Extensions 101: Build Extensions for Zoho Finance suite
Hello Developers!
We are thrilled to announce our 5-day webinar series on building extensions for Zoho Finance Suite products.
Our first session was a resounding success, introducing Extensions, Zoho Developer, Zoho Marketplace, and the Zoho Books Developer platform. The session was not only informative, but also highly interactive. We look forward to continuing this momentum in our upcoming sessions.
If you missed the first session, you can find the recording below. To participate in our upcoming sessions of this series, you can register here.
As part of our commitment to your learning, we have carefully curated the questions received during the session and provided answers. We understand your questions are crucial to your understanding, and we are here to support you.
- Could you help us with more information related to Zoho Platform in general, Zoho Flow, and Zoho Creator.
You can find the details about the different platform capabilities in the following link. https://www.zoho.com/developer/apps.html. You can also refer to this video, which explains the Zoho Developer platform and the different sections available in it. - How do we make connections work in the test environment?
The base URL for testing APIs in the developer portal sandbox is https://extension-books.sandbox.zoho.com.The respective team is working on a fix to resolve this, so that "api_root_endpoint" from the Organization map can be used without any issues to test the APIs in the sandbox. We will keep you updated here in this post once the fix is rolled out live.
[Updated on 02/Jul/2024]As mentioned earlier, the issue has been fixed and rolled out. Now, you can use the "api_root_endpoint" from the Organization map, which will automatically fetch the current environment's base URL. You can refer to the code snippet below for fetching Books information with your connection details:
organizationID = organization.get("organization_id");
apiEndpoint = organization.get("api_root_endpoint");
respcontacts = invokeurl [
url :apiEndpoint + "/contacts?organization_id=" + organizationID
type :GET
connection:"xxxxxxxxxx"
]; - What are the criteria to be considered while choosing to utilize a Private Extension or performing the customizations on a Zoho Books instance?
A private extension would be helpful when you need to share a customized feature with multiple Zoho Books instances (orgs or users). Otherwise, you can go with product customization. - Are global variables created in an extension accessible in other extensions/widgets?
No, global fields can be accessible within the extension in which they were created. If necessary, visibility can be controlled within the extension.
https://www.zoho.com/books/developer/extensions/configuration.html#global-fields - Is it possible to connect WhatsApp business account with Zoho books along with its features?
No. You cannot directly connect an application with Zoho Books. For any integration with Zoho Books, a secure and valid connection with the respective product must be established. Following that, you need to build the integration based on the use cases you plan to achieve. This implementation will depend upon the platform as well as the products' supported features. - How do I construct data for items, materials, and prices without manually editing items as it consumes more time?
With widgets and APIs, you can use your own user interface to create the respective module's records. - Can we use global variables to store sensitive information needed for use by the extension/widget? What is the alternative to global variables?
While reviewing the extension, we don't encourage storing users' sensitive information as per privacy policies. Other than that, if you need some data to be stored securely and used within an extension, global variables would be the best option. Otherwise, you can store it through a widget. - Is the sandbox data retained between tests?
Yes. The data will be retained. - How do widget and extension share data?
Similar to how you add various components to your extension, widgets are also added as a component. Unlike the other components, widgets must be embedded into Zoho Books at a specific, customizable location. Consequently, data or values defined within an extension will be accessible from a widget. The visibility and accessibility of the data can be controlled depending on how it is defined. - Can I access the Zoho Developer from my Zoho Books?
No. Zoho Developer is a free cloud platform that allows users to build different types of apps for Zoho products. You can only develop extensions for Zoho Books using this platform. - Use case: When a contact is linked to a product in Zoho CRM, a new ticket needs to be created in Zoho Desk. To implement this, how can I connect to Zoho Desk to create a ticket?
To implement your use case, you must create an extension for Zoho CRM with a connector for Zoho Desk. You can invoke the Desk API to create a ticket using that connector. - Is approval from the Zoho Books team required for a private extension?
Yes. A review of private extensions will be done for the initial phase. Since finance suite extensions involve financial data, the review is mandatory. - Which Zoho Books plan is offered in the developer platform? Also, which plan of Zoho Books is required to test and install an extension?
