Kaizen #175 - Leverage Settings Widget for Zoho CRM Extensions
Howdy, innovators!
Welcome back to a fresh week of Kaizen.
This week, we will delve into configuring a Settings widget in Zoho CRM for the effective functioning of extensions. It centralizes around key configurations that will be carried out to various integrations in an extension. A user-friendly settings widget enhances the usability and flexibility of your extensions.
Why use a Settings Widget?
A Settings Widget plays a crucial role in making extensions user-friendly and adaptable to specific business needs. Following are a few key advantages of using the settings widget:
- Seamless Setup Post-Installation: Users can configure critical parameters right after installing the extension.
- Dynamic Customization: Users can revisit and modify configurations at any time, ensuring that the extension adapts to changing needs without re-installation or development
- Improved User Experience: Allows the end-users to control how the extension interacts with their workflows and data.
- Enhanced Control: Provides an overview and centralized control, making maintenance, troubleshooting, and updates simpler and faster.
Business Scenario: Notification Settings for Lead Import Extension
Let’s take a real-world use case to understand the value of this settings widget.
Imagine an organization named Zylker, using Zoho CRM along with a lead import extension. This extension pulls in leads from multiple sources like web forms, social media, or third-party marketing tools.
Requirement
Whenever a new lead enters a Zoho CRM organization through this extension, the sales team wants to receive an instant notification on a specific Zoho Cliq channel for that organization. This ensures they never miss a lead.
Solution
By adding a Settings Widget to the extension, users can:
> Select a Preferred Zoho Cliq Channel: From the settings page, users can choose the channel where notifications should be sent.
> Modify the Channel Anytime: Based on team restructuring or communication preferences, users can revisit the settings and update the channel as needed.
With this setup, the settings widget becomes the control center, ensuring the efficient functioning of both the extension and the sales process.
Building a Settings Extension Widget
Let us create a sample settings widget for the above business scenario.
Create a Private Extension Widget
1. Log into Zoho CRM, navigate to Setup > Marketplace > Extension Builder, and create a new extension by selecting Zoho CRM as the service.
2. The private extension that you have created will be listed in the Extensions page. Choose your extension and click the edit icon.
You will then be redirected to the Zoho Developer Console.
Dependency Configuration
Now, let us configure a couple of dependencies required for this use case in the developer console.
Connectors
To notify a Zoho Cliq channel, Connectors authorize the end user's Zoho Cliq account with the extension and grant access to the necessary data. Follow these steps to create a connector with the required APIs for the widget.
3. In the console, navigate to Utilities > Connectors on the left-side menu.
4. Click Create Connector and provide the required details using the guidance available on the Server-based Application help page.
5. Use the generated Redirect URL to register your application in Zoho's API Console. After registration, enter the Client ID and Client Secret in the developer console.
6. Create Connector APIs for the following:
- GET List of all Channels to fetch all the available channels from your Zoho Cliq Account.
The Authorization header is automatically added to all the Connector APIs. - POST Message in Channel to notify the incoming leads in the channel.
You can include dynamic place holders in the URL, header, or request body using this format ${place_holder}.
7. Once the APIs are configured, publish and associate the connector with the extension.
Refer to the Connectors help document to learn more.
Variable
Variables are required to store the admin's preferred channel details and retrieve them when a lead enters Zoho CRM through the extension. Upon installing the extension, this variable is automatically created in your Zoho CRM org.
8. Go to Build > Custom Properties and create a variable.
Set the variable's permission to Hidden to prevent the CRM users from accessing/modifying the variable data from the Zoho CRM Variables page. This ensures that variables can only be configured through the extension.
For more information, refer to the Custom Variables help document.
Tip
In your Zoho CRM, go to Setup > Security Control > Profiles and restrict permissions for your extension to prevent unauthorized access to the settings page.
In your Zoho CRM, go to Setup > Security Control > Profiles and restrict permissions for your extension to prevent unauthorized access to the settings page.
Building a Connected App
9. In the console, go to Utilities > Connected Apps on the left-side menu.
10. Follow the steps provided in this kaizen to create a new Zoho CRM widget for this use case.
Code Logic for the Settings Panel
- Create a drop-down field called Select Cliq Channel to the settings panel. This dropdown should dynamically list the channels from your Zoho Cliq account by invoking the GET Cliq Channels API. Follow the given Invoke Connector method to execute Connector APIs.
