diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_company.py b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_company.py
index 022c9c06da0..cd17f6da3d9 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_company.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_company.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ class res_company(osv.osv):
             address_data = part_obj.address_get(cr, uid, [company.partner_id.id], adr_pref=['default'])
             address = address_data['default']
             if address:
-                part_obj.write(cr, uid, [address], {name: value or False})
+                part_obj.write(cr, uid, [address], {name: value or False}, context=context)
             else:
                 part_obj.create(cr, uid, {name: value or False, 'parent_id': company.partner_id.id}, context=context)
         return True
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ class res_company(osv.osv):
         vals.update({'partner_id': partner_id})
         self.cache_restart(cr)
         company_id = super(res_company, self).create(cr, uid, vals, context=context)
-        obj_partner.write(cr, uid, partner_id, {'company_id': company_id}, context=context)
+        obj_partner.write(cr, uid, [partner_id], {'company_id': company_id}, context=context)
         return company_id
 
     def write(self, cr, uid, ids, values, context=None):
diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_partner.py b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_partner.py
index 31e2d44b306..d140fe62ccc 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_partner.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_partner.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ from openerp import SUPERUSER_ID
 from openerp import tools
 from openerp.osv import osv, fields
 from openerp.tools.translate import _
+from openerp.tools.yaml_import import is_comment
 
 class format_address(object):
     def fields_view_get_address(self, cr, uid, arch, context={}):
@@ -159,8 +160,8 @@ def _lang_get(self, cr, uid, context=None):
     res = lang_pool.read(cr, uid, ids, ['code', 'name'], context)
     return [(r['code'], r['name']) for r in res]
 
-POSTAL_ADDRESS_FIELDS = ('street', 'street2', 'zip', 'city', 'state_id', 'country_id')
-ADDRESS_FIELDS = POSTAL_ADDRESS_FIELDS + ('email', 'phone', 'fax', 'mobile', 'website', 'ref', 'lang')
+# fields copy if 'use_parent_address' is checked
+ADDRESS_FIELDS = ('street', 'street2', 'zip', 'city', 'state_id', 'country_id')
 
 class res_partner(osv.osv, format_address):
     _description = 'Partner'
@@ -193,13 +194,42 @@ class res_partner(osv.osv, format_address):
             result[obj.id] = obj.image != False
         return result
 
-    _order = "name"
+    def _commercial_partner_compute(self, cr, uid, ids, name, args, context=None):
+        """ Returns the partner that is considered the commercial
+        entity of this partner. The commercial entity holds the master data
+        for all commercial fields (see :py:meth:`~_commercial_fields`) """
+        result = dict.fromkeys(ids, False)
+        for partner in self.browse(cr, uid, ids, context=context):
+            current_partner = partner 
+            while not current_partner.is_company and current_partner.parent_id:
+                current_partner = current_partner.parent_id
+            result[partner.id] = current_partner.id
+        return result
+
+    def _display_name_compute(self, cr, uid, ids, name, args, context=None):
+        return dict(self.name_get(cr, uid, ids, context=context))
+
+    # indirections to avoid passing a copy of the overridable method when declaring the function field
+    _commercial_partner_id = lambda self, *args, **kwargs: self._commercial_partner_compute(*args, **kwargs)
+    _display_name = lambda self, *args, **kwargs: self._display_name_compute(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    _commercial_partner_store_triggers = {
+        'res.partner': (lambda self,cr,uid,ids,context=None: self.search(cr, uid, [('id','child_of',ids)]),
+                        ['parent_id', 'is_company'], 10) 
+    }
+    _display_name_store_triggers = {
+        'res.partner': (lambda self,cr,uid,ids,context=None: self.search(cr, uid, [('id','child_of',ids)]),
+                        ['parent_id', 'is_company', 'name'], 10) 
+    }
+
+    _order = "display_name"
     _columns = {
         'name': fields.char('Name', size=128, required=True, select=True),
+        'display_name': fields.function(_display_name, type='char', string='Name', store=_display_name_store_triggers),
         'date': fields.date('Date', select=1),
         'title': fields.many2one('res.partner.title', 'Title'),
         'parent_id': fields.many2one('res.partner', 'Related Company'),
-        'child_ids': fields.one2many('res.partner', 'parent_id', 'Contacts'),
+        'child_ids': fields.one2many('res.partner', 'parent_id', 'Contacts', domain=[('active','=',True)]), # force "active_test" domain to bypass _search() override    
         'ref': fields.char('Reference', size=64, select=1),
         'lang': fields.selection(_lang_get, 'Language',
             help="If the selected language is loaded in the system, all documents related to this contact will be printed in this language. If not, it will be English."),
@@ -264,6 +294,9 @@ class res_partner(osv.osv, format_address):
         'color': fields.integer('Color Index'),
         'user_ids': fields.one2many('res.users', 'partner_id', 'Users'),
         'contact_address': fields.function(_address_display,  type='char', string='Complete Address'),
+
+        # technical field used for managing commercial fields
+        'commercial_partner_id': fields.function(_commercial_partner_id, type='many2one', relation='res.partner', string='Commercial Entity', store=_commercial_partner_store_triggers)
     }
 
     def _default_category(self, cr, uid, context=None):
@@ -302,11 +335,15 @@ class res_partner(osv.osv, format_address):
         'company_id': lambda self, cr, uid, ctx: self.pool['res.company']._company_default_get(cr, uid, 'res.partner', context=ctx),
         'color': 0,
         'is_company': False,
-        'type': 'default',
-        'use_parent_address': True,
+        'type': 'contact', # type 'default' is wildcard and thus inappropriate
+        'use_parent_address': False,
         'image': False,
     }
 