The Ultimate plan of the Indian edition is applied by default in the Zoho Books developer platform to build extensions. All the features available as part of the Ultimate plan will be available during your extension development on the developer platform.
With regard to the plan required to test an extension, a 14-day trial plan should suffice. However, if you already have a paid org, it's recommended to have a Premium or above plan to test and install the extension. If you're using other paid plans, the suitability depends on the component's limits. Please refer to this link for more details: https://www.zoho.com/in/books/pricing/pricing-comparison.html?highlight=professional#:~:text=Customization%20and%20automation - Should we post in the developer forum or write directly to the support email for suggestions and help.
If your query is a support question related to a Zoho product, you can email the respective Zoho product's support email address. However, the developer forum is ideal if you want to validate your thoughts from other Zoho users. There are 100+ million users in the forum. The challenge you face could have already been shared and discussed by other users. Hence, the Zoho Cliq developer forum is an efficient mode of quick exchange of thoughts. - When will the comments in threads be accessible to Cliq channel users in EU data center?
We love for all customers across the world to come together, exchange knowledge, and grow together. Our Cliq team is working to address some bottlenecks, like checking the thread, regardless of your DC. We will be the first to update you once the feature is ready. - How can I use the request method within a widget?
We have SDKs for widgets to communicate with Zoho Books. The ZFAPPS.request() method will help you to make a network request. You can learn more here. - Will there be support for SDK methods for package module in future?
We have currently supported SDK methods for limited modules. We will add the missing modules in future updates. - Does the get method work only when we are on a particular module?
The get method helps you to get records' data only on specific locations. For example, consider that you are on the sales order page; you can get the 'salesorder' data only. If you require other details, you have to use the request method to initiate an API call. - What is the difference between Integration and extension?
The terms integration and extension are almost similar. Integrations include both API-built apps as well as platform-built apps.
Extensions: We use this term to the apps that are built using the Sigma platform, wherein you can make enhancements to extend the existing functionality of a Zoho product by customising the product or connecting with other applications.
API-built apps: These apps could be built in any development environment of your choice, and you would consume the respective Zoho product REST APIs to implement your use case. In these types of apps, you would be operating more on the data of the respective apps. - What's an example of a web tab?
Say you've created a Zoho Creator application to manage the manufacturing process, POS, or a specific aspect of your business. You can copy the embed URL and create a web tab for it. Now, you’ll be able to access this Zoho Creator application within Zoho Books instead of opening it in a separate browser tab. - Can we have a Zoho Books web tab directly inside Zoho CRM? Finance is available, but it is limited in its functionality.
No, the entire Zoho Books product cannot be constructed as a web tab inside Zoho CRM. In general, a web tab is used to embed a page inside the product. However, Zoho finance inside the Zoho CRM is an integration with additional functionalities. - What happens if an extension is not approved after review? Can it not be published on the Marketplace, or can I not use it as well?
An approved extension can only be deployed in the Zoho marketplace. If it is not approved, you can make the necessary changes and send it again for review. Until then, you can use the extension locally and share it privately with your customers. - What is the size limit for data storage in the Zoho Books widget?
Up to 10000 characters can be stored. - For third-party integrations, can you host the API pull request on Sigma?
Yes. To invoke third-party APIs, you can use the request SDK method. These topics will be covered in our upcoming sessions. Stay tuned :) - Is there any charge for building and listing extensions?
No, the Zoho Developer platform is free, and hence, there is no charge for building extensions or listing them in the Zoho Marketplace. - Can we create extensions using trial account also? I am unable to create extensions for CRM in my trial account.
In general, trial accounts can be used to test product functionalities. Since Zoho Developer is a free cloud platform, you can sign up for a Zoho Developer account and directly start with extension development. Also, the extensions for Zoho CRM can be developed using a Zoho Developer account in the U.S. DC only. - In the Zoho Books widget, is there any method to retrieve records from another module without using the request method, perhaps through any SDK methods?
Sorry, this is not possible right now. - As an individual developer and not a company, is it possible for me to create extensions?
Yes, you can go ahead and create extensions if you have a Zoho Developer account.
Access your files securely from anywhere
New to Zoho Recruit?
Zoho Developer Community
New to Zoho LandingPage?
Zoho LandingPage Resources
New to Zoho Survey?
