diff --git a/addons/crm/data/crm_lead_demo.xml b/addons/crm/data/crm_lead_demo.xml
index 4f638a42f0e..0e73640175a 100644
--- a/addons/crm/data/crm_lead_demo.xml
+++ b/addons/crm/data/crm_lead_demo.xml
@@ -368,8 +368,8 @@ Andrew</p>]]></field>
 
         <!-- Call Function to Cancel the leads (set as Dead) -->
         <function model="crm.lead" name="action_set_lost"
-            eval="[ref('crm_case_7'), ref('crm_case_9'), ref('crm_case_11'), ref('crm_case_12')],
-                  {'install_mode': True}"/>
+            eval="[[ref('crm_case_7'), ref('crm_case_9'), ref('crm_case_11'), ref('crm_case_12')]]"
+            context="{'install_mode': True}"/>
 
         <!-- Demo Opportunities -->
         <record id="crm_case_13" model="crm.lead">
@@ -1161,13 +1161,13 @@ Andrew</p>]]></field>
 
         <!-- Call Function to set dome opportunities as Lost -->
         <function model="crm.lead" name="action_set_lost"
-            eval="[ref('crm_case_28')],
-                  {'install_mode': True}"/>
+            eval="[[ref('crm_case_28')]]"
+            context="{'install_mode': True}"/>
 
         <!-- Call Function to set some opportunities as Won -->
         <function model="crm.lead" name="action_set_won"
-            eval="[ref('crm_case_20'), ref('crm_case_23'), ref('crm_case_27')],
-                  {'install_mode': True}"/>
+            eval="[[ref('crm_case_20'), ref('crm_case_23'), ref('crm_case_27')]]"
+            context="{'install_mode': True}"/>
 
         <!-- Activities -->
         <record id="activity_1" model="mail.activity">
diff --git a/addons/mass_mailing/data/mass_mailing_demo.xml b/addons/mass_mailing/data/mass_mailing_demo.xml
index 19957054c66..e9df5daaa35 100644
--- a/addons/mass_mailing/data/mass_mailing_demo.xml
+++ b/addons/mass_mailing/data/mass_mailing_demo.xml
@@ -264,34 +264,41 @@
             <value model="link.tracker.code"
                 search="[('link_id.url', '=', 'http://www.example.com')]"
                 use="code"/>
-            <value eval="{'ip': '100.01.02.03', 'country_code': 'BE', 'mail_stat_id': ref('mass_mail_1_stat_0')}"/>
+            <value name="ip">100.01.02.03</value>
+            <value name="country_code">BE</value>
+            <value name="mail_stat_id" eval="ref('mass_mail_1_stat_0')"/>
         </function>
         <function model="link.tracker.click" name="add_click">
             <value model="link.tracker.code"
                 search="[('link_id.url', '=', 'http://www.example.net/page/contactus')]"
                 use="code"/>
-            <value eval="{'ip': '100.01.02.03', 'country_code': 'BE', 'mail_stat_id': ref('mass_mail_1_stat_0')}"/>
+            <value name="ip">100.01.02.03</value>
+            <value name="country_code">BE</value>
+            <value name="mail_stat_id" eval="ref('mass_mail_1_stat_0')"/>
         </function>
         <function model="link.tracker.click" name="add_click">
             <value model="link.tracker.code"
                 search="[('link_id.url', '=', 'http://www.example.com')]"
                 use="code"/>
-            <value eval="{'ip': '100.01.02.04', 'country_code': 'BE', 'mail_stat_id': ref('mass_mail_1_stat_1')}"/>
+            <value name="ip">100.01.02.04</value>
+            <value name="country_code">BE</value>
+            <value name="mail_stat_id" eval="ref('mass_mail_1_stat_1')"/>
         </function>
         <function model="link.tracker.click" name="add_click">
             <value model="link.tracker.code"
                 search="[('link_id.url', '=', 'http://www.example.net/page/contactus')]"
                 use="code"/>
-            <value eval="{'ip': '100.01.02.04', 'country_code': 'BE', 'mail_stat_id': ref('mass_mail_1_stat_0')}"/>
-            <value eval="'100.01.02.04'"/>
-            <value eval="'BE'"/>
-            <value eval="ref('mass_mail_1_stat_0')"/>
+            <value name="ip">100.01.02.04</value>
+            <value name="country_code">BE</value>
+            <value name="mail_stat_id" eval="ref('mass_mail_1_stat_0')"/>
         </function>
         <function model="link.tracker.click" name="add_click">
             <value model="link.tracker.code"
                 search="[('link_id.url', '=', 'http://www.example.com')]"
                 use="code"/>
-            <value eval="{'ip': '100.01.02.05', 'country_code': 'BE', 'mail_stat_id': ref('mass_mail_1_stat_2')}"/>
+            <value name="ip">100.01.02.05</value>
+            <value name="country_code">BE</value>
+            <value name="mail_stat_id" eval="ref('mass_mail_1_stat_2')"/>
         </function>
 