// Initialize Zoho Embed SDK ZOHO.embeddedApp.on("PageLoad", function () { fetchCliqChannels(); }); ZOHO.embeddedApp.init(); // Fetch Cliq channels async function fetchCliqChannels() { const channelDropdown = document.getElementById("cliqChannel"); try { console.log("Fetching channels from Zoho Cliq..."); const req_data = { "parameters": {} }; const response = await ZOHO.CRM.CONNECTOR.invokeAPI("leadgeneration.zohocliq.listofallchannels", req_data); console.log("Response from Zoho Cliq:", response); const parsedResponse = JSON.parse(response.response); const channels = parsedResponse.channels; if (channels && Array.isArray(channels)) { channelDropdown.innerHTML = channels.map(channel => `<option value="${channel.unique_name}">${channel.name}</option>`).join(''); } else { throw new Error("Invalid response structure"); } } catch (error) { console.error("Error fetching channels:", error); if (error.code === '403') { console.error("Authorization Exception: Please check your API permissions and authentication."); } channelDropdown.innerHTML = '<option value="">Failed to load channels</option>'; } } |
- Add a Save Configuration button that stores the selected channel name and channel ID in the variable created earlier. To save the selected data into the variable, use the invokeAPI() function, with the namespace as crm.set.
// Save configuration async function saveConfiguration(event) { event.preventDefault(); const channelDropdown = document.getElementById("cliqChannel"); const selectedChannelUniqueName = channelDropdown.value; const selectedChannelName = channelDropdown.options[channelDropdown.selectedIndex].text; if (!selectedChannelUniqueName) { alert("Please select a channel."); return; } const settings = { unique_name: selectedChannelUniqueName, name: selectedChannelName }; const data = { "apiname": "leadgeneration__Cliq_Channel", "value": JSON.stringify(settings) }; try { const response = await ZOHO.CRM.CONNECTOR.invokeAPI("crm.set", data); console.log("Updated settings:", response); document.getElementById("setupStatus").innerText = "Configuration saved successfully!"; } catch (error) { console.error("Error saving configuration:", error); document.getElementById("setupStatus").innerText = "Failed to save configuration."; } } |
- When a lead enters Zoho CRM through the extension, it should trigger a function that:Retrieves the saved channel details:
> Retrieves the saved channel details: Uses the Get Organization Variable JS SDK to call the Zoho CRM GET Variable API to fetch the saved channel details.
> Notifies the channel: Sends a message to the retrieved channel using the Post Message API.
Info
-> A complete working code sample for the use case is attached at the end of this post for your reference.
-> The test function for triggering notifications is also included in the attachment. You can use the same snippet in your extension to initiate the notification process.
-> Ensure to replace the unique names of your Connector APIs and Variable.
11. Fill in the details of the application as shown in this image and upload the widget ZIP file packed using the Zoho CLI command.
12. Click Save.
Configure the Settings Widget
13. Navigate to Build > Settings Widget in the left menu.
14. Provide a Name and the Resource Path of your widget.
15. Click Save.
The Settings Widget for Extension is available upon request. Contact support@zohocrmplatform.com to enable it for your account.
Packaging, Publishing and Deploying
16. Go to Package > Publish on the left-side menu and publish the extension.
17. The review process for listing an extension in the Marketplace will take from three weeks to one month.
For the demo, we will proceed with deploying the extension using the private plugin deployment link.
18. Now, replace the URL of your Zoho CRM page with the deployment link from the Developer Console and approve the extension installation.
Try it Out!
Once installed:
> A pop-up will appear, prompting you to authorize Zoho Cliq for the required configurations.
If you do not already have a Zoho Cliq account, you can sign up directly from the pop-up and proceed with the authorization.
> After authorization, you will be redirected to the Settings widget page, where you can select and save your preferred Cliq channel.
> If you need to update the settings later, you can find them on the Installed Extensions page under the respective extension.
Note
The demo videos above use a testing function to notify the channel. You can deploy it anywhere in your extension to trigger a notification whenever a lead enters a Zoho CRM organization through the extension.
Find the function in the attachments at the end of this post.
Similar Scenarios
- Sales Territory Management: An extension that auto-assigns incoming leads to sales reps can use a settings widget to allow managers to define territories and sales rep mappings dynamically.
- Custom Field Mapping: For extensions that sync data between Zoho CRM and external systems, a settings widget can let users map CRM fields to external system fields.
