This should go in adminhtml.xml. Also see Config ACL Definition (note that the XML path of the ACL entry needs to match up with the XML path of the menu entry).
To place an entry under the sales node (alter the name for other nodes):
<config>
<menu>
<sales>
<children>
<namespace_module translate="title" module="namespace_module">
<title>Your Module</title>
<sort_order>100</sort_order>
<action>adminhtml/namespace_module</action>
<!-- Children are optional, you should remove the above <action> if you have them -->
<children>
<this translate="title" module="namespace_module">
<title>This</title>
<sort_order>10</sort_order>
<action>adminhtml/namespace_module_this</action>
</this>
<that translate="title" module="namespace_module">
<title>That</title>
<sort_order>20</sort_order>
<action>adminhtml/namespace_module_that</action>
</that>
</children>
</namespace_module>
</children>
</sales>
</menu>
</config>
To place an entry on the top bar itself:
<config>
<menu>
<namespace_module translate="title" module="namespace_module">
<title>Your Module</title>
<sort_order>100</sort_order>
<action>adminhtml/namespace_module</action>
<!-- Children are optional, you should remove the above <action> if you have them -->
<children>
<this translate="title" module="namespace_module">
<title>This</title>
<sort_order>10</sort_order>
<action>adminhtml/namespace_module_this</action>
</this>
<that translate="title" module="namespace_module">
<title>That</title>
<sort_order>20</sort_order>
<action>adminhtml/namespace_module_that</action>
</that>
</children>
</namespace_module>
</menu>
</config>
Posted by Mike Whitby to Magento (2012-05-01 10:19)