     </data>
diff --git a/addons/stock/data/stock_data.xml b/addons/stock/data/stock_data.xml
index d522f76d9c6..34693a1c29f 100644
--- a/addons/stock/data/stock_data.xml
+++ b/addons/stock/data/stock_data.xml
@@ -143,20 +143,10 @@
         </function>
 
         <!-- create the transit location for each company existing -->
-        <function model="res.company" name="create_missing_transit_location">
-            <value model="res.company" eval="obj()"/>
-        </function>
-        <function model="res.company" name="create_missing_warehouse">
-            <value model="res.company" eval="obj()"/>
-        </function>
-        <function model="res.company" name="create_missing_inventory_loss_location">
-            <value model="res.company" eval="obj()"/>
-        </function>
-        <function model="res.company" name="create_missing_production_location">
-            <value model="res.company" eval="obj()"/>
-        </function>
-        <function model="res.company" name="create_missing_scrap_location">
-            <value model="res.company" eval="obj()"/>
-        </function>
+        <function model="res.company" name="create_missing_transit_location"/>
+        <function model="res.company" name="create_missing_warehouse"/>
+        <function model="res.company" name="create_missing_inventory_loss_location"/>
+        <function model="res.company" name="create_missing_production_location"/>
+        <function model="res.company" name="create_missing_scrap_location"/>
     </data>
 </odoo>
diff --git a/odoo/addons/test_convert/__init__.py b/odoo/addons/test_convert/__init__.py
index a301ab24b52..dc5e6b693d1 100644
--- a/odoo/addons/test_convert/__init__.py
+++ b/odoo/addons/test_convert/__init__.py
@@ -1,10 +1,4 @@
-from odoo import fields, models
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Part of Odoo. See LICENSE file for full copyright and licensing details.
 
-
-class Usered(models.Model):
-    _name = 'test_convert.usered'
-    _description = "z test model ignore"
-
-    name = fields.Char()
-    user_id = fields.Many2one('res.users', default=lambda self: self.env.user)
-    tz = fields.Char(default=lambda self: self.env.context.get('tz') or self.env.user.tz)
+from . import models
diff --git a/odoo/addons/test_convert/models.py b/odoo/addons/test_convert/models.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e48ac2d1e7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/odoo/addons/test_convert/models.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Part of Odoo. See LICENSE file for full copyright and licensing details.
+
+from odoo import models, fields, api
+
+
+class Usered(models.Model):
+    _name = 'test_convert.usered'
+    _description = "z test model ignore"
+
+    name = fields.Char()
+    user_id = fields.Many2one('res.users', default=lambda self: self.env.user)
+    tz = fields.Char(default=lambda self: self.env.context.get('tz') or self.env.user.tz)
+
+    @api.model
+    def model_method(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        return self, args, kwargs
+
+    def method(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        return self, args, kwargs
diff --git a/odoo/addons/test_convert/tests/test_convert.py b/odoo/addons/test_convert/tests/test_convert.py
index e81526dd43c..709a5eeab10 100644
--- a/odoo/addons/test_convert/tests/test_convert.py
+++ b/odoo/addons/test_convert/tests/test_convert.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import unittest
 from lxml.builder import E
 
 from odoo.tests import common
-from odoo.tools.convert import _eval_xml
+from odoo.tools.convert import xml_import, _eval_xml
 
 Field = E.field
 Value = E.value
@@ -74,6 +74,118 @@ class TestEvalXML(common.TransactionCase):
         with self.assertRaises(IOError):
             self.eval_xml(Field('test_nofile.txt', type='file'), obj)
 
