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
Centralize Knowledge. Transform Learning.
All-in-one knowledge management and training platform for your employees and customers.
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
Zoho Developer Community Hackathon 2025 is LIVE!
Hey developers! It’s that time of the year again — the Zoho Developer Community Hackathon 2025 is officially open for registrations! If you’ve been waiting for a chance to stretch your skills, try something new, or finally bring that idea to life, thisExtensions 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 help
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
No background for video recordings, no playback speed, can't even playback longer recordings - have to download…
Hi. We utilize heavily video messages on Slack, but wanted to migrate to Cliq with Zoho One, however very basic yet very frequently used feature is missing: backgrounds for video recordings and playback speed. We were not happy with Slack's 5 minute limitsSupport inefficiency
We have been asking for support for a minor adjustment for 12 days now and we haven't got a single viable resolution from support team despite there are 19 emails going between our HR team and various support emails from Zoho. 1. they do not understandCan I export to PDF in Zoho Learn
I have seen help pages where export to pdf options are available but I do not see that option available from the application. I see that exprt is available in my free trial version but that is only to html pages. I need to be able to export my manualsZia capabilities now available in the Professional edition announcement
Hello all! The Professional edition now supports a broader set of Zia capabilities, enabling teams to bring AI into more of their everyday CRM work. From writing assistance and summaries to setup support, predictions, and recommendations, Zia can nowPerfomance Management - Zoho People
Hi team, I am looking for performance management data such as KRA, goals, feedback, appraisals, etc., in Zoho Analytics. However, I am unable to find these metrics while editing the setup. Could you please confirm whether these fields are available inWhere Do I set 24h time format in Cliq?
Where Do I set 24h time format? ThanksThis will be long, Please bear with me - Next Gen Layout - Search
In general, I think that Zoho are going in the right direction with the Next Gen UI. The latest update brings some nice improvements and all-in-all from a user's perspective I think the improvements are generally very good. However, there are some areasSelecting all notes in a notebook
In Windows11, I select a notebook and I get a list of notes, but only 30 notes. If I scroll down to the end, I get an additional 30 notes (and at the top it now shows 60 notes). I can keep doing this to eventually see all my notes but this is a real pain.Update latitude & longitude address field API
How do I update the coordinates of an address field from a widget? I can't modify the latitude and longitude of the address field. I think the problem is how I'm writing formdata variable. zoho_init.then(function (data) { var queryParams = ZOHO.CREATOR.UTIL.getQueryParams();Filter Records in CRM API
Hi Team, I’m currently working on a task to retrieve expired deals from the CRM. By “expired deals,” I mean deals where the closing date has already passed and the stage is not “Closed Won” or “Closed Lost” (i.e., all other stages). I tried using bothUser Name in Zoho Cliq Not Updating Across Apps?
We updated the name of a user in Zoho. (From Sue to Taylor) Her name has not been updated in Cliq on all apps. When in Zoho One, if I go to Cliq directly, it is correct, but if I am in another app, and the Cliq bar pops up on the bottom, it will be theAbility to Use Both AND and OR When Creating Rules (Advanced Conditions)
I'd like to be able to use more complicated logic when setting up rules. E.g. in Zoho Mail, I can choose "Advanced conditions (AND/OR) to create a rule that can be applied to multiple subject lines from the same sender. But in Zoho TeamInbox, I will haveAttaching files to emails within CRM Deals.
Hello, We have recently started using the extension "Workdrive for CRM" (Related List) to view/store our documents for each Deal, instead of using Attachments. Overall it feels like a better way to go but the user experience is not so great when it comesWhy I can't map Account Name from lead module to Account module?
When I qualify a lead in the bluerprint, I use automated conversion in Blueprint to automatically create Contact, Account and Deal. the Deal record and contact record has been successfully created automatically as I expect, but I can't see any accountPause(1);
I'm using scheduler to invoke an interaction via http post with an external service. The schedule code uses a for-each loop that runs so fast my external application's log files get messed-up (they are named by date-time stamp). What I'm suggesting isRelease Notes | February 2026
We have rolled out another set of enhancements in Vertical Studio during February 2026, bringing improvements to Canvas customization, reporting capabilities, and data access controls. Here is a summary of what was released during February 2026: CanvasAgentic Engineering with Zoho: The Next Evolution of Intelligent Systems
The concept of Agentic Engineering is reshaping how modern systems are designed. It introduces a new layer to the way we think about artificial intelligence and system architecture. For years, most software systems have operated in a reactive way — respondingEngenharia Agêntica e as soluções da Zoho
O conceito de engenharia agêntica impacta diretamente como os sistemas são projetos. Este tema inseri mais uma camada a nossa idéia de inteligência artificial. Antes o desenvolvimento de sistemas operavam de forma reativa e dependente de comandos diretos,Effective project and task customization with CodeX
Dear users, Beyond Task Lists is a series of articles aimed at showcasing the various customization capabilities of Zoho Projects. We'll discuss real life project management scenarios, use cases, and requirements that needs combining multiple features.Set expiration date on document and send reminder
We have many company documents( for example business registration), work VISA documents. It will be nice if we can set a expiry date and set reminders ( for example 90 days, 60 days, 30 days etc.,) Does Zoho workdrive provide that option?Debit opening balances of vendors
Dear colleagues: I am looking at the trial balance as on 31st March 2024, and punching opening balances (1st April 2024) in Zoho Books. Vendors have credit balances, by its nature, but some of our vendors have debit balances as well (e.g., we have paidZoho Books emails suddenly going to Spam since 11 Nov 2025 (Gmail + now Outlook) — anyone else?