New to Zoho CRM Plus?
Deliver unforgettable customer experiences
New to Zoho CRM Plus?
Deliver unforgettable customer experiences
New to Zoho Marketing Plus?
Everything you need to run your marketing
New to Zoho Marketing Plus?
Everything you need to run your marketing
New to Bigin?
Topic Participants
Vinoth M
Jeff DeRiso
Nanditha Somasundaram Somasundaram
Sticky Posts
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. LastZoho Developer Community Monthly Digest – May 2025
Hello everyone, Welcome to this month’s Zoho Developer Community Digest! From fresh product insights to hands-on tech sessions and standout community threads, there's plenty here to keep your ideas flowing and your skills sharp. Be sure to explore ourZoho Developer Community Monthly Digest – April 2025
Hello everyone, Welcome to this month’s Zoho Developer Community Digest! We’ve lined up an exciting series of technical sessions, product deep-dives, and community conversations to keep you informed and inspired. Don’t forget to check out our resourceZoho Developer Hangout (ZDH) – Episode 18 | Zoho CRM Client Script for Efficient Sales Process
Hello everyone, A streamlined sales process isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the engine that powers lead generation, builds stronger customer relationships, and closes deals faster. But what if you could take your CRM beyond the basics to actually helpZoho Developer Community Monthly Digest – March 2025
Hello everyone, This month is packed with exciting product updates, learning sessions, and powerful community conversations that remind us: sometimes, the best solutions come from a single shared question. From quick workarounds to upcoming training events
New to Zoho TeamInbox?
Zoho TeamInbox Resources
Zoho CRM Plus Resources
Zoho Books Resources
Zoho Subscriptions Resources
Zoho Projects Resources
Zoho Sprints Resources
Qntrl Resources
Zoho Creator Resources
Zoho CRM Resources
Design. Discuss. Deliver.
Zoho Show Resources
Get Started. Write Away!
Writer is a powerful online word processor, designed for collaborative work.
Zoho CRM コンテンツ
-
オンラインヘルプ
-
Webセミナー
-
機能活用動画
-
よくある質問
-
Ebook
-
-
Zoho Campaigns
- Zoho サービスのWebセミナー
その他のサービス コンテンツ
Nederlandse Hulpbronnen
ご検討中の方
Recent Topics
Global Sets for Multi-Select pick lists
When is this feature coming to Zoho CRM? It would be very useful now we have got used to having it for the normal pick lists.Again about the backlighting of the search query when searching in a client for Linux
Some time passed, I installed a client for Linux version 3.4.0, but I still did not receive the promised search with the backlighting of the search query how it was implemented in the client for android. In the previous topic, you told me that this functionCRM Custom function updating a module record shows the Super Admin user as the record modifier
Dear Zoho CRM Team, Is there any way to update this so that when a custom function has updated a record the Super Admin user doesn't become the modifier? This happens on the record as a modifier and shows up in the audit logs. It would be more usefulWorkdrive Upload Notification
Is there a way to be notified when someone externally has uploaded files to a folder? The "Unread" tab is really worthless because it shows all files from every directory on the system. I just need an email (or bell at worst) that says "someone has uploaded into <foldername>".Experience effortless record management in CRM For Everyone with the all-new Grid View!
Hello Everyone, Hope you are well! As part of our ongoing series of feature announcements for Zoho CRM For Everyone, we’re excited to bring you another type of module view : Grid View. In addition to Kanban view, List view, Canvas view, Chart view andZoho Mail not working. Constant OTP
Firstly, my emails have been playing up for over a year. They are struggling to send and I have to press Send a few time to make them going. They mostly hover with a loading note saying Sending. I emailed Zoho and they got it working, but now it is doingHow do I edit the Calendar Invite notifications for Interviews in Recruit?
I'm setting up the Zoho Recruit Interview Calendar system but there's some notifications I don't have any control over. I've turned off all Workflows and Automations related to the Calendar Scheduling and it seems that it's the notification that is sentMarketer's Space: Bookmarks by Zoho Campaigns
Hello Marketers, In this week's Marketer's Space, we'll look at a simple yet powerful feature that makes a big difference in your workflow: Bookmarks. Bookmarks is a built-in feature in Zoho Campaigns that enables you to create a personalized libraryWorkflow for "Expenses" module?
