Extension pointers #13: Handle cases with personalized solutions using custom actions

Extension pointers #13: Handle cases with personalized solutions using custom actions

In our last post, we detailed the steps involved in creating a custom action and the workflow from the developer and end user's side. Now let's look at a working example of how we can create a custom action and implement it in a Zoho CRM account to make the end user's work simpler.
 
You are a sales representative (the end user/extension user) handling cases and their solutions in a Zoho CRM account. While cases may arrive by phone, web, or email, you must log them with basic information, such as the subject, description, and priority.
 
Issues are typically recorded in cases modules using the Subject field, which contains a brief description of the problem. You may discover an immediate solution to the issue while manually logging the cases. In those cases, you must still manually feed the solution into the Solution field. How convenient would it be if the solution for a case could be auto-populated when a case with a common issue arises? We can streamline this process by creating a custom action.
 
Note: Throughout the following example explanation, the terms "sales representative", "end user", and "extension user" can be used interchangeably, but refer to the same person. The sales representative is the end user who installs and makes use of the extension features in their Zoho CRM account. 
 
Create a custom action as part of extension development that includes a custom UI for obtaining personalized solution inputs and an action that will update the solution in the Solution field of a case. After installing the extension, the end user can simply create workflows and associate the custom action with them. 
 
Because the sales representative who installs the extension will be dealing with the cases in their Zoho CRM account, they can easily create different workflows. Each of these workflows can be assigned criteria so that when the Subject field contains specific keywords typically used by the sales representative while logging, the custom action updates the personalized solution provided as part of that workflow custom action.
 
Let's go over the steps in order to achieve this. 
  1. Create a custom user interface (widget-connected app) that allows the user to enter their personalized solution inputs. 
  2. In the Zoho Developer console, create a custom action. 
  3. Associate the custom UI to the custom action. 
  4. Define an action that performs the function of updating a case's Solution field. 
  5. Create workflows (as an end-user perspective that meets specific subject criteria (e.g., if the subject contains keywords like "widget," "not," and ''loading," then set a personalized solution in the case) and associate a custom action to them.
 
Creating a custom UI to obtain an end user's personalized solution inputs
  • Create a custom UI to retrieve the end user's personalized input for the solution field and later be updated in a case based on the workflow the user creates.
Case handling.html code snippet
 
<html>
<head>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="../css/style.css">
  <script src="../js/lib/zsdk.min.js"></script>
  <script src="../js/custom.js"></script>
  <script src="../js/jquery-min.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<input type="text" id="solution" placeholder="Solution..."><br>
<button type="submit" class="submit_button" onclick="Util.save()">Save</button><br>
<script>
    $(document).ready(function(){
         ZOHO.embeddedApp.init();  
       });
   </script>
</body>
</html>
 
Case handling.js code snippet
 
Util={};
Util.save=function()
{
     ZOHO.CRM.ACTION.setConfig (
     {
               Caseid: "${!Cases.Id}",
               Solution : document.getElementById("solution").value
      })
}
 
  • The above javascript code snippet will fetch the current case's ID and set it to a variable "Caseid". The end user's inputted solution through the UI is also set to a variable "Solution".
  • These values will be passed as parameters to the custom function that will be associated with the custom action in the coming section.
Creating a custom action
 
1. Create a custom action called "Casehandling" using the Create an Action button under the Custom Actions option, available in the Components section of the Zoho Developer console. 



2. Provide a name for the custom action and a description if necessary. Click Next.



3. Associate the custom UI created earlier with the custom action by specifying the html page of the widget's connected app. Click Next.



4. Then write a Deluge function to perform the desired action by clicking the Create Function button. As shown on the right hand side of the page, the values obtained in the custom UI earlier will be passed as a JSON object parameter to this Deluge function, and then the functionalities can be performed based on these inputs from the custom page.


