Ever wanted to run a Levenshtein Distance algorithm inside Zoho Deluge? No? Me neither, but I did it anyway.
I built a fully functional fuzzy matching system inside Zoho, brute-forcing a dynamic programming solution using Maps and recursive list generation.
- Does it scale? Not really.
- Does it work? Absolutely.
- Did I need to do this? Not at all, but it was fun.
I don’t even use this anymore because I found a better way around fuzzy matching for my needs, but hey, if you ever need a low volume Levenshtein calculator inside Zoho, now you have one. 🤷♂️
How It Works
The function computes Levenshtein Distance, a metric for fuzzy string similarity, by calculating the number of insertions, deletions, and substitutions needed to convert one string into another.
This method is commonly used in spell-checking, DNA sequencing, and fuzzy search algorithms—so obviously, I decided to implement it inside Zoho, because why not?
🔹 The Challenge: Zoho doesn’t support 2D arrays natively.
🔹 The Solution: I brute-forced it using Map-of-Maps as a manual matrix.
🔹 Bonus: I even used recursion to generate number sequences (which is completely unnecessary but kinda cool).
Code & Example Usage
Main Function: standalone.levenshteinDistance
📌 Input: {"s": "kitten", "t": "sitting"}
📌 Output: "3"
Code:
string standalone.levenshteinDistance(Map args)
{
// Retrieve input strings.
s = args.get("s");
t = args.get("t");
m = s.length();
n = t.length();
// If one string is empty, return the length of the other.
if(m == 0)
{
return n.toString();
}
if(n == 0)
{
return m.toString();
}
//info "Length of s: " + m.toString() + ", Length of t: " + n.toString();
// ------------------------------
// Get index lists via the helper function.
// The helper function standalone.UtilitygetListOfLength returns a comma-separated string.
// For example, if (m+1) is 5, it returns "0,1,2,3,4".
// ------------------------------
indices_m_str = standalone.UtilitygetListOfLength({"myLength":m + 1});
indices_n_str = standalone.UtilitygetListOfLength({"myLength":n + 1});
//info "indices_m_str: " + indices_m_str;
//info "indices_n_str: " + indices_n_str;
// Convert these comma-separated strings into lists of long values.
indices_m = list();
numList_m = indices_m_str.toList(",");
for each numStr in numList_m
{
if(numStr.trim() != "")
{
indices_m.add(numStr.trim().toLong());
}
}
indices_n = list();
numList_n = indices_n_str.toList(",");
for each numStr in numList_n
{
if(numStr.trim() != "")
{
indices_n.add(numStr.trim().toLong());
}
}
//info "indices_m list: " + indices_m.toString();
//info "indices_n list: " + indices_n.toString();
// ------------------------------
// Initialize matrix as a map-of-maps.
// Each row is a map keyed by the column index.
// ------------------------------
matrix = Map();
for each i in indices_m
{
rowMap = Map();
for each j in indices_n
{
rowMap.put(j,0);
}
matrix.put(i,rowMap);
}
// Set up the first column: matrix[i][0] = i.
for each i in indices_m
{
rowMap = matrix.get(i);
rowMap.put(0,i);
}
// Set up the first row: matrix[0][j] = j.
firstRow = matrix.get(0);
for each j in indices_n
{
firstRow.put(j,j);
}
// ------------------------------
// Compute Levenshtein distances.
// ------------------------------
for each i in indices_m
{
if(i == 0)
{
continue;
}
for each j in indices_n
{
if(j == 0)
{
continue;
}
// Determine cost: 0 if characters are the same, otherwise 1.
if(s.subString(i - 1,i) == t.subString(j - 1,j))
{
cost = 0;
}
else
{
cost = 1;
}
deletion = matrix.get(i - 1).get(j) + 1;
insertion = matrix.get(i).get(j - 1) + 1;
substitution = matrix.get(i - 1).get(j - 1) + cost;
minValue = deletion;
if(insertion < minValue)
{
minValue = insertion;
}
if(substitution < minValue)
{
minValue = substitution;
}
rowMap = matrix.get(i);
rowMap.put(j,minValue);
}
}
result = matrix.get(m).get(n);
//info "Levenshtein distance: " + result.toString();
return result.toString();
}
Recursive Helper Function: standalone.UtilitygetListOfLength
📌 Input: {"myLength": 6}
📌 Output: "0,1,2,3,4,5"
Code:
string standalone.UtilitygetListOfLength(Map args)
{
myLength = args.get("myLength");
//info "Input myLength: " + myLength;
if(myLength == null || myLength <= 0)
{
//info "Base case reached (myLength <= 0). Returning empty string.";
return "";
}
else
{
// Recursively get the string for (myLength - 1)
prevStr = standalone.UtilitygetListOfLength({"myLength":myLength - 1});
//info "Previous string returned for myLength " + (myLength - 1).toString() + ": " + prevStr;
if(prevStr.equals(""))
{
result = "0";
}
else
{
result = prevStr + "," + (myLength - 1).toString();
}
//info "Returning result for myLength " + myLength.toString() + ": " + result;
return result;
}
}
This helper function is completely unnecessary, but I made it anyway. Instead of just looping, it recursively builds a CSV string of numbers—which is both inefficient and hilarious. 😆
Why Did I Do This?