Hi there, over the last 2 years, Zoho Expense has seen tremendous growth and we are happy with it. But, sometimes it is frustrating to see things are being implemented halfheartedly, or so it seems. For example, There is the possibility to create workflowson submit of creator form then record is create in Zoho crm purchase module then on automatically task want to create in the crm
on submit of creator form then record is create in Zoho crm purchase module then on automatically task want to create in the crmAllow Mapping of Zoho Desk Knowledge Base Categories to Multiple Departments in Zoho SalesIQ
Hello Zoho Team, We hope you're doing well. We would like to request an enhancement to the Zoho SalesIQ integration with Zoho Desk, specifically regarding the way Knowledge Base (KB) articles are mapped and displayed across departments. Current LimitationRecurring Events Not Appearing in "My Events" and therefore not syncing with Google Apps
We use the Google Sync functionality for our events, and it appears to have been working fine except: I've created a set of recurring events that I noticed were missing from my Google Apps calendar. Upon further research, it appears this is occurringCRM x WorkDrive: File storage for new CRM signups is now powered by WorkDrive
Availability Editions: All DCs: All Release plan: Released for new signups in all DCs. It will be enabled for existing users in a phased manner in the upcoming months. Help documentation: Documents in Zoho CRM Manage folders in Documents tab Manage files[Important announcement] Zoho Writer will mandate DKIM configuration for automation users
Hi all, Effective Dec. 31, 2024, configuring DKIM for From addresses will be mandatory to send emails via Zoho Writer. DKIM configuration allows recipient email servers to identify your emails as valid and not spam. Emails sent from domains without DKIMDesk - CRM Integration: SPAM Contacts (Auto Delete)
SPAM contacts is a useful feature, but when the CRM sync is used, it is very frustrating. When a contact is marked as SPAM on Desk, I wish to do the same on CRM. When a SPAM contact is deleted, I would like it deleted from CRM. The feature looks half-baked.View Audit Trail field
The Audit Trail feature is great, but its data is only available to admin users. It would be really great to have a system field "Audit trail" that we can add to the detailed view of a record. This would allow supervisors, directors and etc. to quickly track what changes have been done by whom for each record. It is a current feature from a client of mine and while it's probably possible to hard code it, since this data is already available in Zoho, I would be surprised to hear how hard it wouldCreator roadmap for the rest of 2022
Hi everyone, Hope you're all good! Thanks for continuing to make this community engaging and informative. Today we'd like to share with you our plans for the near future of Creator. We always strive to strike a good balance of features and enhancementsHow do I modify the the incoming/current call popup? I can modify other call pages but not that one.
I want to modify the incoming and active call popup on the crm to include customer relevant information, such as purchase history or length of relationship. Under modules and fields, I don't seem to see active call as a choice to modify, only the mainAnnouncing new features in Trident for Windows (v.1.27.4.0)
Hello Community, Trident for Windows is here with exciting new features to elevate your communication and enhance productivity. Let’s dive into what’s new! Smart Sign-in. You can now sign in to Trident with Smart Sign-in. With this new addition, you canAdd Lookup Field in Tasks Module
Hello, I have a need to add a Lookup field in addition to the ones that are already there in the Tasks module. I've seen this thread and so understand that the reason lookup fields may not be part of it is that there are already links to the tables (https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/custom-fields-on-task-module).Time Entry : Auto fill fields Hours minutes seconds
Hello world, Do someone know a script (for workflow rules) which fill automatically fields hours spent, minutes spent, seconds spent when we fill Executed time and End time Formula should start from (End time - Executed time) Thx in advanceMULTI-SELECT LOOKUP - MAIL TEMPLATE
Dear all how are you? We need to insert data from MULTI-SELECT LOOKUP in a email template, but I can't do that, when I'm creating the template I can't find the field to insert it. is there any solution? PVUCreate Encrypted Zoho Forms URL for SMS Pre-Population forms using zfcrm_entity=
Hello Zoho Forms Community and Zoho Team, I’m trying to send a Zoho Forms URL via SMS with pre-populated CRM contact data, inspired by a post from four years ago by GlennP (https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/passing-the-crm). Our form isTracking Emails sent through Outlook