+    _constraints = [
+        (osv.osv._check_recursion, 'You cannot create recursive Partner hierarchies.', ['parent_id']),
+    ]
+
     def copy(self, cr, uid, id, default=None, context=None):
         if default is None:
             default = {}
@@ -318,7 +355,6 @@ class res_partner(osv.osv, format_address):
         value = {}
         value['title'] = False
         if is_company:
-            value['parent_id'] = False
             domain = {'title': [('domain', '=', 'partner')]}
         else:
             domain = {'title': [('domain', '=', 'contact')]}
@@ -328,11 +364,22 @@ class res_partner(osv.osv, format_address):
         def value_or_id(val):
             """ return val or val.id if val is a browse record """
             return val if isinstance(val, (bool, int, long, float, basestring)) else val.id
-
-        if use_parent_address and parent_id:
+        result = {}
+        if parent_id:
+            if ids:
+                partner = self.browse(cr, uid, ids[0], context=context)
+                if partner.parent_id and partner.parent_id.id != parent_id:
+                    result['warning'] = {'title': _('Warning'),
+                                         'message': _('Changing the company of a contact should only be done if it '
+                                                      'was never correctly set. If an existing contact starts working for a new '
+                                                      'company then a new contact should be created under that new '
+                                                      'company. You can use the "Discard" button to abandon this change.')}
             parent = self.browse(cr, uid, parent_id, context=context)
-            return {'value': dict((key, value_or_id(parent[key])) for key in ADDRESS_FIELDS)}
-        return {}
+            address_fields = self._address_fields(cr, uid, context=context)
+            result['value'] = dict((key, value_or_id(parent[key])) for key in address_fields)
+        else:
+            result['value'] = {'use_parent_address': False}
+        return result
 
     def onchange_state(self, cr, uid, ids, state_id, context=None):
         if state_id:
@@ -358,50 +405,134 @@ class res_partner(osv.osv, format_address):
 
 #   _constraints = [(_check_ean_key, 'Error: Invalid ean code', ['ean13'])]
 
-    def write(self, cr, uid, ids, vals, context=None):
-        # Update parent and siblings or children records
-        if isinstance(ids, (int, long)):
-            ids = [ids]
-        for partner in self.browse(cr, uid, ids, context=context):
-            update_ids = []
-            if partner.is_company:
-                domain_children = [('parent_id', 'child_of', partner.id), ('use_parent_address', '=', True)]
-                update_ids = self.search(cr, uid, domain_children, context=context)
-            elif partner.parent_id and vals.get('use_parent_address', partner.use_parent_address):
-                domain_siblings = [('parent_id', '=', partner.parent_id.id), ('use_parent_address', '=', True)]
-                update_ids = [partner.parent_id.id] + self.search(cr, uid, domain_siblings, context=context)
-            self.update_address(cr, uid, update_ids, vals, context)
-        return super(res_partner,self).write(cr, uid, ids, vals, context=context)
-
-    def create(self, cr, uid, vals, context=None):
-        if context is None:
-            context = {}
-        # Update parent and siblings records
-        if vals.get('parent_id'):
-            if 'use_parent_address' in vals:
-                use_parent_address = vals['use_parent_address']
+    def _update_fields_values(self, cr, uid, partner, fields, context=None):
+        """ Returns dict of write() values for synchronizing ``fields`` """
+        values = {}
+        for field in fields:
+            column = self._all_columns[field].column
+            if column._type == 'one2many':
+                raise AssertionError('One2Many fields cannot be synchronized as part of `commercial_fields` or `address fields`')
+            if column._type == 'many2one':
+                values[field] = partner[field].id if partner[field] else False
+            elif column._type == 'many2many':
+                values[field] = [(6,0,[r.id for r in partner[field] or []])]
             else:
-                use_parent_address = self.default_get(cr, uid, ['use_parent_address'], context=context)['use_parent_address']
+                values[field] = partner[field]
+        return values
 
-            if use_parent_address:
-                domain_siblings = [('parent_id', '=', vals['parent_id']), ('use_parent_address', '=', True)]
-                update_ids = [vals['parent_id']] + self.search(cr, uid, domain_siblings, context=context)
-                self.update_address(cr, uid, update_ids, vals, context)
-
-                # add missing address keys
-                onchange_values = self.onchange_address(cr, uid, [], use_parent_address,
-                                                        vals['parent_id'], context=context).get('value') or {}
-                vals.update(dict((key, value)
-                            for key, value in onchange_values.iteritems()
-                            if key in ADDRESS_FIELDS and key not in vals))
-
-        return super(res_partner, self).create(cr, uid, vals, context=context)
+    def _address_fields(self, cr, uid, context=None):
+        """ Returns the list of address fields that are synced from the parent
+        when the `use_parent_address` flag is set. """
+        return list(ADDRESS_FIELDS)
 
     def update_address(self, cr, uid, ids, vals, context=None):
-        addr_vals = dict((key, vals[key]) for key in POSTAL_ADDRESS_FIELDS if key in vals)
+        address_fields = self._address_fields(cr, uid, context=context)
+        addr_vals = dict((key, vals[key]) for key in address_fields if key in vals)
         if addr_vals:
             return super(res_partner, self).write(cr, uid, ids, addr_vals, context)
 
