM: true,
             });
             view.$el.on('click', 'a', function (ev) {
                 ev.preventDefault();
             });
-        }).then(function () {
-            var $buttons = $('<div>');
-            view.renderButtons($buttons);
-            $buttons.contents().appendTo($control_panel);
-
-            var $sidebar = $('<div>');
-            view.renderSidebar($sidebar);
-            $sidebar.contents().appendTo($control_panel);
-
-            var $pager = $('<div>');
-            view.renderPager($pager);
-            $pager.contents().appendTo($control_panel);
 
             return view;
         });
@@ -250,6 +295,7 @@ function addMockEnvironment(widget, params) {
         console.log('%c[debug] debug mode activated', 'color: blue; font-weight: bold;', url);
     }
     var mockServer = new Server(params.data, {
+        actions: params.actions,
         archs: params.archs,
         currentDate: params.currentDate,
         debug: params.debug,
@@ -336,6 +382,14 @@ function addMockEnvironment(widget, params) {
         }
     });
 
+    intercept(widget, 'load_action', function (event) {
+        mockServer.performRpc('/web/action/load', {
+            kwargs: {action_id: event.data.actionID},
+        }).then(function (action) {
+            event.data.on_success(action);
+        });
+    });
+
     intercept(widget, "load_views", function (event) {
         mockServer.performRpc('/web/dataset/call_kw/' + event.data.modelName, {
             args: [],
@@ -617,6 +671,7 @@ return $.when(
     }, 0);
     return {
         addMockEnvironment: addMockEnvironment,
+        createActionManager: createActionManager,
         createAsyncView: createAsyncView,
         createModel: createModel,
         createParent: createParent,
diff --git a/addons/web/static/tests/views/form_tests.js b/addons/web/static/tests/views/form_tests.js
index 9f2a9b68698..06cc046df83 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/tests/views/form_tests.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/tests/views/form_tests.js
@@ -1451,7 +1451,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
                         '<field name="foo"/>' +
                     '</sheet>' +
                 '</form>',
-            viewOptions: {sidebar: true},
+            viewOptions: {hasSidebar: true},
             res_id: 1,
             mockRPC: function (route, args) {
                 if (args.method === 'search_read' && args.model === 'ir.attachment') {
@@ -1597,7 +1597,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
                         '<field name="foo"/>' +
                 '</form>',
             res_id: 1,
-            viewOptions: {sidebar: true},
+            viewOptions: {hasSidebar: true},
             mockRPC: function (route, args) {
                 if (args.method === 'search_read' && args.model === 'ir.attachment') {
                     return $.when([]);
@@ -1628,7 +1628,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
                         '<field name="foo"/>' +
                 '</form>',
             res_id: 1,
-            viewOptions: {sidebar: true},
+            viewOptions: {hasSidebar: true},
             mockRPC: function (route, args) {
                 if (args.method === 'search_read' && args.model === 'ir.attachment') {
                     return $.when([]);
@@ -1659,7 +1659,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
                         '</footer>' +
                 '</form>',
             res_id: 1,
-            viewOptions: {footer_to_buttons: true},
+            viewOptions: {footerToButtons: true},
         });
 