Because it wasn't supposed to work—but it does.
- Zoho doesn’t support Levenshtein distance? I built it anyway.
- Zoho doesn’t have fuzzy matching? Now it does.
- Zoho doesn’t support 2D arrays? I brute-forced a matrix using Maps.
- Does this scale for massive data? Nope, but it’s perfect for low-volume cases.
Thoughts? Ideas? Have you ever done something in Zoho just because you wanted to see if it was possible? Let me know. 😆
TL;DR:
📌 I brute-forced Levenshtein Distance into Zoho
📌 Zoho wasn’t built for this, but I made it work anyway
📌 Does it scale? No. Does it work? Yes.
📌 Do I use it? Nope. Was it fun? Absolutely.
Let me know what you think! 🚀
Recent Topics
Calls undetected
Zoho Voice records indicate my last call ended at 6:00 PM. All incoming and outgoing calls occurred between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
Unable to Select Authenticated Domain as Sender
We’ve already authenticated our domain, but it’s still not appearing in the sender list when we try to run a campaign. Could you please check what might be causing this issue?
Forever FREE Business Email with Zoho Mail
Forever FREE Business Email with Zoho Mail: is it available?
Zoho Projects - Project Details on the Project Menu
Hi Project's team, I've helped may businesses setup and use Zoho Project and one thing I see time and time again is confusion on where to find the Project Details information. I would be much more intuitive if Project Details was on the menu before Dashboard.
Introducing WhatsApp integration in Bigin
Greetings! In today's business landscape, messaging apps play a significant role in customer operations. Customers can engage with businesses, seek support, ask questions, receive personalized recommendations, read reviews, and even make purchases—all
Zoho Projects - Show Task List as dropdown field on Task records
Hi Project's Team, I noticed today that there is no field on a task record related to the task list it belongs to. A dropdown would be helpful for quickly moving tasks between lists while in a task. I know that you can go to "Other Actions" and choose
Changing the Default Search Criteria for Finding Duplicates
Hey everyone, is it possible to adjust the default search criteria for finding and merging duplicate records? Right now, CRM uses some (in my opinion nonsensical) fields as search criteria for duplicate records which do nothing except dilute the results.
My followed tickets extension is not working under the All departments view
Hi. I've installed the My followed tickets extension. However, when I try to open the extension under the all departments view, I get the following message: 'Sorry, this extension is not supported in the All Departments view.' How can I solve this p
Ticket Time Entry to Timesheet
The title just about sums it up. I have searched here and not found anything relevant, but If I overlooked, then please set me straight. We have staff that do nothing but close tickets in desk all day long. These tickets represent their timesheet. Is there a way to have this information sync or for a tech to go into their timesheet themselves and sync it with their tickets of the same timeframe?? We waste a ton of time doing timesheets and the old "Clock in/Clock out" isnt detailed enough for us!!
Calls undetected.
The call is not showing on the call log.
Calls undetected
Zoho is not reading calls made.
Multi-currency and Products
One of the main reasons I have gone down the Zoho route is because I need multi-currency support. However, I find that products can only be priced in the home currency, We sell to the US and UK. However, we maintain different price lists for each.
Archiving Contacts
How do I archive a list of contacts, or individual contacts?
Missing information data Zoho inventory
there some missing data in Zoho inventory connection. pick list stock counts bin location we have requested it via mail and the support team doesn’t gove feedback. has anyone achieve to get these info or to ask other ya les
Calendar Events Issues
Not able to view scheduled events on my calendar
Extensions 101 webinar series: Build, integrate, and monetize with extensions
Attention developers! Are you ready to take your extension development skills to the next level? We're excited to bring back the Extensions 101 webinar series with an expanded lineup of Zoho products and an introduction to more platform features. Last
Custom Related List Inside Zoho Books
Hello, We can create the Related list inside the zoho books by the deluge code, I am sharing the reference code Please have a look may be it will help you. //..........Get Org Details organizationID = organization.get("organization_id"); Recordid = cm_g_a_data.get("module_record_id");
Where are recordings stored?
