Kaizen #139: Using Functions in Client Script and Handling Timeouts

Kaizen #139: Using Functions in Client Script and Handling Timeouts



Hello everyone!

Welcome back to another interesting Kaizen post. In this post, we can discuss how to invoke Functions using Client Script and how to handle Timeouts in Client Script. This post will answer the question raised in the post, Why Client Script is not running after function execution?

In this Kaizen post,
1. What are Functions in Zoho CRM?
2. How to Invoke a function from a Client Script?
3. Use Case to use existing function in Client Script
4. Solution
5. Timeouts in Client Script
6. How to handle timeouts in a Client Script?
7. Timeout Scenario
8. Solution
9. Summary
1. What are Functions in Zoho CRM?

      Functions in Zoho CRM follows the Serverless Computing architecture. It follows cloud computing execution model in which the cloud provider dynamically manages the allocation of machine resources. Zoho CRM provides options for the customer to write their own functions using Deluge script and run their code ( proprietary within Zoho CRM ) without worrying about deploying their code in servers. Click here to know more about Functions.

2. How to Invoke a Function from Client Script?

      You can invoke a function from a Client Script using the  execute() method. Here is the syntax of execute() method. The Client Script execution will only proceed after the Function has completed, demonstrating synchronous behavior.



3. Use Case to use existing function in Client Script

      Zylker, a manufacturing organization, utilizes Zoho CRM. Within their CRM, there is an existing function sendmailToContactRoles that allows meeting invites to be sent to all contact roles associated with a Deal at the click of a button. Deals often require inputs and approval from various stakeholders. By inviting all contact roles, Zylker ensures that all necessary parties are involved in the decision-making process, reducing delays and improving the chances of closing the deal successfully. To avoid accidental clicks, 
  • The admin wants a confirmation message to appear when the Mail icon is clicked, asking for approval and trigger the Function based on user selection. 
  • Additionally, the admin would like to display a success notification , if the emails are sent successfully.
  • Also, once the email is dispatched, a tooltip saying "Invite Sent" should be added should be added to the Mail icon.

4. Solution

  • Create a Client Script to accomplish the above requirements. Click here to know how to create a Client Script.
  • Create a Client Script for "Deals" module with onClick Event and Icon Event Type for the Detail Page(Canvas).

  • Enter the following code and click Save.
  1. var isProceed = ZDK.Client.showConfirmation('Do you want to invite the Contacts of the Deals', 'Proceed', 'Cancel');
  2. var elem = ZDK.UI.getElementByID('icon');
  3. //If user clicks Proceed button
  4. var deal_rec = $Page.record_id;
  5. if (isProceed) {
  6.  ZDK.Apps.CRM.Functions.execute("sendmailToContactRoles", deal_rec);
  7.  ZDK.Client.showMessage(" All the Contacts have been invited successfully");

  9.  elem.addToolTip({ text: 'Invite Sent' });
  10. }
  11. else {
  12.  elem.addToolTip({ text: 'Click to send invite' });
  13. }

  • After getting user's confirmation with showConfirmation() , the execute() method triggers the function. 
  • The parameters of execute() are function name and parameters. 
  • The name of the existing function is "sendmailToContactRoles". 
  • The parameters of the function are record ID of the Deal and subject of the email.
  • $Page is a constant supported by Client Script, using which you can get information about the current record. 
  • $Page.record_id will give the id of the current record.
  • Once the function gets executed successfully, you can display the success message using showMessage() . To know more about displaying messages using Client Script , check our Kaizen post Creating Alerts and messages using Client Script.
  • Here is how the Client Script works.

  • Here is the Function code where emailSubject and deal ID are the arguments of this function.
  1. relatedcontrole = zoho.crm.getRelatedRecords("Contact_Roles","Deals",input.dealId.toLong());
  2. emailSubject="Meeting Invite";
  3. emailContent = " Click the following link to join the meeting this evening at 5.00 pm" + " https://meeting.zoho.com/meeting/presenter.do?key=1069852805&cid=5668066&x-meeting-org=53296550";
  4. salutation = "<p>Hello!!<br /><br /></p>";
  5. signature = "<br /><br /><p>Best Regards,<br />Patricia Boyle</p>";
  6. sub = input.emailSubject.toString();
  7. str = input.emailContent.toString();
  8. str = concat(salutation,str);
  9. str = concat(str,signature);
  10. for each role in relatedcontroles
  11. {
  12. emailAddress = role.get("Email");
  13. info emailAddress;
  14. sendmail
  15. [
  16. from :zoho.adminuserid
  17. to :emailAddress
  18. subject :sub
  19. message :str
  20. content type :HTML
  21. ]
  22. }