+    def _commercial_fields(self, cr, uid, context=None):
+        """ Returns the list of fields that are managed by the commercial entity
+        to which a partner belongs. These fields are meant to be hidden on
+        partners that aren't `commercial entities` themselves, and will be
+        delegated to the parent `commercial entity`. The list is meant to be
+        extended by inheriting classes. """
+        return ['vat']
+
+    def _commercial_sync_from_company(self, cr, uid, partner, context=None):
+        """ Handle sync of commercial fields when a new parent commercial entity is set,
+        as if they were related fields """
+        if partner.commercial_partner_id != partner:
+            commercial_fields = self._commercial_fields(cr, uid, context=context)
+            sync_vals = self._update_fields_values(cr, uid, partner.commercial_partner_id,
+                                                        commercial_fields, context=context)
+            partner.write(sync_vals)
+
+    def _commercial_sync_to_children(self, cr, uid, partner, context=None):
+        """ Handle sync of commercial fields to descendants """
+        commercial_fields = self._commercial_fields(cr, uid, context=context)
+        sync_vals = self._update_fields_values(cr, uid, partner.commercial_partner_id,
+                                                   commercial_fields, context=context)
+        sync_children = [c for c in partner.child_ids if not c.is_company]
+        for child in sync_children:
+            self._commercial_sync_to_children(cr, uid, child, context=context)
+        return self.write(cr, uid, [c.id for c in sync_children], sync_vals, context=context)
+
+    def _fields_sync(self, cr, uid, partner, update_values, context=None):
+        """ Sync commercial fields and address fields from company and to children after create/update,
+        just as if those were all modeled as fields.related to the parent """
+        # 1. From UPSTREAM: sync from parent
+        if update_values.get('parent_id') or update_values.get('use_parent_address'):
+            # 1a. Commercial fields: sync if parent changed
+            if update_values.get('parent_id'):
+                self._commercial_sync_from_company(cr, uid, partner, context=context)
+            # 1b. Address fields: sync if parent or use_parent changed *and* both are now set 
+            if partner.parent_id and partner.use_parent_address:
+                onchange_vals = self.onchange_address(cr, uid, [partner.id],
+                                                      use_parent_address=partner.use_parent_address,
+                                                      parent_id=partner.parent_id.id,
+                                                      context=context).get('value', {})
+                partner.update_address(onchange_vals)
+
+        # 2. To DOWNSTREAM: sync children 
+        if partner.child_ids:
+            # 2a. Commercial Fields: sync if commercial entity
+            if partner.commercial_partner_id == partner:
+                self._commercial_sync_to_children(cr, uid, partner, context=context)
+            # 2b. Address fields: sync if address changed
+            address_fields = self._address_fields(cr, uid, context=context)
+            if any(field in update_values for field in address_fields):
+                domain_children = [('parent_id', '=', partner.id), ('use_parent_address', '=', True)]
+                update_ids = self.search(cr, uid, domain_children, context=context)
+                self.update_address(cr, uid, update_ids, update_values, context=context)
+
+    def _handle_first_contact_creation(self, cr, uid, partner, context=None):
+        """ On creation of first contact for a company (or root) that has no address, assume contact address
+        was meant to be company address """
+        parent = partner.parent_id
+        address_fields = self._address_fields(cr, uid, context=context)
+        if parent and (parent.is_company or not parent.parent_id) and len(parent.child_ids) == 1 and \
+            any(partner[f] for f in address_fields) and not any(parent[f] for f in address_fields):
+            addr_vals = self._update_fields_values(cr, uid, partner, address_fields, context=context)
+            parent.update_address(addr_vals)
+            if not parent.is_company:
+                parent.write({'is_company': True})
+
+    def write(self, cr, uid, ids, vals, context=None):
+        if isinstance(ids, (int, long)):
+            ids = [ids]
+        result = super(res_partner,self).write(cr, uid, ids, vals, context=context)
+        for partner in self.browse(cr, uid, ids, context=context):
+            self._fields_sync(cr, uid, partner, vals, context)
+        return result
+
+    def create(self, cr, uid, vals, context=None):
+        new_id = super(res_partner, self).create(cr, uid, vals, context=context)
+        partner = self.browse(cr, uid, new_id, context=context)
+        self._fields_sync(cr, uid, partner, vals, context)
+        self._handle_first_contact_creation(cr, uid, partner, context)
+        return new_id
+
+    def open_commercial_entity(self, cr, uid, ids, context=None):
+        """ Utility method used to add an "Open Company" button in partner views """
+        partner = self.browse(cr, uid, ids[0], context=context)
+        return {'type': 'ir.actions.act_window',
+                'res_model': 'res.partner',
+                'view_mode': 'form',
+                'res_id': partner.commercial_partner_id.id,
+                'target': 'new',
+                'flags': {'form': {'action_buttons': True}}}
+
+    def open_parent(self, cr, uid, ids, context=None):
+        """ Utility method used to add an "Open Parent" button in partner views """
+        partner = self.browse(cr, uid, ids[0], context=context)
+        return {'type': 'ir.actions.act_window',
+                'res_model': 'res.partner',
+                'view_mode': 'form',
+                'res_id': partner.parent_id.id,
+                'target': 'new',
+                'flags': {'form': {'action_buttons': True}}}
+
     def name_get(self, cr, uid, ids, context=None):
         if context is None:
             context = {}
@@ -410,8 +541,8 @@ class res_partner(osv.osv, format_address):
         res = []
         for record in self.browse(cr, uid, ids, context=context):
             name = record.name
-            if record.parent_id:
-                name =  "%s (%s)" % (name, record.parent_id.name)
+            if record.parent_id and not record.is_company:
+                name =  "%s, %s" % (record.parent_id.name, name)
             if context.get('show_address'):
                 name = name + "\n" + self._display_address(cr, uid, record, without_company=True, context=context)
                 name = name.replace('\n\n','\n')
@@ -450,6 +581,15 @@ class res_partner(osv.osv, format_address):
         rec_id = self.create(cr, uid, {self._rec_name: name or email, 'email': email or False}, context=context)
         return self.name_get(cr, uid, [rec_id], context)[0]
 