 
Case handling Deluge function code snippet
 
caseinfo = {"ID":config.get("Caseid"),"Solution":config.get("Solution")};
response = zoho.crm.updateRecord("Cases",config.get("Caseid"),caseinfo);
  • The above Deluge code snippet uses the current case ID and the solution input by the end user through the UI to update the personalized solution to the Solution field of the case using the updateRecord deluge task. 
  • Click Save to save the custom action.
Now that the functionality is defined, the extension can be published and installed.
 
Creating workflows in Zoho CRM as an end user

1. As an end user, install the extension.
2. Now create a workflow using Setup->Automation->Workflow rules. Create workflows for two commonly arising cases so that, as an end user, you can predefine some personalized solution inputs for these common cases. This will thereby update the solution to the case when the workflow criteria is satisfied. The two sample workflows handled for this example are:
When a widget is not loading or a 404 page not found occurs in the user's Zoho CRM account.
When a connector unauthorized error occurs.
3. First, define a workflow for "Widget not loading" case by specifying the when and condition criteria.



4. Now under "instant actions," you will find the custom action installed as part of the extension. Associate the case handling custom action with this workflow.



5. Enter the personalized solution in the custom UI displayed.


 
6. Go to the Cases module. Log a case with the Subject field, satisfying the workflow criteria.



This automatically updates the Solution field with the predefined solution entered by the end user for this workflow. 



Similarly, you can create multiple workflows for different cases for which you can define predefined solutions to make the case logging process easy. 
​

 
In this way, you can use custom actions to ease the end user's work by reusing templates created for them. We hope you find this information useful. Keep following this space for more insights!
 

 SEE ALSO

Next>>

    • Recent Topics

    • Power of Automation: Automatically sync custom field data between two tasks.

      Hello Everyone, A Custom Function is a user-written set of code to achieve a specific requirement. Set the required conditions needed as to when to trigger using the Workflow rules (be it Tasks / Project) and associate the custom function to it. Requirement:-

    • 'View Invoice' button hyperlink taking to Google Business Maps listing

      The green "view invoice" button in my invoice emails is sending people to my Google maps business listing rather than the invoice. Both my clients and I are experiencing this as a new issue.

    • Introducing Record Summary: smarter insights at your fingertips

      Hello everyone, Building on the recent launch of Zoho's in-house Zia Large Language Model (Zia LLM)—a major milestone in Zoho CRM’s AI capabilities—we’re excited to introduce the Record Summary feature. This powerful addition makes use of Zia LLM to simplify

    • Migrating Zoho emails to Google Workspace

      Hi Is there a tool to migrate Zoho email to Google workspace?

    • Custom Functions - Calculate Commission - failure after migration from US to EU

      Hello, i would ask for help. My Custom Function - Calculate Commission stopped working and shows a failure. Mismatch of data type expression. Expected List but found String What is the problem? Could anyone help? Here is script: void automation.ObliczProwizje(Int

    • GoCardless Mandate Sync Question

      Hello, When syncing our customer database with GoCardless, some customers aren't working despite both email addresses matching in Zoho Books and GoCardless. Also what do we do about customers where they are associated with multiple accounts as these aren't

    • Create a draft in reply to an email via Emails API

      Hi, I’d like to use the outgoing webhook to automatically create a draft reply to incoming mail. How can I use the Emails API to create a draft reply that is linked to an existing email thread? I couldn’t find the relevant method in the documentation.

    • Weekly Tips: Flags for an organized mailbox

      Wishing you all a Happy New Year 🎉 As we step into 2025, it's time to refocus and set our intentions for the year straight. Whether you're already back at work or just returning from the holidays, you probably have emails that need your immediate attention,

    • Edit line item amount

      It would be sooooo much better to be able to edit the line item amount in all of the modules, if there is any variation in agreed prices it's extremely painful to calculate the rate to match ;-( The rate could be auto calculated on editing this field making life so much easier !