         assert.ok(form.$buttons.find('button.infooter').length, "footer button should be in footer");
@@ -2050,7 +2050,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             data: this.data,
             arch: '<form string="Partners"><field name="date"></field></form>',
             intercepts: {
-                switch_to_previous_view: function (event) {
+                history_back: function () {
                     form.update({}, {reload: false});
                 }
             },
@@ -2086,9 +2086,9 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
                 return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
             },
             intercepts: {
-                switch_to_previous_view: function (event) {
+                history_back: function () {
                     assert.ok(true, "should have sent correct event");
-                    // simulate the response from the view manager, in the case
+                    // simulate the response from the action manager, in the case
                     // where we have only one active view (the form).  If there
                     // was another view, we would have switched to that view
                     // instead
@@ -2126,7 +2126,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             data: this.data,
             arch: '<form string="Partners"><field name="foo"></field></form>',
             intercepts: {
-                switch_to_previous_view: function () {
+                history_back: function () {
                     assert.ok(true, "should have sent correct event");
                 }
             }
@@ -2155,9 +2155,9 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             data: this.data,
             arch: '<form string="Partners"><field name="foo"></field></form>',
             intercepts: {
-                switch_to_previous_view: function (event) {
+                history_back: function () {
                     assert.ok(true, "should have sent correct event");
-                    // simulate the response from the view manager, in the case
+                    // simulate the response from the action manager, in the case
                     // where we have only one active view (the form).  If there
                     // was another view, we would have switched to that view
                     // instead
@@ -2197,7 +2197,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             data: this.data,
             arch: '<form string="Partners"><field name="foo"></field></form>',
             res_id: 1,
-            viewOptions: {sidebar: true},
+            viewOptions: {hasSidebar: true},
             mockRPC: function (route, args) {
                 if (args.method === 'search_read' && args.model === 'ir.attachment') {
                     return $.when([]);
@@ -2542,7 +2542,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             viewOptions: {
                 ids: [1, 2, 4],
                 index: 0,
-                sidebar: true,
+                hasSidebar: true,
             },
             res_id: 1,
             mockRPC: function (route, args) {
@@ -2586,7 +2586,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             viewOptions: {
                 ids: [1],
                 index: 0,
-                sidebar: true,
+                hasSidebar: true,
             },
             res_id: 1,
             mockRPC: function (route, args) {
@@ -2602,15 +2602,14 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
         form.sidebar.$('button.o_dropdown_toggler_btn').click();
         form.sidebar.$('a:contains(Delete)').click();
 
-        testUtils.intercept(form, 'do_action', function (event) {
-            assert.strictEqual(event.data.action, 'history_back',
-                "should trigger an history back action");
+        testUtils.intercept(form, 'history_back', function () {
+            assert.step('history_back');
         });
         assert.strictEqual($('.modal').length, 1, 'a confirm modal should be displayed');
         $('.modal .modal-footer button.btn-primary').click();
         assert.strictEqual($('.modal').length, 0, 'no confirm modal should be displayed');
 
-        assert.verifySteps(['read', 'unlink']);
+        assert.verifySteps(['read', 'unlink', 'history_back']);
         form.destroy();
     });
 
@@ -4287,7 +4286,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
                 '</form>',
             res_id: 1,
             viewOptions: {
-                footer_to_buttons: true,
+                footerToButtons: true,
                 mode: 'edit',
             },
         });
@@ -4326,7 +4325,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
                 '</form>',
             res_id: 1,
             viewOptions: {
-                footer_to_buttons: true,
+                footerToButtons: true,
             },
         });
 