All of our sales team have their Outlook 365 accounts setup with IMAP integration. We're trying to track their email activity that occurs outside the CRM. I can see the email exchanges between the sales people and the clients in the contact module. ButZoho Forms - edit the settings of the Zoho CRM field to change the integration with CRM
I've created a Zoho CRM field in my form to pre-populate selected CRM details into the form, following the instructions here https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/kb/crm/integrations/zoho/zoho-forms/articles/zoho-forms-crm-integration#Step_2_-_Add_Zoho_CRM_Field_in_the_formData Integration Platform
Hi, Is anyone aware about a data integration platform like Dell Boomi that can work with Zoho Support? Any help will be higghly appreciated. Thanks KunalZoho CRM Webinar – Automate everything across Customer Journeys in CommandCenter 2.0
How efficient is your current CRM automation setup? As customer journeys become more dynamic, it's common for data and actions to get scattered across teams and modules. This leads to broken processes and inconsistent customer experiences—especially acrossAbility to add notes to an appointment and add notes/attach docs to a consultation
As an idea for the future, it would be helpful to be able to add notes to an existing appointment--there is a place to add notes for the customer, but I don't see one for the appointment. It would also be helpful to be able to add notes or attach documentsHow to query Deal "Stage" "Is Open" in Analytics SQL?
How do I query this "field" in Analytics? What is going on? It seems like there is another 'mapping' somewhere but that it is inaccessible with raw sql??? If I query "Stage" Like '%Won%' I get a wildly different number than I do when I manually filterIm trying to white list domain dynamically in zoho desk extension
Im trying to white list domain dynamically in zoho desk extension. But it show error Error: {errMsg: 'No entry found in plugin-manifest whiteListedDomains for requested URL'} syntax "config": [ { "displayName":"Shopify Admin API access token ", "name":Backorder For Composite Items
Hello If i released SO for composite item and use backorder feature of zoho inventory then it should backorder child item items of composite and not composite item.This is basic of backordering.I conveyed this to zoho call center but no solution yet.Passing the CRM
Hi, I am hoping someone can help. I have a zoho form that has a CRM lookup field. I was hoping to send this to my publicly to clients via a text message and the form then attaches the signed form back to the custom module. This work absolutely fine whenZoho Payroll: Product Updates for India - May 2025
This May, we are glad to unveil new capabilities in Zoho Payroll that simplify your payroll activities. Here's the list: Let Employees Choose Their Tax Deduction Method for One-Time Payments Calculate variable earnings based on percentage of CTC CarryEnhance Zoho One Conditional Assignment to Fully Reassign App Settings When Changing Departments
Hi Zoho Team, We’d like to submit a feature request regarding the current behavior of Zoho One’s conditional assignment logic when moving a user between departments. 🔧 Current Limitation As it stands, Zoho One’s conditional assignment does not removeSync failed: Invalid Date value
Hi, I have a local .sqlite database. After importing one table through the Databridge, and produced my dashboards, I cannot sync. I get an error regarding the date column: [Line: 2 Field: 4] (2018-07-12) -ERROR: Invalid Date value The data found at theOffice 365 is marking us as "bulk"
All of a sudden (like a couple of days ago) all of our customers who are on Office 365 are getting our mails in their junk email. This is not the case with Gmail or other random mail servers, nor between us. We got a 10/10 score on mail-tester.com. Also,Zoho Assist
Hi, We are using zoho assist unattended access in some windows server 2012 and recently the agent lets you connect but not let you do anything on the remote machine. Sometimes you can click on something but nothing happens. There's a issue with this newModify workflow from "ON CREATE & EDIT" to "ON CREATE" only
Salut, Is there a way to easilly change my choice of trigger of workflow from on create & edit to on create only, or do I have to re-do the whole worklow from scratch ? SylvainAccess custom modules via API?
Is it possible to access a custom module in Zoho Inventory via the API? I can not find any reference to this in the API docs.Welcome to the Zoho Service Plus community
Hey everyone, We are excited to welcome you to be a part of the Zoho Service Plus community. Here's a quick overview of what Service Plus is all about and how the community can help us work together. What's Zoho Service Plus? Zoho Service Plus is a unifiedNext Page