+    def _search(self, cr, user, args, offset=0, limit=None, order=None, context=None, count=False, access_rights_uid=None):
+        """ Override search() to always show inactive children when searching via ``child_of`` operator. The ORM will
+        always call search() with a simple domain of the form [('parent_id', 'in', [ids])]. """
+        # a special ``domain`` is set on the ``child_ids`` o2m to bypass this logic, as it uses similar domain expressions
+        if len(args) == 1 and len(args[0]) == 3 and args[0][:2] == ('parent_id','in'):
+            context = dict(context or {}, active_test=False)
+        return super(res_partner, self)._search(cr, user, args, offset=offset, limit=limit, order=order, context=context,
+                                                count=count, access_rights_uid=access_rights_uid)
+
     def name_search(self, cr, uid, name, args=None, operator='ilike', context=None, limit=100):
         if not args:
             args = []
@@ -510,25 +650,42 @@ class res_partner(osv.osv, format_address):
             ids = ids[16:]
         return True
 
-    def address_get(self, cr, uid, ids, adr_pref=None):
-        if adr_pref is None:
-            adr_pref = ['default']
+    def address_get(self, cr, uid, ids, adr_pref=None, context=None):
+        """ Find contacts/addresses of the right type(s) by doing a depth-first-search
+        through descendants within company boundaries (stop at entities flagged ``is_company``)
+        then continuing the search at the ancestors that are within the same company boundaries.
+        Defaults to partners of type ``'default'`` when the exact type is not found, or to the
+        provided partner itself if no type ``'default'`` is found either. """
+        adr_pref = set(adr_pref or [])
+        if 'default' not in adr_pref:
+            adr_pref.add('default')
         result = {}
-        # retrieve addresses from the partner itself and its children
-        res = []
-        # need to fix the ids ,It get False value in list like ids[False]
-        if ids and ids[0]!=False:
-            for p in self.browse(cr, uid, ids):
-                res.append((p.type, p.id))
-                res.extend((c.type, c.id) for c in p.child_ids)
-        address_dict = dict(reversed(res))
-        # get the id of the (first) default address if there is one,
-        # otherwise get the id of the first address in the list
-        default_address = False
-        if res:
-            default_address = address_dict.get('default', res[0][1])
-        for adr in adr_pref:
-            result[adr] = address_dict.get(adr, default_address)
+        visited = set()
+        for partner in self.browse(cr, uid, filter(None, ids), context=context):
+            current_partner = partner
+            while current_partner:
+                to_scan = [current_partner]
+                # Scan descendants, DFS
+                while to_scan:
+                    record = to_scan.pop(0)
+                    visited.add(record)
+                    if record.type in adr_pref and not result.get(record.type):
+                        result[record.type] = record.id
+                    if len(result) == len(adr_pref):
+                        return result
+                    to_scan = [c for c in record.child_ids
+                                 if c not in visited
+                                 if not c.is_company] + to_scan
+
+                # Continue scanning at ancestor if current_partner is not a commercial entity
+                if current_partner.is_company or not current_partner.parent_id:
+                    break
+                current_partner = current_partner.parent_id
+
+        # default to type 'default' or the partner itself
+        default = result.get('default', partner.id)
+        for adr_type in adr_pref:
+            result[adr_type] = result.get(adr_type) or default 
         return result
 
     def view_header_get(self, cr, uid, view_id, view_type, context):
@@ -570,8 +727,7 @@ class res_partner(osv.osv, format_address):
             'country_name': address.country_id and address.country_id.name or '',
             'company_name': address.parent_id and address.parent_id.name or '',
         }
-        address_field = ['title', 'street', 'street2', 'zip', 'city']
-        for field in address_field :
+        for field in self._address_fields(cr, uid, context=context):
             args[field] = getattr(address, field) or ''
         if without_company:
             args['company_name'] = ''
diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_partner_view.xml b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_partner_view.xml
index 88a1266b689..13b500c4cb0 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_partner_view.xml
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_partner_view.xml
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
             <field eval="8" name="priority"/>
             <field name="arch" type="xml">
                 <tree string="Contacts">
-                    <field name="name"/>
+                    <field name="display_name"/>
                     <field name="function" invisible="1"/>
                     <field name="phone"/>
                     <field name="email"/>
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@
                         </h1>
                         <field name="parent_id"
                             placeholder="Company"
-                            domain="[('is_company', '=', True)]" context="{'default_is_company': True}"
-                            attrs="{'invisible': [('is_company','=', True)]}"
+                            domain="[('is_company', '=', True)]" context="{'default_is_company': True, 'default_supplier': supplier}"
+                            attrs="{'invisible': [('is_company','=', True),('parent_id', '=', False)]}"
                             on_change="onchange_address(use_parent_address, parent_id)"/>
                         <field name="category_id" widget="many2many_tags" placeholder="Tags..."/>
                     </div>
@@ -151,21 +151,24 @@
                             <div attrs="{'invisible': [('parent_id','=', False)]}" name="div_type">
                                 <field class="oe_inline"
                                     name="type"/>
-                                <label for="use_parent_address" class="oe_edit_only"/>
-                                <field name="use_parent_address" class="oe_edit_only oe_inline"
-                                    on_change="onchange_address(use_parent_address, parent_id)"/>
                             </div>
 