@@ -4684,7 +4683,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
                 print: [],
             },
             viewOptions: {
-                sidebar: true,
+                hasSidebar: true,
             },
             mockRPC: function (route, args) {
                 if (route === '/web/action/load') {
@@ -5943,7 +5942,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
                         '<field name="display_name"/>' +
                 '</form>',
             res_id: 1,
-            viewOptions: {sidebar: true},
+            viewOptions: {hasSidebar: true},
             mockRPC: function (route, args) {
                 if (args.method === 'search_read' && args.model === 'ir.attachment') {
                     // rpcs done by the sidebar
diff --git a/addons/web/static/tests/views/kanban_tests.js b/addons/web/static/tests/views/kanban_tests.js
index eed80410e7f..5b34ed413c5 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/tests/views/kanban_tests.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/tests/views/kanban_tests.js
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             groupBy: ['bar'],
             intercepts: {
                 env_updated: function (event) {
-                    assert.deepEqual(event.data.ids, envIDs,
+                    assert.deepEqual(event.data.env.ids, envIDs,
                         "should notify the environment with the correct ids");
                 },
             },
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             groupBy: ['bar'],
             intercepts: {
                 env_updated: function (event) {
-                    assert.strictEqual(event.data.ids.length, nbRecords,
+                    assert.strictEqual(event.data.env.ids.length, nbRecords,
                         "should update the env with the records ids");
                 },
             }
@@ -666,7 +666,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             },
             intercepts: {
                 switch_view: function (event) {
-                    assert.deepEqual(event.data, {
+                    assert.deepEqual(_.pick(event.data, 'mode', 'model', 'res_id', 'view_type'), {
                         mode: 'readonly',
                         model: 'partner',
                         res_id: 1,
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             },
             intercepts: {
                 env_updated: function (event) {
-                    assert.deepEqual(event.data.ids, envIDs,
+                    assert.deepEqual(event.data.env.ids, envIDs,
                         "should notify the environment with the correct ids");
                 },
             },
@@ -977,7 +977,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             groupBy: ['product_id'],
             intercepts: {
                 env_updated: function (event) {
-                    assert.deepEqual(envIDs, event.data.ids,
+                    assert.deepEqual(event.data.env.ids, envIDs,
                         "should notify the environment with the correct ids");
                 },
             },
@@ -1659,7 +1659,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             },
             intercepts: {
                 env_updated: function (event) {
-                    assert.deepEqual(event.data.ids, envIDs,
+                    assert.deepEqual(event.data.env.ids, envIDs,
                         "should notify the environment with the correct ids");
                 },
             },
@@ -1823,7 +1823,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             },
             intercepts:{
                 env_updated: function (event) {
-                    assert.deepEqual(event.data.ids, envIDs,
+                    assert.deepEqual(event.data.env.ids, envIDs,
                         "should notify the environment with the correct ids");
                 },
             },
diff --git a/addons/web/static/tests/views/list_tests.js b/addons/web/static/tests/views/list_tests.js
index 33b44948fca..b86a820196e 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/tests/views/list_tests.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/tests/views/list_tests.js
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             View: ListView,
             model: 'foo',
             data: this.data,
-            viewOptions: {sidebar: true},
+            viewOptions: {hasSidebar: true},
             arch: '<tree delete="0"><field name="foo"/></tree>',
         });
 
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
                     '<field name="foo"/>' +
                     '<field name="m2o" invisible="1"/>' +
                 '</tree>',
-            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+            mockRPC: function (route) {
                 assert.step(_.last(route.split('/')));
                 return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
             },
@@ -765,7 +765,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             View: ListView,
             model: 'foo',
             data: this.data,
-            viewOptions: {sidebar: true},
+            viewOptions: {hasSidebar: true},
             arch: '<tree><field name="foo"/></tree>',
         });
 
@@ -795,7 +795,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             View: ListView,
             model: 'foo',
             data: this.data,
-            viewOptions: {sidebar: true},
+            viewOptions: {hasSidebar: true},
             arch: '<tree><field name="foo"/></tree>',
             mockRPC: function (route) {
                 if (route === '/web/dataset/call_kw/ir.attachment/search_read') {
@@ -1686,7 +1686,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
                         "'switch_view' event has been triggered");
                 },
                 env_updated: function (event) {
-                    assert.deepEqual(event.data.ids, envIDs,
+                    assert.deepEqual(event.data.env.ids, envIDs,
                         "should notify the environment with the correct ids");
                 },
             },
@@ -2031,7 +2031,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
                     '<field name="bar"/>' +
                 '</tree>',
             intercepts: {
-                warning: function (ev) {
+                warning: function () {
                     warnings++;
                 },
             },
@@ -2070,14 +2070,13 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             arch: '<tree><field name="name"/></tree>',
         });
 
-        testUtils.intercept(list, "switch_view", function (event) {
-            assert.deepEqual(event.data, {
-                    'model': 'event',
-                    'res_id': '2-20170808020000',
-                    'view_type': 'form',
-                    'mode': 'readonly'
-                },
-                "should trigger switch to the form view for the record virtual id");
+        testUtils.intercept(list, 'switch_view', function (event) {
+            assert.deepEqual(_.pick(event.data, 'mode', 'model', 'res_id', 'view_type'), {
+                mode: 'readonly',
+                model: 'event',
+                res_id: '2-20170808020000',
+                view_type: 'form',
+            }, "should trigger a switch_view event to the form view for the record virtual id");
         });
         list.$('td:contains(virtual)').click();
 