Hi everyone, We migrated to Zoho Books in July 2025 and everything worked fine until 11 Nov 2025. Since then, Zoho Books system emails are landing in customers’ Spam (first Gmail, and now we’re seeing Outlook/Office 365 also starting to spam them). ImpactedClient Portal ZOHO ONE
Dear Zoho one is fantastic option for companies but it seems to me that it is still an aggregation of aps let me explain I have zoho books with client portal so client access their invoice then I have zoho project with client portal so they can access their project but not their invoice without another URL another LOGIN Are you planning in creating a beautiful UI portal for client so we can control access to client in one location to multiple aps at least unify project and invoice aps that wouldThe Social Wall: February 2026
Hello everyone, This month, we’re bringing you a mix of exciting toolkit enhancements and a few improvements across the web and iOS app, all designed to make your social media management simpler and smoother. File converter Images come in different formats,Zoho Mail and SalesInbox doesn't link to CRM record using Reply-To
Hi, I've just set up SalesInbox, with the intention of using it for sales enquiries (instead of Desk, which I have been using until now). I've noticed that, unlike Desk, SalesInbox only uses the 'From' email address to attempt to link to a CRM contactService line items
Hello Latha, Could you please let me know the maximum number of service line items that can be added to a single work order? Thanks, Chethiya.Poor Search Results on Zoho CRM
The search on Zoho CRM is quite poor. Salesforce has now published a new search, when will get this on Zoho? https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_hybridsearch_index.htm&type=5How to use filters on all products page? Or even a category page?
Hello, I am trying to create some filters so users can use filters to find products they are looking for. So what i am trying is to create a filter according to price lets say. So if i define it this way i am expecting to see this filter option on categoryCapture Last check-in date & days since
I have two custom fields on my Account form, these are "Date of Last Check-In" and "Days Since Last Contact" Using a custom function how can I pull the date from the last check-in and display it in the field "Date of Last Check-In"? and then also display the number of days since last check-in in the "Days SInce Last Contact" field? I tried following a couple of examples but got myself into a bit of a muddle!Archiving Contacts
How do I archive a list of contacts, or individual contacts?Every time an event is updated, all participants receive an update email. How can I deactivate this?
Every time an event is updated in Zoho CRM (e.g. change description, link to Lead) every participant of this meeting gets an update email. Another customer noticed this problem years ago in the Japanese community: https://help.zoho.com/portal/ja/community/topic/any-time-an-event-is-updated-on-zohocrm-calendar-it-sends-multiple-invites-to-the-participants-how-do-i-stop-that-from-happening3/18 オンライン勉強会のお知らせ Zoho ワークアウト （無料）
ユーザーの皆さま、こんにちは。コミュニティチームの中野です。 3月開催のZoho ワークアウトの開催が決定しましたのでご案内します。 今回はZoomにて、オンライン開催します。 ▶︎参加登録はこちら（無料） https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/BoNTN7zYR8OvOPGShqBY0A ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Zoho ワークアウトとは？ Zoho ユーザー同士で交流しながら、サービスに関する疑問や不明点の解消を目指すイベントです。Conversion Rate – Won Deals over Assigned Prospects
Hello, I would like assistance configuring a KPI in Zoho Analytics titled: Objective of the calculation: Number of Won Deals divided by Total number of assigned prospects (not only converted prospects). Important clarification: The denominator must includeFeature Request – Conditional Visitor Information Request in Zoho SalesIQ
We would like to request the ability to conditionally ask for visitor details based on the communication channel used in Zoho SalesIQ. Specifically: When a visitor initiates a conversation through the live chat widget on the website, we want to continueApple Messages for Business in Omnichannel communications?
Hello, Apple launched "Apple Messages for Business" but Zoho CRM or Zoho Desk don't appear in the list of possible integrators. Zoho already promotes https://www.zoho.com/crm/omnichannel.html Omni Channel integration, but Apple Messages does not yet appear.Admin asked me for Backend Details when I wanted to verify my ZeptoMail Account
Please provide the backend details where you will be adding the SMTP/API information of ZeptoMail Who knows what this means?Cliq iOS can't see shared screen
Hello, I had this morning a video call with a colleague. She is using Cliq Desktop MacOS and wanted to share her screen with me. I'm on iPad. I noticed, while she shared her screen, I could only see her video, but not the shared screen... Does Cliq iOS is able to display shared screen, or is it somewhere else to be found ? RegardsZOHO.CRM.UI.Record.open not working properly
I have a Zoho CRM Widget and in it I have a block where it will open the blocks Meeting like below block.addEventListener("click", () => { ZOHO.CRM.UI.Record.open({ Entity: "Events", RecordID: meeting.id }).catch(err => { console.error("Open record failed:",【Zoho CRM】通貨機能のアップデート：為替レートの自動更新やデータ更新オプションなど
ユーザーの皆さま、こんにちは。コミュニティチームの藤澤です。 今回は「Zoho CRM アップデート情報」の中から通貨機能のアップデートをご紹介します。 CRMの複数通貨機能を使うと、地域ごとに通貨を管理し、顧客の現地通貨で記録したデータを自国通貨に自動換算して分析やレポートに活用できます。 従来は、為替レートを管理者が手動で定期更新する必要があり、各データには作成時点のレートが固定されるため、その後の市場変動は反映されませんでした。 本記事では、この問題を解消する「為替レートの自動更新」をはじめ、さまざまな新機能をご紹介します。AI Bot and Advanced Automation for WhatsApp
Most small businesses "live" on WhatsApp, and while Bigin’s current integration is helpful, users need more automation to keep up with volume. We are requesting features based on our customer Feedbacks AI Bot: For auto-replying to FAQs. Keyword Triggers:Next Page