                             <label for="street" string="Address"/>
                             <div>
-                                <field name="street" placeholder="Street..."/>
-                                <field name="street2"/>
+                                <field name="use_parent_address" class="oe_edit_only oe_inline"
+                                       on_change="onchange_address(use_parent_address, parent_id)"
+                                       attrs="{'invisible': [('parent_id','=', False),('use_parent_address','=',False)]}"/>
+                                <label for="use_parent_address" class="oe_edit_only" attrs="{'invisible': [('parent_id','=', False),('use_parent_address','=',False)]}"/>
+                                <button name="open_parent" type="object" string="(edit company address)" class="oe_link oe_edit_only"
+                                        attrs="{'invisible': ['|',('parent_id','=', False),('use_parent_address','=',False)]}"/>
+                                <field name="street" placeholder="Street..."  attrs="{'readonly': [('use_parent_address','=',True)]}"/>
+                                <field name="street2"  attrs="{'readonly': [('use_parent_address','=',True)]}"/>
                                 <div class="address_format">
-                                    <field name="city" placeholder="City" style="width: 40%%"/>
-                                    <field name="state_id" class="oe_no_button" placeholder="State" style="width: 37%%" options='{"no_open": True}' on_change="onchange_state(state_id)"/>
-                                    <field name="zip" placeholder="ZIP" style="width: 20%%"/>
+                                    <field name="city" placeholder="City" style="width: 40%%" attrs="{'readonly': [('use_parent_address','=',True)]}"/>
+                                    <field name="state_id" class="oe_no_button" placeholder="State" style="width: 37%%" options='{"no_open": True}' on_change="onchange_state(state_id)" attrs="{'readonly': [('use_parent_address','=',True)]}"/>
+                                    <field name="zip" placeholder="ZIP" style="width: 20%%" attrs="{'readonly': [('use_parent_address','=',True)]}"/>
                                 </div>
-                                <field name="country_id" placeholder="Country" class="oe_no_button" options='{"no_open": True}'/>
+                                <field name="country_id" placeholder="Country" class="oe_no_button" options='{"no_open": True}' attrs="{'readonly': [('use_parent_address','=',True)]}"/>
                             </div>
                             <field name="website" widget="url" placeholder="e.g. www.openerp.com"/>
                         </group>
@@ -182,8 +185,8 @@
                     </group>
 
                     <notebook colspan="4">
-                        <page string="Contacts" attrs="{'invisible': [('is_company','=',False)]}">
-                            <field name="child_ids" context="{'default_parent_id': active_id}" mode="kanban">
+                        <page string="Contacts" attrs="{'invisible': [('is_company','=',False), ('child_ids', '=', [])]}" autofocus="autofocus">
+                            <field name="child_ids" mode="kanban" context="{'default_parent_id': active_id, 'default_street': street, 'default_street2': street2, 'default_city': city, 'default_state_id': state_id, 'default_zip': zip, 'default_country_id': country_id, 'default_supplier': supplier}">
                                 <kanban>
                                     <field name="color"/>
                                     <field name="name"/>
@@ -249,17 +252,41 @@
                                     </templates>
                                 </kanban>
                                 <form string="Contact" version="7.0">
-                                    <field name="image" widget='image' class="oe_avatar oe_left" options='{"preview_image": "image_medium"}'/>
-                                    <div class="oe_title">
+                                    <sheet>
+                                        <field name="image" widget='image' class="oe_avatar oe_left" options='{"preview_image": "image_medium"}'/>
+                                        <div class="oe_title">
+                                            <label for="name" class="oe_edit_only"/>
+                                            <h1><field name="name" style="width: 70%%"/></h1>
+                                            <field name="category_id" widget="many2many_tags" placeholder="Tags..." style="width: 70%%"/>
+                                        </div>
                                         <group>
-                                            <field name="name"/>
-                                            <field name="category_id" widget="many2many_tags" placeholder="Tags..."/>
                                             <field name="function" placeholder="e.g. Sales Director"/>
                                             <field name="email"/>
                                             <field name="phone"/>
                                             <field name="mobile"/>
                                         </group>
-                                    </div>
+                                        <div>
+                                            <field name="use_parent_address"/><label for="use_parent_address"/>
+                                        </div>
+                                        <group>
+                                            <label for="type"/>
+                                            <div name="div_type">
+                                                <field class="oe_inline" name="type"/>
+                                            </div>
+                                            <label for="street" string="Address" attrs="{'invisible': [('use_parent_address','=', True)]}"/>
+                                            <div attrs="{'invisible': [('use_parent_address','=', True)]}" name="div_address">
+                                                <field name="street" placeholder="Street..."/>
+                                                <field name="street2"/>
+                                                <div class="address_format">
+                                                    <field name="city" placeholder="City" style="width: 40%%"/>
+                                                    <field name="state_id" class="oe_no_button" placeholder="State" style="width: 37%%" options='{"no_open": True}' on_change="onchange_state(state_id)"/>
+                                                    <field name="zip" placeholder="ZIP" style="width: 20%%"/>
+                                                </div>
+                                                <field name="country_id" placeholder="Country" class="oe_no_button" options='{"no_open": True}'/>
+                                            </div>
+                                        </group>
+                                        <field name="supplier" invisible="True"/>
+                                    </sheet>
                                 </form>
                             </field>
                         </page>
@@ -330,7 +357,7 @@
             <field name="arch" type="xml">
                 <kanban>
                     <field name="color"/>
-                    <field name="name"/>
+                    <field name="display_name"/>
                     <field name="title"/>
                     <field name="email"/>
                     <field name="parent_id"/>
@@ -363,7 +390,7 @@
                                     </t>
                                 </a>
                                 <div class="oe_kanban_details">
-                                    <h4 class="oe_partner_heading"><a type="open"><field name="name"/></a></h4>
+                                    <h4 class="oe_partner_heading"><a type="open"><field name="display_name"/></a></h4>
                                     <div class="oe_kanban_partner_categories"/>
                                     <div class="oe_kanban_partner_links"/>
                                     <ul>
diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/tests/test_base.py b/openerp/addons/base/tests/test_base.py
index 4e1de54920e..345973526c5 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/tests/test_base.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/tests/test_base.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import unittest2
 