@@ -2092,7 +2091,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
             model: 'foo',
             data: this.data,
             arch: '<tree editable="bottom"><field name="foo"/></tree>',
-            mockRPC: function (route, args) {
+            mockRPC: function (route) {
                 assert.step(route);
                 return this._super.apply(this, arguments);
             },
@@ -2220,7 +2219,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
                 print: [],
             },
             viewOptions: {
-                sidebar: true,
+                hasSidebar: true,
             },
         });
 
diff --git a/addons/web/static/tests/views/view_dialogs_tests.js b/addons/web/static/tests/views/view_dialogs_tests.js
index b2dc9c5ab0e..08ddd2c91c2 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/tests/views/view_dialogs_tests.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/tests/views/view_dialogs_tests.js
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ QUnit.module('Views', {
         });
 
         testUtils.intercept(parent, 'env_updated', function () {
-            throw new Error("The environment should not be propagated to the view manager");
+            throw new Error("The environment should not be propagated to the action manager");
         });
 
 
diff --git a/addons/web/static/tests/widgets/data_export_tests.js b/addons/web/static/tests/widgets/data_export_tests.js
index d251e3dea15..192944ce3b5 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/tests/widgets/data_export_tests.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/tests/widgets/data_export_tests.js
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ QUnit.module('widgets', {
             data: this.data,
             arch: '<tree><field name="foo"/></tree>',
             viewOptions: {
-                sidebar: true,
+                hasSidebar: true,
             },
             mockRPC: function (route) {
                 if (route === '/web/export/formats') {
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ QUnit.module('widgets', {
             data: this.data,
             arch: '<tree><field name="foo"/></tree>',
             viewOptions: {
-                sidebar: true,
+                hasSidebar: true,
             },
             mockRPC: function (route) {
                 if (route === '/web/export/formats') {
diff --git a/addons/web/views/webclient_templates.xml b/addons/web/views/webclient_templates.xml
index 438636a0253..295aa7f9b26 100644
--- a/addons/web/views/webclient_templates.xml
+++ b/addons/web/views/webclient_templates.xml
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@
         <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/src/js/core/domain.js"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/src/js/core/pyeval.js"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/src/js/chrome/action_manager.js"></script>
+        <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/src/js/chrome/action_manager_act_window.js"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/src/js/chrome/control_panel.js"></script>
-        <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/src/js/chrome/view_manager.js"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/src/js/chrome/abstract_web_client.js"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/src/js/chrome/web_client.js"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/src/js/_deprecated/data.js"></script>
@@ -489,6 +489,7 @@
                 <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/tests/core/util_tests.js"></script>
                 <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/tests/core/widget_tests.js"></script>
 
+                <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/tests/chrome/action_manager_tests.js"></script>
                 <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/tests/chrome/search_tests.js"></script>
                 <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/tests/chrome/pager_tests.js"></script>
 
@@ -534,6 +535,7 @@
                 <t t-call="web.js_tests_assets"/>
                 <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/lib/jquery.touchSwipe/jquery.touchSwipe.js"></script>
 
+                <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/tests/chrome/action_manager_mobile_tests.js"></script>
                 <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/static/tests/views/kanban_mobile_tests.js"></script>
             </t>
 
diff --git a/addons/website/static/src/js/backend/dashboard.js b/addons/website/static/src/js/backend/dashboard.js
index 9aae072e155..6a4d7c7a609 100644
--- a/addons/website/static/src/js/backend/dashboard.js
+++ b/addons/website/static/src/js/backend/dashboard.js
@@ -303,7 +303,6 @@ var Dashboard = Widget.extend(ControlPanelMixin, {
                 $searchview: this.$searchview,
                 $buttons: QWeb.render("website.GoToButtons"),
             },
-            breadcrumbs: this.getParent().get_breadcrumbs(),
         });
     },