  • You can achieve the functionality of sending emails in Functions using Client Script itself using fetchRelatedRecords() and  openMailer(). Here, we have made use of the existing Function. 
You can use Functions in Client Script,

To leverage existing Functions for similar functionality, thereby enhancing reusability and to trigger Functions based on UI events such as Icon Event, onType Field Event, Canvas Text Event, and others, beyond the buttons and workflows already supported by Functions.

5. Timeouts in Client Script 

In Client Script, executions are bounded by a 10-second time out. During execution of API calls or during the execution of a function which involves API calls , it might take more than 10 seconds to provide response. Consequently, when they are used in Client Script, execution will get halted. To overcome such scenarios you need to use Loaders.

6. How to handle timeouts in a Client Script?

Client Script allows you to manage the timeout by using a loader. The execution of Client Script will be on hold, as long as the loader is active, and so the timeout will not occur.

a. showLoader()

Use showLoader() to display the loader.



b. hideLoader()

Use hideLoader() to make the loader inactive.



7. Timeout Scenario :

At Zylker, which uses Zoho CRM, there is an existing function named "Books_send_quote" in their Zoho CRM account. The admin wants this function to execute via a Client Script whenever the status is updated to delivered and display a message saying, "Quote has been sent successfully." The admin added the script to show a success message after the function execution. 

Problem :

During execution of the following code, the admin noticed that the code following the function invocation is not running. Similar problem is described in this post.

The current code is 

  1. if (value == Delivered) {
  2. ZDK.Apps.CRM.Functions.execute("Send_Quote");
  3. ZDK.Client.showMessage('Quotation sent successfully', { type: 'success' });
  4. }

In such scenarios, the Messages Pane of Client Script IDE will show Timeout as shown below.



Solution:

 Since the timeout limit of 10 seconds has reached, further execution did not occur. So you need to add ZDK.Client.showLoader() before the execution of the Function and ZDK.Client.hideLoader() after the function execution.

  1. if (value == 'Delivered') {
  2. ZDK.Client.showLoader({type:'page', template:'spinner', message:'Sending Quotation...' });
  3. ZDK.Apps.CRM.Functions.execute("Send_Quote");
  4. ZDK.Client.hideLoader();
  5. ZDK.Client.showMessage('Quotation sent successfully', { type: 'success' });
  6. }
Here is how the Client Script works.



The presence of loader on the screen will inform the user about the ongoing processes in the background.


6. Summary :

This post includes the following,
  • When and how to use Functions in Client Script?
  • How to trigger Client Script using icons?
  • How to add tooltip to an icon using Client Script?
  • How to execute Client Script based on Confirmation box?
  • How to display messages and confirmation box using Client Script?
  • How to add loaders on UI using Client Script?
Previous Post: Kaizen #138 - How are Widgets used inZoho CRM Settings?       |     Kaizen Collection: Home
Join us for our upcoming Zoho CRM Developer Series: Zoho CRM APIs, where you can explore more about Zoho CRM APIs. Register Now!  


    • Recent Topics

    • Created Date/Invalid Fields

      Since Saturday we have suddenly had issues with our webhooks and data retrieval from CRM. Specifically how Created Date is handled. It appears there was some sort of change within CRM that broke a lot of our code that has been in place for several years.

    • Revenue Management: #9 Revenue Recognition in Media & Publishing

      Media & Publishing industry has evolved in recent times. It offers subscriptions, bundles digital and print access, runs sponsored content, and sometimes even sells ad spaces. If you run a media or publishing business, you will always get into a situation

    • Zoho CRM Community Digest - July 2025 | Part 2

      Hello, Everyone! We’re closing out July with a can’t-miss highlight: Zoholics Europe 2025! Happening from September to October, it’s your chance to level up your CRM skills, covering everything from automation and CPQ to dashboards and advanced workflows.

    • How can I trigger a flow action only once while updating contact?