- Automated Email Preferences: In email automation extensions, the settings widget can allow users to specify email templates, recipients, or trigger conditions for follow-ups and campaigns.
Adding a Settings Widget to your Zoho CRM Extensions not only enhances user experience but also boosts the flexibility and efficiency of your extension. Whether it is notifying sales teams or customizing field mappings, a well-designed settings page is a game-changer for your extensions.
Explore the Widget section in our Kaizen collection to try out various widget types and discover their unique use cases.
If you have any queries or a topic to be discussed reach out to us at support@zohocrm.com or drop your comment below.
Until next time, keep innovating!
Cheers!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related Reading
- Zoho CRM Widget - An Overview, Installation and Creation, Mobile Compatibility, Telephony Widget Extension, and other Kaizens.
- Widget SDKs - An Overview, Invoke Connector and Get Organization Variable.
- Zoho Developer Console - An Overview, Creating Extensions, Building Connected Apps, and A Quick Start Guide.
- Zoho Extensions - Custom Variables and Connectors
- Zoho Cliq - GET List of Channels and POST Message in Channel.
- Zoho Marketplace - An Overview
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previous Kaizen: Kaizen #174 - Client Script Commands | Kaizen Collection: Directory
More enhancements in the COQL API are now live in Zoho CRM API Version 7. Check out the V7 Changelog for detailed information on these updates.
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
Kiruthiga G
Sticky Posts
Kaizen #198: Using Client Script for Custom Validation in Blueprint
Nearing 200th Kaizen Post – 1 More to the Big Two-Oh-Oh! Do you have any questions, suggestions, or topics you would like us to cover in future posts? Your insights and suggestions help us shape future content and make this series better for everyone.Kaizen #226: Using ZRC in Client Script
Hello everyone! Welcome to another week of Kaizen. In today's post, lets see what is ZRC (Zoho Request Client) and how we can use ZRC methods in Client Script to get inputs from a Salesperson and update the Lead status with a single button click. In thisKaizen #222 - Client Script Support for Notes Related List
Hello everyone! Welcome to another week of Kaizen. The final Kaizen post of the year 2025 is here! With the new Client Script support for the Notes Related List, you can validate, enrich, and manage notes across modules. In this post, we’ll explore howKaizen #217 - Actions APIs : Tasks
Welcome to another week of Kaizen! In last week's post we discussed Email Notifications APIs which act as the link between your Workflow automations and you. We have discussed how Zylker Cloud Services uses Email Notifications API in their custom dashboard.Kaizen #216 - Actions APIs : Email Notifications
Welcome to another week of Kaizen! For the last three weeks, we have been discussing Zylker's workflows. We successfully updated a dormant workflow, built a new one from the ground up and more. But our work is not finished—these automated processes are
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
Automate attendance tracking with Zoho Cliq Developer Platform
I wish remote work were permanently mandated so we could join work calls from a movie theatre or even while skydiving! But wait, it's time to wake up! The alarm has snoozed twice, and your team has already logged on for the day. Keeping tabs on attendanceReusable Custom Functions Across Department Workflows
Dear Zoho Desk Team, We appreciate the powerful workflow automation capabilities in Zoho Desk, particularly the ability to create and use custom functions within workflows. However, we have encountered a limitation that impacts efficiency and maintainability.Don't Allow Customer to Edit Values After Submitting Ticket
After a customer submits a ticket through the customer portal, they can go into the ticket and see some of the values from the questions they answered in the sidebar. Currently, a customer can edit these values even after they submitted them. This makes no sense. We ask very specific questions that we don't want customers to later change! Please disable the ability for customers to edit the values to their submission questions in the portal. Screenshot attached.Analytics <-> Invoice Connection DELETED by Zoho
Hi All, I am reaching out today because of a big issue we have at the moment with Zoho Analytics and Zoho Invoice. Our organization relies on Zoho Analytics for most of our reporting (operationnal teams). A few days ago we observed a sync issue with thetext length in list report mobile/tablet
Is there a way to make the full text of a text field appear in the list report on mobile and tablet? With custom layouts, the text is always truncated after a certain number of characters.Automation #4 - Auto Delete Tickets based on Rules
This is a monthly series in which we pick some common use cases that have been either discussed or most asked about in our community and explain how they can be achieved using one of the automation capabilities in Zoho Desk. Unwanted tickets spammingZoho Community Digest — Enero 2026