    • Chanel Partner

      Any Zoho channel partner or dubai based company who will help us for getting zoho services including the training for our staff

    • Refer a Friend Campaign

      I am looking to run a referral campaign that sees an initial email going to existing clients, asking them to refer a friend. For each new client referred, the existing client will get a ticket in a prize draw - the more new clients they refer, the more tickets they get in the draw.  I am wanting to figure out how this could be done via Zoho, and how these referrals can be tracked and linked to the existing client who referred them.

    • Emails cannot be received

      Hey, There is an issue in my Zoho account, E-mails can be send from my side but cannot be received on my account MX, DCIM and other are added but still cant receive them. Please help me to solve this problem at your earliest convenience and this is happening

    • Newsletter in multiple languages

      Hi We are planning on starting to use Zoho Campaigns for our newsletters. Since we send our newsletters in three languages, I would need the "unsubscribe page" and other pages related to the NL (Thank you page and so on) to be available in different languages

    • i couldn't recall message as one of the receptionists didn't received the message and i want to recall it urgent

      i couldn't recall message as one of the receptionists didn't received the message and i want to recall it urgent as recall button doesn't appear

    • Servidores caidos?

      Buenas, Hoy 30/12/2024, mi empresa esta sufriendo bastante problemas para acceder a las aplicaciones de Zoho. No sabemos si es solo nuestra compañia o esta afectado a todos. Cuando intentamos acceder a las aplicaciones nos salta el siguiente error: A

    • Tip #1- Remote support vs. unattended access: Contrasting two key concepts in tech assistance- 'Insider Insights'

      Hello everyone! We, at Zoho Community, are excited to introduce Insider Insights, a new series where we will look into various aspects of remote support technology and how they might help you. We'll be sharing tips, methods, and insights acquired from

    • Introducing Fair Evaluation for Interviews

      Collaboration is key in recruitment, but it’s important to ensure individual interviewers’ assessments are not influenced by others. With Fair Evaluation, you can choose how and when interviewers can see reviews of a candidate for the same job opening.

    • I have been looking for CVID to get segmate list where & how can fnd it?

      I am trying to get segment details from the Zoho API. The API documentation says that the CVID is a mandatory parameter, but I cannot find the CVID in the "getmailinglists" API. Can you tell me where to find the CVID?

    • "The data you have entered already exists" when trying to create contac@mydomain.com

      Hi all, Our domain is ananasjuicebar.com. Working as admin in the control panel: When I try to add the email account "contact@ananasjuicebar.com" I get the error: "The data you have entered already exists" I've tried creating a new user or creating a new group with this address associated. To my knowledge this address has never been added and I can also not find any reference to it. (Shopify used this address to send customer notifications BEFORE setting up Zohomail.) Any ideas? are there any restrictions

    • Tip of the week 03 - Sending emails in batches

      Today's marketers not only want their email marketing to be efficient, but also smart. For an email campaign, you may think you have all the essential elements for lead conversion—a big mailing list, an attractive template design, and the most-engaging message content, but after hitting the ‘send’ button, you may not get the expected conversions. Wondering why? Here’s one of the major reasons. Many marketers miss out on sending the email campaign the right way. Did you know that you should not be

    • Zoho Books Bank Feed

      Good afternoon, Is it possible to change the bank feed provider on a bank account. I'm using Plaid but think that Yodlee would be better in terms of pulling transactions in a timely manner. Thank you.

    • Create Bill from Purchase Order via API

      I know you can create a invoice from a Sales Order by using https://books.zoho.com/api/v3/invoices/fromsalesorder Is there a similar url for creating a bill from a purchase order?

    • Running Total % in Pivot with filters

      Hi there, I have seen a few posts on this topic, but i cant seem to find one that will work when applyig filters to the data. I have Rows and Data in a pivot view I want to show the running total of revenue as a % of the total for the data set. If i add

    • Log incoming calls on Android CRM?