 import openerp.tests.common as common
+from openerp.osv.orm import except_orm
 
 class test_base(common.TransactionCase):
 
@@ -39,5 +40,269 @@ class test_base(common.TransactionCase):
         self.assertTrue(new_id2 > new_id, 'find_or_create failed - should have created new one again')
 
 
+    def test_20_res_partner_address_sync(self):
+        cr, uid = self.cr, self.uid
+        ghoststep = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.create(cr, uid,
+                                                                             {'name': 'GhostStep',
+                                                                              'is_company': True,
+                                                                              'street': 'Main Street, 10',
+                                                                              'phone': '123456789',
+                                                                              'email': 'info@ghoststep.com',
+                                                                              'vat': 'BE0477472701',
+                                                                              'type': 'default'}))
+        p1 = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.name_create(cr, uid, 'Denis Bladesmith <denis.bladesmith@ghoststep.com>')[0])
+        self.assertEqual(p1.type, 'contact', 'Default type must be "contact"')
+        p1phone = '123456789#34'
+        p1.write({'phone': p1phone,
+                  'parent_id': ghoststep.id,
+                  'use_parent_address': True})
+        p1.refresh()
+        self.assertEqual(p1.street, ghoststep.street, 'Address fields must be synced')
+        self.assertEqual(p1.phone, p1phone, 'Phone should be preserved after address sync')
+        self.assertEqual(p1.type, 'contact', 'Type should be preserved after address sync')
+        self.assertEqual(p1.email, 'denis.bladesmith@ghoststep.com', 'Email should be preserved after sync')
+
+        # turn off sync
+        p1street = 'Different street, 42'
+        p1.write({'street': p1street,
+                  'use_parent_address': False})
+        p1.refresh(), ghoststep.refresh() 
+        self.assertEqual(p1.street, p1street, 'Address fields must not be synced after turning sync off')
+        self.assertNotEqual(ghoststep.street, p1street, 'Parent address must never be touched')
+
+        # turn on sync again       
+        p1.write({'use_parent_address': True})
+        p1.refresh()
+        self.assertEqual(p1.street, ghoststep.street, 'Address fields must be synced again')
+        self.assertEqual(p1.phone, p1phone, 'Phone should be preserved after address sync')
+        self.assertEqual(p1.type, 'contact', 'Type should be preserved after address sync')
+        self.assertEqual(p1.email, 'denis.bladesmith@ghoststep.com', 'Email should be preserved after sync')
+
+        # Modify parent, sync to children
+        ghoststreet = 'South Street, 25'
+        ghoststep.write({'street': ghoststreet})
+        p1.refresh()
+        self.assertEqual(p1.street, ghoststreet, 'Address fields must be synced automatically')
+        self.assertEqual(p1.phone, p1phone, 'Phone should not be synced')
+        self.assertEqual(p1.email, 'denis.bladesmith@ghoststep.com', 'Email should be preserved after sync')
+
+        p1street = 'My Street, 11'
+        p1.write({'street': p1street})
+        ghoststep.refresh()
+        self.assertEqual(ghoststep.street, ghoststreet, 'Touching contact should never alter parent')
+
+
+    def test_30_res_partner_first_contact_sync(self):
+        """ Test initial creation of company/contact pair where contact address gets copied to
+        company """
+        cr, uid = self.cr, self.uid
+        ironshield = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.name_create(cr, uid, 'IronShield')[0])
+        self.assertFalse(ironshield.is_company, 'Partners are not companies by default')
+        self.assertFalse(ironshield.use_parent_address, 'use_parent_address defaults to False')
+        self.assertEqual(ironshield.type, 'contact', 'Default type must be "contact"')
+        ironshield.write({'type': 'default'}) # force default type to double-check sync 
+        p1 = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.create(cr, uid,
+                                                                      {'name': 'Isen Hardearth',
+                                                                       'street': 'Strongarm Avenue, 12',
+                                                                       'parent_id': ironshield.id}))
+        self.assertEquals(p1.type, 'contact', 'Default type must be "contact", not the copied parent type')
+        ironshield.refresh()
+        self.assertEqual(ironshield.street, p1.street, 'Address fields should be copied to company')
+        self.assertTrue(ironshield.is_company, 'Company flag should be turned on after first contact creation')
+
+    def test_40_res_partner_address_getc(self):
+        """ Test address_get address resolution mechanism: it should first go down through descendants,
+        stopping when encountering another is_copmany entity, then go up, stopping again at the first
+        is_company entity or the root ancestor and if nothing matches, it should use the provided partner
+        itself """
+        cr, uid = self.cr, self.uid
+        elmtree = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.name_create(cr, uid, 'Elmtree')[0])
+        branch1 = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.create(cr, uid, {'name': 'Branch 1',
+                                                                                     'parent_id': elmtree.id,
+                                                                                     'is_company': True}))
+        leaf10 = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.create(cr, uid, {'name': 'Leaf 10',
+                                                                                    'parent_id': branch1.id,
+                                                                                    'type': 'invoice'}))
+        branch11 = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.create(cr, uid, {'name': 'Branch 11',