¡Hola, comunidad! 🌟 Aquí os traemos las novedades más interesantes de Zoho durante este mes de enero, incluyendo actualizaciones de productos, integraciones y un recordatorio sobre los workshops certificados que vuelven a España. 🎓 Eventos y ComunidadAutomation #3 - Auto-sync email attachments to tickets
This is a monthly series where we pick some common use cases that have been either discussed or most asked about in our community and explain how they can be achieved using one of the automation capabilities in Zoho Desk. Most of our customers use emailAutomation #11 - Auto Update Custom Fields with Values from Emails
This is a monthly series designed to help you get the best out of Desk. We take our cue from what's being discussed or asked about the most in our community. Then we find the right use cases that specifically highlight solutions, ideas and tips to optimizeAutomation #13 - Auto assign tickets based on agent shift time
This is a monthly series designed to help you get the best out of Desk. We take our cue from what's being discussed or asked about the most in our community. Then we find the right use cases that specifically highlight solutions, ideas and tips to optimizeAutomation #14: Capture Jira Issue Key/ID in a Ticket Custom Field
Hello Everyone! This month's edition brings you a custom function to consolidate your records associated with Jira integration. Jira integration enables support engineers and R&D units to collaborate seamlessly on feature development, product improvement,Automation #16: Automate Ticket Reopening on Scheduled Timestamp
Hello Everyone! This edition uncovers the option to schedule reopening a ticket automatically. Zylker Finance tracks insurance policyholder activities through Zoho Desk. For policyholders who pay monthly premiums, tickets are closed upon payment completion.Automation#19:Auto-Close Tickets Upon Task Completion
Hello Everyone! We’re excited to bring you another custom function this week. In this edition, we’ll show you how to automatically close tickets when all associated tasks are marked as completed. Let’s see how ZylkaPure, a leading water filter company,Automation #15: Automatically Adding Static Secondary Contacts
Rockel is a top-tier client of Zylker traders. Marcus handles communications with Rockel and would like to add Terence, the CTO of Zylker traders to the email conversations. In this case, the emails coming from user address rockel.com should have TerenceImproved UX design for Projects CRM integration
The current integration embeds the entier projects inteface into the CRM this is confusing and allows users to get lost. For example as a user i navigate to an account and go down to the related projects list and want to get information about a specificLink Purchase Order to Deal
Zoho Books directly syncs with contacts, vendors and products in Zoho CRM including field mapping. Is there any way to associate vendor purchase orders with deals, so that we can calculate our profit margin for each deal with connected sales invoicesTransformer vos stocks en décisions intelligentes avec Zoho Inventory et Zoho Analytics
Zoho Inventory permet de suivre facilement les niveaux de stock et d’anticiper les restockages. Pour de nombreuses entreprises, cela suffit à gérer les opérations au quotidien. Mais à mesure que l’activité se développe, cette clarté peut commencer à montrerSecurity Enhancements | Migrate to the Updated Policies
Hello everyone, Zoho Directory's security policies have been updated and reorganized into three new policies with features that enhance the overall organization security. These policies provide a stronger and more secure sign-in methods and improve theBring Zoho Shifts Capabilities into Zoho People Shift Module
Hello Zoho People Product Team, After a deep review of the Zoho People Shift module and a direct comparison with Zoho Shifts, we would like to raise a feature request and serious concern regarding the current state of shift management in Zoho People.Facturation électronique 2026 - obligation dès le 1er septembre 2026
Bonjour, Je me permets de réagir à divers posts publiés ici et là concernant le projet de E-Invoicing, dans le cadre de la facturation électronique prévue très prochainement. Dans le cadre du passage à la facturation électronique pour les entreprises,Quick Create needs Client Script support
As per the title. We need client scripts to apply at a Quick Create level. We enforce logic on the form to ensure data quality, automate field values, etc. However, all this is lost when a user attempts a "Quick Create". It is disappointing because, fromHow to block a WhatsApp user for sending spam
Is there a way to block those whatsapp users that just come to play and annoy our service, they also spam us. We have a waba service with sales iqInquiry regarding auto-save behavior for Zoho Sign Embedded Sending