      Hi, we have a trigger to merge&mail file when the field YYY is filled out. For this acion I used "Create or update module entry". But unfortunately we get tens of email on a day with this merged file, because the contact is being regularly updated. The

    • Copy a Record Template from one Form to another

      I have a Creator application with several forms.  I developed a record template for one of the reports/forms but want to use most of it for another of the form/report combinations in the application. Is there a way to copy the template (code or otherwise) to another form?

    • Tip of the Week #70 – Create common team signatures for your shared inboxes

      Did you know that a small detail, such as an email signature, can make a big difference in how your brand is perceived? One simple yet smart way to enhance your team’s communication is by creating common team signatures for your shared inboxes. Instead

    • Enhanced data export features: XLSX format, custom character encoding, and selective record export

      Greetings all, Here are a few enhancements related to exporting CRM data, including the ability to export data in XLSX file format now. The Export feature under Data Administration now offers new options that expand its flexibility and enable users to

    • Tip #42 – How to manage data security with Privacy Settings – 'Insider Insights'

      Data privacy is a cornerstone of trust in remote support. Through Privacy Settings in Zoho Assist, you can set up how data is gathered, stored, and handled in your organization. These settings ensure compliance, data protection for sensitive details,

    • Zoho DataPrep and File Pattern configuration

      I'm using Zoho data prep to ingest data from One Drive into Zoho Analytics... The pipeline is super simple but I can't any way to get all the files that I need. Basically I need to bring all the files with a certain pattern and for that I'm using a regex

    • Ticketbai! en el Pais Vasco

      Hola a todos, En enero de 2.022 se va a implantar en el país vasco un nuevo sistema de facturación, denominado ticketbai!, ¿hay alguna previsión de realizar las adaptaciones en zoho books o zoho invoices? Ignoro la cantidad de clientes que tienen estas

    • Zoho CRM mobile app feature update: home page widgets, field tooltips and user image upload

      Hello everyone! Your business doesn't pause when you're on the move, and neither should your CRM. That's why in our latest update, we've introduced a few new features to make your mobile CRM experience smoother and more efficient. Let's take a quick look

    • Zoho CRM Plain Text Template: Line Breaks and Formatting Issue

      Hello, I'm following the instructions to create email templates in Zoho CRM, but I'm having a problem with the plain text version. https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/kb/zoho-sign/integrations/zoho-apps/zoho-crm/articles/zoho-crm-email-templates#Steps_to_create_a_custom_email_template

    • Optimizing Task Handling: Auto-Remove Recurrence for cancelled Tasks.

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

    • Important updates to your connectors

      Hello everyone, Greeting from Zoho Creator! We're excited to announce that we'll be rolling out significant backend updates to Zoho Creator's built-in connectors to enhance security by following the latest frameworks. The existing version of some of the

    • Create, collaborate, and manage agreements with Zoho Sign

      Agreements drive business. We launched Zoho Sign in 2017 as a simple digital signature tool to sign agreements from anywhere, at any time. Over the years, we've learned that most agreements go through last-minute changes before they're signed. Our users

    • Function #25: Automatically generate purchase orders from a sales order

      We kicked off the "Function Fridays" series with the goal of helping you automate your everyday accounting tasks. As we delve into today's post, I'm delighted to announce that we're here to present the 25th custom function in this series. While it is

    • hiding a topic from all but one segment (or list)

      My organization sends out a number of newsletters using Zoho Campaigns. One of those newsletters is for volunteers. In order to become a volunteer, a person has to first go through our volunteer orientation (training). After that, they can receive newsletters

    • How do I set up this automation correctly?

      When contacts enter my Subscribers list, I want it to reference a custom field to see if it is empty. Then I want it to do two things: If empty: Assign a tag based on a different custom field. If that custom field is empty, assign a different tag. If

    • Function #62: Display associated Quote on Invoice details screen

      Hello everyone! Today, we are sharing a Related List script that makes it easy to view and access the quote from which an invoice was created right from the invoice details screen. This Related List displays the Quote number and Amount, allowing you to

    • Desk x CRM Integration

      Howdy! We currently use SalesIQ but we are considering moving across to Desk as it seems to have more functionality that we want. One of the pulls is the ability for our customers to self serve. But, I might be getting over excited and not actually need

    • Issue with Save & Share Link – Works for Others but Not Creator

      I’ve enabled the "Save and Share" feature in Zoho Forms, and it works correctly for all users accessing the public link—except for me (the form creator). Issue Details: When I save and share the link, recipients see a “no permission” error. The form is

    • Save the pdf report from a registration form in a Folder

      Through Zoho Forms I created a registration form with quite a lot of rules to handle different variables (TEAM types, payment in installments, etc.), and the result is pretty good. The automatic PDF that is sent to the respondent upon submission is already

    • zoho forms integration to zoho work drive

      Scenario: A user fills out a Zoho Form, entering details such as email, mobile number, and other required information, and uploads supporting documents like PAN, Aadhaar, etc. Upon submission, the data is available in Zoho Forms Reports. Requirement:

    • Zoho Forms to Zoho CRM Integration failed - can I restart it?