+                                                                                      'parent_id': branch1.id,
+                                                                                      'type': 'other'}))
+        leaf111 = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.create(cr, uid, {'name': 'Leaf 111',
+                                                                                    'parent_id': branch11.id,
+                                                                                    'type': 'delivery'}))
+        branch11.write({'is_company': False}) # force is_company after creating 1rst child
+        branch2 = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.create(cr, uid, {'name': 'Branch 2',
+                                                                                     'parent_id': elmtree.id,
+                                                                                     'is_company': True}))
+        leaf21 = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.create(cr, uid, {'name': 'Leaf 21',
+                                                                                    'parent_id': branch2.id,
+                                                                                    'type': 'delivery'}))
+        leaf22 = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.create(cr, uid, {'name': 'Leaf 22',
+                                                                                    'parent_id': branch2.id}))
+        leaf23 = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.create(cr, uid, {'name': 'Leaf 23',
+                                                                                    'parent_id': branch2.id,
+                                                                                    'type': 'default'}))
+        # go up, stop at branch1
+        self.assertEqual(self.res_partner.address_get(cr, uid, [leaf111.id], ['delivery', 'invoice', 'contact', 'other', 'default']),
+                         {'delivery': leaf111.id,
+                          'invoice': leaf10.id,
+                          'contact': branch1.id,
+                          'other': branch11.id,
+                          'default': leaf111.id}, 'Invalid address resolution')
+        self.assertEqual(self.res_partner.address_get(cr, uid, [branch11.id], ['delivery', 'invoice', 'contact', 'other', 'default']),
+                         {'delivery': leaf111.id,
+                          'invoice': leaf10.id,
+                          'contact': branch1.id,
+                          'other': branch11.id,
+                          'default': branch11.id}, 'Invalid address resolution')
+
+        # go down, stop at at all child companies
+        self.assertEqual(self.res_partner.address_get(cr, uid, [elmtree.id], ['delivery', 'invoice', 'contact', 'other', 'default']),
+                         {'delivery': elmtree.id,
+                          'invoice': elmtree.id,
+                          'contact': elmtree.id,
+                          'other': elmtree.id,
+                          'default': elmtree.id}, 'Invalid address resolution')
+
+        # go down through children
+        self.assertEqual(self.res_partner.address_get(cr, uid, [branch1.id], ['delivery', 'invoice', 'contact', 'other', 'default']),
+                         {'delivery': leaf111.id,
+                          'invoice': leaf10.id,
+                          'contact': branch1.id,
+                          'other': branch11.id,
+                          'default': branch1.id}, 'Invalid address resolution')
+        self.assertEqual(self.res_partner.address_get(cr, uid, [branch2.id], ['delivery', 'invoice', 'contact', 'other', 'default']),
+                         {'delivery': leaf21.id,
+                          'invoice': leaf23.id,
+                          'contact': branch2.id,
+                          'other': leaf23.id,
+                          'default': leaf23.id}, 'Invalid address resolution')
+
+        # go up then down through siblings
+        self.assertEqual(self.res_partner.address_get(cr, uid, [leaf21.id], ['delivery', 'invoice', 'contact', 'other', 'default']),
+                         {'delivery': leaf21.id,
+                          'invoice': leaf23.id,
+                          'contact': branch2.id,
+                          'other': leaf23.id,
+                          'default': leaf23.id
+                          }, 'Invalid address resolution, should scan commercial entity ancestor and its descendants')
+        self.assertEqual(self.res_partner.address_get(cr, uid, [leaf22.id], ['delivery', 'invoice', 'contact', 'other', 'default']),
+                         {'delivery': leaf21.id,
+                          'invoice': leaf23.id,
+                          'contact': leaf22.id,
+                          'other': leaf23.id,
+                          'default': leaf23.id}, 'Invalid address resolution, should scan commercial entity ancestor and its descendants')
+        self.assertEqual(self.res_partner.address_get(cr, uid, [leaf23.id], ['delivery', 'invoice', 'contact', 'other', 'default']),
+                         {'delivery': leaf21.id,
+                          'invoice': leaf23.id,
+                          'contact': branch2.id,
+                          'other': leaf23.id,
+                          'default': leaf23.id}, 'Invalid address resolution, `default` should only override if no partner with specific type exists')
+
+        # empty adr_pref means only 'default'
+        self.assertEqual(self.res_partner.address_get(cr, uid, [elmtree.id], []),
+                        {'default': elmtree.id}, 'Invalid address resolution, no default means commercial entity ancestor')
+        self.assertEqual(self.res_partner.address_get(cr, uid, [leaf111.id], []),
+                        {'default': leaf111.id}, 'Invalid address resolution, no default means contact itself')
+        branch11.write({'type': 'default'})
+        self.assertEqual(self.res_partner.address_get(cr, uid, [leaf111.id], []),
+                        {'default': branch11.id}, 'Invalid address resolution, branch11 should now be default')
+
+