Dear Zoho Support Team, I am currently integrating Zoho Sign's Embedded Sending functionality using iframes on my website. I would like to know if there is a way to ensure that the document state (including any added fields) is automatically saved asIntroducing Connected Records to bring business context to every aspect of your work in Zoho CRM for Everyone
Hello Everyone, We are excited to unveil phase one of a powerful enhancement to CRM for Everyone - Connected Records, available only in CRM's Nextgen UI. With CRM for Everyone, businesses can onboard all customer-facing teams onto the CRM platform toAutomation#17: Auto-Create Tasks in Zoho Projects Upon Ticket Creation in Zoho Desk
Hello Everyone, This edition delivers the solution to automatically create a task in Zoho Projects when a ticket is created in Zoho Desk. Zylker Resorts uses Zoho Desk for bookings and handling guest requests. Zylker resorts outsources cab bookings toAutomation#20 : Auto-Add Ticket Tags based on Keywords
Hello Everyone! Welcome to unveiling custom functions on our Community series. This week's post lets you add tags to your tickets automatically based on the keywords in the ticket subject and the ticket thread. Discover how this custom function helpsAutomation#21: Track Ticket Transfers Across Departments
Hello Everyone! With Halloween just around the corner, we'd like to let you know the Zoho Desk team is always there to sweep away your customer service troubles! This week, we’re excited to introduce a custom function that tracks tickets moved betweenEmail Integration - Zoho CRM - OAuth and IMAP
Hello, We are attempting to integrate our Microsoft 365 email with Zoho CRM. We are using the documentation at Email Configuration for IMAP and POP3 (zoho.com) We use Microsoft 365 and per their recommendations (and requirements) for secure email we haveHomepage not assignable to group
MS Teams for daily call operations
Hello all, Our most anticipated and crucial update is finally here! Organizations using Microsoft Teams phone system can now integrate it effectively with Zoho CRM for tasks like dialling numbers and logging calls. We are enhancing our MS Teams functionalityAutomation#22 Track Ticket Duration at Specific Status
Hello Everyone! Welcome back to the Community Learning Series! Today, we explore how Zylker Techfix, a gadget servicing firm, boosted productivity by tracking the time spent at a particular ticket status in Zoho Desk. Zylker Techfix customized Zoho Desk’sAutomation#23: Automate Guided Conversations in Zoho Desk with Business Hours
Hello Everyone, This week's edition introduces a custom function designed to automate Guided Conversations in Zoho Desk, based on your business hours. With this feature, you can align the bot's behavior with your business schedule, ensuring a smooth andAddress changes in quote form
When entering a quote, the first piece of information required is the Account, which properly populates the billing and shipping address fields. Then I use the lookup function to select a contact, and when I do, the billing and shipping addresses areAutomation#24: Auto-Update custom field from Accounts to Tickets
Hello Everyone! Welcome back to the Community Learning Series! This episode dives into how Zylker Techfix streamlines account-related ticket references. Previously, employees had to manually check account details to retrieve specific customer information,Kaizen #227 : Client Script Support for List Page (Canvas)
Hello everyone! Welcome to another week of Kaizen. In today's post lets see how Client Script can be used in Canvas List Page to mask sensitive information from specific roles and add colors to Canvas List Page records based on custom criteria.This useImplement Date-Time-Based Triggers in Zoho Desk
Dear Zoho Desk Support Team, We are writing to request a new feature that would allow for the creation of workflows triggered by specific date-time conditions. Currently, Zoho Desk does not provide native support for date-time-based triggers, limitingAutomation#25: Move Tickets to Unassigned When the Owner Is Offline
Hello Everyone, Welcome to this week's Community Series! 'Tis the holiday season—a time when work often takes a brief pause. The holiday spirit is in full swing at Zylker Techfix too, with employees taking some well-deserved time off. During this period,Automation#27: Retain Ticket Owner on Moved Tickets
Hello Everyone! This week, we present to you a custom function that retains the ticket owner when a ticket is moved from one department to another. Here’s more to help you understand the custom function: At Zylker Techfix, Alex, the Support Engineer managesAutomation#28 Notify Agents on Article Expiry
Hello Everyone! This week, we’re bringing you a feature that notifies your team when articles in the Knowledge Base are set to expire to keep your content relevant and helpful for customers. The Zoho Desk's Knowledge Base is an asset for customers toAutomation#29 Retain ticket status on moved tickets
Hello Everyone, Hear out Zylker Techfix’s Success Story on Smoother Ticket Transitions! Zylker Techfix, a gadget servicing firm committed to quick repairs and timely deliveries, faced a challenge when ticket statuses changed automatically while movingNext Page