+    def test_function(self):
+        obj = xml_import(self.cr, 'test_convert', None, 'init')
+
+        # pass args in eval
+        xml = E.function(
+            model="test_convert.usered",
+            name="model_method",
+            eval="[1, 2]",
+        )
+        rec, args, kwargs = self.eval_xml(xml, obj)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.env.context, self.env.context)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.ids, [])
+        self.assertEqual(args, (1, 2))
+        self.assertEqual(kwargs, {})
+
+        xml = E.function(
+            model="test_convert.usered",
+            name="method",
+            eval="[1, 2]",
+        )
+        rec, args, kwargs = self.eval_xml(xml, obj)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.env.context, self.env.context)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.ids, [1])
+        self.assertEqual(args, (2,))
+        self.assertEqual(kwargs, {})
+
+        # pass args in child elements
+        xml = E.function(
+            E.value(eval="1"), E.value(eval="2"),
+            model="test_convert.usered",
+            name="model_method",
+        )
+        rec, args, kwargs = self.eval_xml(xml, obj)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.env.context, self.env.context)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.ids, [])
+        self.assertEqual(args, (1, 2))
+        self.assertEqual(kwargs, {})
+
+        xml = E.function(
+            E.value(eval="1"), E.value(eval="2"),
+            model="test_convert.usered",
+            name="method",
+        )
+        rec, args, kwargs = self.eval_xml(xml, obj)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.env.context, self.env.context)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.ids, [1])
+        self.assertEqual(args, (2,))
+        self.assertEqual(kwargs, {})
+
+    def test_function_kwargs(self):
+        obj = xml_import(self.cr, 'test_convert', None, 'init')
+
+        # pass args and kwargs in child elements
+        xml = E.function(
+            E.value(eval="1"), E.value(name="foo", eval="2"),
+            model="test_convert.usered",
+            name="model_method",
+        )
+        rec, args, kwargs = self.eval_xml(xml, obj)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.env.context, self.env.context)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.ids, [])
+        self.assertEqual(args, (1,))
+        self.assertEqual(kwargs, {'foo': 2})
+
+        xml = E.function(
+            E.value(eval="1"), E.value(name="foo", eval="2"),
+            model="test_convert.usered",
+            name="method",
+        )
+        rec, args, kwargs = self.eval_xml(xml, obj)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.env.context, self.env.context)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.ids, [1])
+        self.assertEqual(args, ())
+        self.assertEqual(kwargs, {'foo': 2})
+
+        # pass args and context in kwargs
+        xml = E.function(
+            E.value(eval="1"), E.value(name="context", eval="{'foo': 2}"),
+            model="test_convert.usered",
+            name="model_method",
+        )
+        rec, args, kwargs = self.eval_xml(xml, obj)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.env.context, {'foo': 2})
+        self.assertEqual(rec.ids, [])
+        self.assertEqual(args, (1,))
+        self.assertEqual(kwargs, {})
+
+        xml = E.function(
+            E.value(eval="1"), E.value(name="context", eval="{'foo': 2}"),
+            model="test_convert.usered",
+            name="method",
+        )
+        rec, args, kwargs = self.eval_xml(xml, obj)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.env.context, {'foo': 2})
+        self.assertEqual(rec.ids, [1])
+        self.assertEqual(args, ())
+        self.assertEqual(kwargs, {})
+
+    def test_function_function(self):
+        obj = xml_import(self.cr, 'test_convert', None, 'init')
+
+        xml = E.function(
+            E.function(model="test_convert.usered", name="search", eval="[[]]"),
+            model="test_convert.usered",
+            name="method",
+        )
+        rec, args, kwargs = self.eval_xml(xml, obj)
+        self.assertEqual(rec.env.context, {})
+        self.assertEqual(rec.ids, [])
+        self.assertEqual(args, ())
+        self.assertEqual(kwargs, {})
+
     @unittest.skip("not tested")
     def test_xml(self):
         pass
diff --git a/odoo/import_xml.rng b/odoo/import_xml.rng
index 953cac69e42..83324f379a9 100644
--- a/odoo/import_xml.rng
+++ b/odoo/import_xml.rng
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
     <rng:define name="value">
         <rng:element name="value">
+            <rng:optional><rng:attribute name="name" /></rng:optional>
             <rng:optional><rng:attribute name="model" /></rng:optional>
             <rng:choice>
                 <rng:attribute name="search" />
diff --git a/odoo/tools/convert.py b/odoo/tools/convert.py
index e677560979e..7a3ff444cce 100644
--- a/odoo/tools/convert.py
+++ b/odoo/tools/convert.py
@@ -177,32 +177,24 @@ def _eval_xml(self, node, env):
                 return tuple(res)
             return res
     elif node.tag == "function":
+        model = env[node.get('model')]
+        method_name = node.get('name')
+        # determine arguments
+        args = []
+        kwargs = {}
         a_eval = node.get('eval')
         if a_eval:
             self.idref['ref'] = self.id_get
-            # ensure the args are a list (sometimes folks eval a tuple which
-            # is inconvenient when trying to concatenate w/ a list)
             args = list(safe_eval(a_eval, self.idref))
-        else:
-            args = [
-                r for r in (_eval_xml(self, n, env) for n in node)
-                if r is not None
-            ]
-
-        model = env[node.get('model')]
-        method_name = node.get('name')
-        method = getattr(model, method_name)
-
-        # this mess is necessary to merge @context and a possible positional
-        # context parameter, as <function> works on the old API so ids and
-        # context are just args
-        ids, args = [], list(args)
-        if getattr(method, '_api', None) not in ('model', 'model_create'):
-            ids, args = args[:1], args[1:]
-        context, args, kwargs = api.split_context(method, args, {})
-        kwargs['context'] = {**env.context, **(context or {})}
-
-        return odoo.api.call_kw(model, method_name, ids + args, kwargs)
+        for child in node:
+            if child.tag == 'value' and child.get('name'):
+                kwargs[child.get('name')] = _eval_xml(self, child, env)
+            else:
+                args.append(_eval_xml(self, child, env))
+        # merge current context with context in kwargs
+        kwargs['context'] = {**env.context, **kwargs.get('context', {})}
+        # invoke method
+        return odoo.api.call_kw(model, method_name, args, kwargs)
     elif node.tag == "test":
         return node.text