+    def test_50_res_partner_commercial_sync(self):    
+        cr, uid = self.cr, self.uid
+        p0 = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.create(cr, uid,
+                                                                      {'name': 'Sigurd Sunknife',
+                                                                       'email': 'ssunknife@gmail.com'}))
+        sunhelm = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.create(cr, uid,
+                                                                           {'name': 'Sunhelm',
+                                                                            'is_company': True,
+                                                                            'street': 'Rainbow Street, 13',
+                                                                            'phone': '1122334455',
+                                                                            'email': 'info@sunhelm.com',
+                                                                            'vat': 'BE0477472701',
+                                                                            'child_ids': [(4, p0.id),
+                                                                                          (0, 0, {'name': 'Alrik Greenthorn',
+                                                                                                  'email': 'agr@sunhelm.com'})],
+                                                                            }))
+        p1 = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.create(cr, uid,
+                                                                      {'name': 'Otto Blackwood',
+                                                                       'email': 'otto.blackwood@sunhelm.com',
+                                                                       'parent_id': sunhelm.id}))
+        p11 = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.create(cr, uid,
+                                                                      {'name': 'Gini Graywool',
+                                                                       'email': 'ggr@sunhelm.com',
+                                                                       'parent_id': p1.id}))
+        p2 = self.res_partner.browse(cr, uid, self.res_partner.search(cr, uid,
+                                                                      [('email', '=', 'agr@sunhelm.com')])[0])
+
+        for p in (p0, p1, p11, p2):
+            p.refresh()
+            self.assertEquals(p.commercial_partner_id, sunhelm, 'Incorrect commercial entity resolution')
+            self.assertEquals(p.vat, sunhelm.vat, 'Commercial fields must be automatically synced')
+        sunhelmvat = 'BE0123456789'
+        sunhelm.write({'vat': sunhelmvat})
+        for p in (p0, p1, p11, p2):
+            p.refresh()
+            self.assertEquals(p.vat, sunhelmvat, 'Commercial fields must be automatically and recursively synced')
+
+        p1vat = 'BE0987654321'
+        p1.write({'vat': p1vat})
+        for p in (sunhelm, p0, p11, p2):
+            p.refresh()
+            self.assertEquals(p.vat, sunhelmvat, 'Sync to children should only work downstream and on commercial entities')
+
+        # promote p1 to commercial entity
+        vals = p1.onchange_type(is_company=True)['value']
+        p1.write(dict(vals, parent_id=sunhelm.id,
+                      is_company=True,
+                      name='Sunhelm Subsidiary'))
+        p1.refresh()
+        self.assertEquals(p1.vat, p1vat, 'Setting is_company should stop auto-sync of commercial fields')
+        self.assertEquals(p1.commercial_partner_id, p1, 'Incorrect commercial entity resolution after setting is_company')
+
+        # writing on parent should not touch child commercial entities
+        sunhelmvat2 = 'BE0112233445'
+        sunhelm.write({'vat': sunhelmvat2})
+        p1.refresh()
+        self.assertEquals(p1.vat, p1vat, 'Setting is_company should stop auto-sync of commercial fields')
+        p0.refresh()
+        self.assertEquals(p0.vat, sunhelmvat2, 'Commercial fields must be automatically synced')
+
+class test_partner_recursion(common.TransactionCase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(test_partner_recursion,self).setUp()
+        self.res_partner = self.registry('res.partner')
+        cr, uid = self.cr, self.uid
+        self.p1 = self.res_partner.name_create(cr, uid, 'Elmtree')[0]
+        self.p2 = self.res_partner.create(cr, uid, {'name': 'Elmtree Child 1', 'parent_id': self.p1})
+        self.p3 = self.res_partner.create(cr, uid, {'name': 'Elmtree Grand-Child 1.1', 'parent_id': self.p2})
+
+    # split 101, 102, 103 tests to force SQL rollback between them
+
+    def test_101_res_partner_recursion(self):
+        cr, uid, p1, p3 = self.cr, self.uid, self.p1, self.p3
+        self.assertRaises(except_orm, self.res_partner.write, cr, uid, [p1], {'parent_id': p3})
+
+    def test_102_res_partner_recursion(self):
+        cr, uid, p2, p3 = self.cr, self.uid, self.p2, self.p3
+        self.assertRaises(except_orm, self.res_partner.write, cr, uid, [p2], {'parent_id': p3})
+
+    def test_103_res_partner_recursion(self):
+        cr, uid, p3 = self.cr, self.uid, self.p3
+        self.assertRaises(except_orm, self.res_partner.write, cr, uid, [p3], {'parent_id': p3})
+
+    def test_104_res_partner_recursion_indirect_cycle(self):
+        """ Indirect hacky write to create cycle in children """
+        cr, uid, p2, p3 = self.cr, self.uid, self.p2, self.p3
+        p3b = self.res_partner.create(cr, uid, {'name': 'Elmtree Grand-Child 1.2', 'parent_id': self.p2})
+        self.assertRaises(except_orm, self.res_partner.write, cr, uid, [p2],
+                          {'child_ids': [(1, p3, {'parent_id': p3b}), (1, p3b, {'parent_id': p3})]})
+
+    def test_110_res_partner_recursion_multi_update(self):
+        """ multi-write on several partners in same hierarchy must not trigger a false cycle detection """
+        cr, uid, p1, p2, p3 = self.cr, self.uid, self.p1, self.p2, self.p3
+        self.assertTrue(self.res_partner.write(cr, uid, [p1,p2,p3], {'phone': '123456'}))
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest2.main()