      I keep reading that I'm able to log incoming calls on the CRM app for Android, but when I answer a call and hang up, I never get the option to log. Is there a special admin I need to do for that? Or permissions? Thanks

    • How do i send an automated email 10 days after closing a ticket

      I am trying to set up an automated email to the customer a set period after the ticket is closed. I have created the email template, but i cannot work out how to set the trigger to send this out. Can someone point me in the right direction please? If

    • Domain Verification

      Hey,  How do I know that my account is verified by Zoho?  Do I need some zd code/number for it?  Need help asap! 

    • Sender not verified message showing on mails sent using zoho mail

      Hello, I am using Zoho mail to send and receive emails. Whenever i send emails to zoho mail id, it showing a message "Warning! Unverified sender.We could not verify that the email was actually from sending email. Be cautious when opening any links/ attachments,

    • Mail Outgoing blocked. Reason :Mail rate exceeded limit

      Hello, Please unblock my mail account: ser1@innspo.com Thanks

    • Export view via deluge.

      Hi, Is it possible to export a view (as a spreadsheet) via deluge? I would like to be able to export a view as a spreadsheet when a user clicks a button. Thanks     

    • Why is Zoho Mail support so lousy?

      This is not the first time I voiced out about this, the first time was 2 months ago https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/what-the-actual-fk-is-wrong-with-zoho-mail-support where I had to follow 7 times in the span of 2 months to get a (unhelpful)

    • This domain is not allowed to add. Please contact support-as@zohocorp.com for further details

      I am trying to setup the free version of Zoho Mail. When I tried to add my domain, theselfreunion.com I got the error message that is the subject of this Topic. I've read your other community forum topics, and this is NOT a free domain. So what is the

    • Add Google Workspace Module to Zoho Flow

      Dear Zoho Flow Team, I hope this message finds you well. We’d like to request the addition of a dedicated Google Workspace module in Zoho Flow. Currently, there are no triggers or actions for Google Workspace, which limits our ability to integrate and

    • Separate Triggers and Enhanced Information for Zoho One Departments and Groups in Zoho Flow

      Dear Zoho Flow Team, I hope this message finds you well. Currently, there seems to be a mix-up between zoho one departments and groups in Zoho Flow, which causes some challenges in handling triggers effectively. For instance, when using the "User added

    • Creator Subform to CRM Subform

      Hello all, Has anyone successfully written data from a Creator Subform into CRM subform? I have a Creator form that once submitted creates a new Location in the CRM. Inside a Location there is a subform for hours of operation. I collect those hours in

    • not able to accept the Invitation

      not able to accept the Invitation

    • Inventory Management for Manufacturer

      Hello, We are a manufacturing company in the FnB industry. We want to use the inventory management system to manage our raw material stocks and at the same time once we produce items, we need to increase our final product inventory while decreasing the

    • Subform Time field showing as null in script.

      Good Afternoon everyone. I am trying to take the information from my subform and populate it into a multiline field in the CRM. The code below works with no errors. The problem is, it shows that the Open and Close (Time fields) are null. But they are

    • Is there a way to sort report on record template by a specific field like date field

      Hi, Is it possible to sort the report on the record template by the date field and not the default Added Time. Please check the example bellow: The records are sorting by the added time I wand to change that by the date field,

    • Produce application url to be common for all the Creator application Stages

      I am trying to develop an application using the 3 environments steps like development, stage, production. I am trying to pass in a variable url like which redirects to a Report inside the application URL = "https://creatorapp.zoho.eu/insurancemarket/environment/development/all/#Report:Sign_Up_Form_Report"

    • ZOHO BOOKS - RECEIVING MORE ITEMS THAN ORDERED

      Hello, When trying to enter a vendor's bill that contains items with bigger quantity than ordered in the PO (it happens quite often) - The system would not let us save the bill and show this error: "Quantity recorded cannot be more than quantity ordered." 

    • Next Page