I have hosted a couple of test meeting, used the "record" button to start and stop the recording but I am unable to find where are those recordings saved? Can anybody help? Thanks
Zoho Desk's integration with Microsoft PowerBI delivers advanced analytics insights
Hello everyone, Gaining advanced insights through reports and dashboards is one of the critical requirements of every business. In addition to key metrics tracked in Zoho Desk, such as agent performance, SLA adherence, and ticket lifecycle, businesses
Create static subforms in Zoho CRM: streamline data entry with pre-defined values
Last modified on (9 July, 2025): This feature was available in early access and is currently being rolled out to customers in phases. Currently available for users in the the AU, CA, and SA DCs. It will be enabled for the remaining DCs in the next couple
IMAP error message in Zoho mail
I cannot send emails today. Everything fine for years until today. Get a message: "You are yet to enable IMAP for your account. Please contact your administrator". Does anyone know how to correct this?
Enhancements to Zoho Map integration tasks
Hello everyone, We're excited to announce enhancements to the Zoho Map integration tasks in Deluge, which will boost its performance. This post will walk you through the upcoming changes, explain why we're making them, and detail the steps you need to
IMAP stopped working today
Hello! I've been a paid customer for more than 10 years, IMAP was always working fine. But today this is the error I've got on my iPhone: I've tried toggling the IMAP for my account (Mail -> Settings -> Mail accounts) off and on again, but that did not
Are custom portals accessible on the Zoho learn smartphone app?
In other words, can users external to my organisation, once signed up, use the app in the same way as internal users? Thanks
Zoho Books/Inventory - Update Marketplace Sales Order via API
Hi everyone, Does anyone know if there is a way to update Sales Orders created from a marketplace intigration (Shopify in this case) via API? I'm trying to cover a scenario where an order is changed on the Shopify end and the changes must be reflected
Conditional Layouts On Multi Select Field
How we can use Conditional Layouts On Multi Select Field field? Please help.
Multiple columns in a form
I am evaluating Zoho Creator. However, I am seeing almost no layout control on a form. Just a basic 1 or 2 column format that is then imposed on the entire form. That's not going to work for many, many real world cases. We need multiple columns per line, and we need each line/section to occupy a single column or be able to span the columns. Someone please tell me that I'm missing something and the capability is actually there.
Global search
Hi! I think it would be great to have a global search that would give you results from all records of a database, no only for a single field of a single form as we have now. Thanks!
Any insights about API/v2? Having problem for a while.
I don't know why it is throwing a 404 error, my report name is correct. Has someone had this issue and how you fix it?
Edit QR code with redirect to form
Guten morgen, wir haben ein Formular Reklamation_erstellen. Dort soll ein QR Code erstellt werden, der im Lieferschein angezeigt wird. Beim Scannen auf dem soll das jeweilige Formular zum BEARBEITEN geöffnet werden. Leider bekomme ich es nur so hin, dass
Getting all the ingredients together for baking an app
Good day everyone. After reading a lot of the help docs and watching videos, I now started on my app. To prevent hours and hours wasted on going down the wrong track, I would like some clarification on the following. But first some background: I have
Help Needed with Configuring ZC Microservice
I'm attempting to create a simple microservice, but am running into problems with scope and auth. Using Custom API Builder, here's my setup: 1. Method: GET 2. Auth: OAuth2 3. User Scope: All users 4. Response: Standard 5. Function: A function that returns
Creator Simplified #10: Predefine Form Field Values and Make Them Read-Only for Users
Hey Creators, Ready for this week's tip in the Creator Simplified series? Today, we will explore how to have read only fields in a form. Use Case: Assume a scenario where the default value for a Department field needs to be English Literature, but you
Zoho Mail : Email Outgoing Blocked
I suddenly received the following message yesterday. I cannot send any mail. Please resolve as soon as possible, I cannot work without sending email. Dear User, We regret to inform you that your email outgoing has been blocked and you will not be able
Creator and Tables
Good day. I am trying to create my first application. I have imported my data into Tables and am creating my app in Creator. I do not see my tables and cannot see how to write forms data to a table. Even the Workflow just uses the form. In one of the
customer Name and address details
i created one application there is no customer details in that . how to add customer details and
Recalculate every row in the subform
Hello, Can anyone help me with a script, please? I have an issue. Sometimes it happens, that in a multi row subform one of the rows show an incorrect row total value. Not really understand how it can happen, if I have a 20 row subform, 19 rows show correct
Creating Repeat Forms that remove redundancies
I wanted to understand if you can make multi-layer forms that reduce the need for users to input information in again and again. We want a form that our suppliers fill out per ingredient they sell, and the end result should have the Ingredient (Section
What is the difference between the free plan and the mail lite plan?
What is the difference between the free plan and the mail lite plan? How many emails can I send per day?
Unblock email
Hi The outgoing mail from a client of me is blocked. I already made tickets and tickets are send to the EU desk but nobody is responding. The problem is already 4 days! There is absolutely no help from the support. I am really not satisfied at all! Can
Next Page