      The integration of Zoho Form to Zoho CRM has failed. Is there a way for me to restart it for the impacted entry?

    • insert an equation, but in document, it shows an image not available.

      I'm new to Zoho writer and used Zoho writer in desktop app version . When I inserted an equation, I got an image not available sign. Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Charles

    • Zoho Desk Android app update - Swipe action customization

      Hello everyone! We have brought in support for the swipe action customization in latest version(v2.9.13) of the Zoho Desk Android app update, enabling you to configure left and right swipe gestures on tickets to carry out the actions swiftly without opening

    • Import KB template OR Export template for zoho desk?

      Greetings. Can you tell me if there is a way to get an EXPORT of my KB articles? OR is there a template you supply for importing KB articles into my zoho desk? I am looking for a method of understanding what fields can be imported, and what their possible

    • XML format to import knowledgebase into Zoho Desk

      Hi, We just started to use Zoho Desk and want to import our knowledgebase from our old support system (Freshdesk) to Zoho Desk. Can anyone give us information about the format of xml file to import? There is no explanation on the related page.

    • Arranging Ticket Templates

      Is there any way to arrange our ticket templates? It doesn't look very organised when it's just arranged according to when they were created. We want the list to look more organised, by arranging/grouping them by topics, or even just by alphabetical

    • What they mean with "Portal"?

      I just downloaded this app to take my personal notes on digital art studio because it seemed to me the most comfortable app to do it, I use it very often, what do they mean by “no activity on your portal”? I have about 1 year of work here and I don't

    • favorites no longer listed

      Hello, I can no longer navigate to my Favorites from the pulldown at the top of my grid view (see attached screenshot). I wasn't able to find it anywhere! Please help me display my Favorites. Thank you!

    • Notecards Disappeared

      Got a new phone. Downloaded and signed in Zoho Notebook. Not finding the Note cards. Just Empty Note books. Frustrating.

    • Table Errors

      Hello, I'm new to Zoho Notebook and using it on several Mac/Apple devices. My question is regarding tables: Why do they become broken, and how to fix the error without retyping all my data? (Please see the screenshot attached.)

    • Online Calculator with Zoho Forms?

      I'd like to build a custom calculator on my website. Zoho Forms seems to offer all the fields for basic calculations performed live without pressing any "Calculate" buttons. Unfortunately, there is still that "Submit" button at the bottom. There is nothing

    • Zoho Tables instead of Zoho Creator Spreadsheet reports <3

      That would make my day for sure. Zoho Creator is create, but miss data entering as AirTable/Spreadsheet can. Seeing Zoho putting effort in this makes me think maybe one day we could see a similar interface for Zoho Creator spreadsheet reports. B.

    • Notebook Stack

      Hi Everyone I Hope you´re fine, I´m sorry if this idea was posted before (I made a search but I haven´t find anything related). So, Having the possibility of stacking notebooks would be an interesting way to order notebooks that correspond to the same

    • Writing on sketch cards is bugged when zoomed in

      When zoomed in, it writes a noticeable distance above or to the side of where you're actually trying to write. The further you're zoomed in, the more noticeable it is. Zooming is also entirely absent on the desktop version.

    • Swipe between notes on iPhone

      It'd be convenient if I could move from one note to the next in a notebook simply by swiping left to right.

    • Sales IQ chat is not working in signed android apk

      I have integrated ZOHO sales IQ support chat and i have followed each step and its working fine in my development build but when i create signed APK for it. Chat does not work in it and showing awaiting for detail. I previously asked the same query but

    • COQL order by COUNT not working

      Dear community, I am trying to get a list of deal amounts per planner working on it and sorted to get see who has the least amount of deals. For some reason, I am unable to use sort by in combination with a COUNT. My original code was: query = "select

    • Next Page