Kaizen #192 - Implementing Custom Token Persistence in Python SDK

Kaizen #192 - Implementing Custom Token Persistence in Python SDK


Welcome back to another week of Kaizen!

Last week, we discussed how to implement Login with Zoho using OAuth 2.0 and saw how to bring it to life in a real-world application with the Zoho CRM Python SDK. We also discussed how Zylker Academy built a custom student portal powered by Zoho authentication.
In our sample project, we used the file-based persistence method, a simple setup where the access and refresh tokens are stored in a local file. While this method is great for getting started, it might not always fit your business requirements.
That is why our SDKs offer multiple ways to persist your tokens. 

This week, we will explore why token persistence matters for your app’s secure operation, and how to implement custom token persistence methods, including a practical example using SQLite.

Why does token persistence matter?

When a user logs in via OAuth, Zoho returns two tokens:
  • An access token (valid for one hour), used to access Zoho CRM data.
  • A refresh token, used to get a new access token when the current one expires.
If your app does not store these tokens properly, your users will be forced to log in again every time they make an API call. Or every time their access token gets expired. That is not inconvenient; it is a poor user experience.
When you use Zoho CRM SDKs, this is all handled for you behind the scenes. When you first authenticate with Zoho, the SDK stores your access and refresh tokens. Later, when a token expires, the SDK automatically uses the refresh token to get a new one. All you have to do is configure and initialize the SDK, and you are ready to start making API calls using the different methods offered by our SDKs! 

From the user’s perspective, it means:
  • They do not have to log in every time.
  • Their sessions are automatically renewed without interruption.
  • Token revocation can be done centrally.
From a developer’s perspective:
  • You can control how and where tokens are stored.
  • You have control to enforce policies like session timeouts or token cleanup.

Supported token persistence options

The Zoho CRM SDKs support three token persistence mechanisms:

File Persistence:

As we have already seen in last week's Kaizen, in this method, the tokens are stored in a local file of your choice. This can be configured while configuring and initializing the SDK. While this is simple and great for internal and local use, it might not always meet the needs of a growing business. For instance, if the file gets deleted or corrupted, you lose the tokens. It also poses a security risk, as storing tokens in files may expose them to unauthorised access if the file is not properly secured.

Database Persistence:

This stores tokens in a MySQL database, making it better suited for production environments. It is more robust and can handle larger-scale user management. 
Using this persistence method, you can only provide the following connection parameters - host, DB name, table name, username, password, and port number. 

Custom Persistence:

But what if neither of these options fits your needs? Maybe you are working in an environment without traditional storage like AWS's Secret Manager, or you prefer any other Database, or running a microservice in a container where local storage is more practical. That is where Custom Token Persistence comes in.

Custom Token Persistence

Custom persistence means you can implement your own logic for storing and retrieving OAuth tokens, instead of relying on the SDK’s default mechanism. To do this, you should create a class that implements the TokenStore interface and override a standard set of methods, each handling a specific part of the token lifecycle.

Here’s what your custom class must implement:
Method
Purpose
Return Type
find_token(self, token)
Given a token, return a full Token (OAuthToken) object from storage. Used before making any CRM API call.
Token(OAuthToken) object
save_token(self, token)
Called right after Zoho returns a new access/refresh token. Your implementation must persist it.
None
delete_token(self, id)
Delete a specific token using its unique ID.
None
get_tokens(self)
Return all stored tokens.
A list of Token(OAuthToken) objects
delete_tokens()
Delete all stored tokens. Useful during cleanup or logout.
None
find_token_by_id(id)
Retrieve a token by its unique identifier.
Token(OAuthToken) object

The token object is an instance of OAuthToken. The SDK will invoke these methods automatically as part of its flow. You just have to focus on where and how to store the tokens. With this, you can persist tokens to any storage as long as your class handles these methods correctly.

Understanding the token object

Before we dive deeper into custom token persistence, let's clarify what this token (OAuthToken) object is and how you should work with it.

The token object is an instance of OAuthToken.  This class bundles all the credentials and details the SDK needs to authenticate your API requests. Here’s what it holds:
  • access_token
  • refresh_token
  • client_id 
  • client_secret
  • redirect_url
  • expires_in
  • user_signature
  • id
  • api_domain

Implementing Custom Token Persistence with SQLite

Now that we've covered the basics of token persistence and how Zoho SDK supports custom stores, let’s dive into a practical, real-world example using SQLite as the backend for storing tokens.
SQLite is a lightweight, file-based database engine. It is perfect when you want a persistent store without the complexity of a full database server.

The CustomStoreSQLite Class

This class implements all six required methods of the TokenStore interface using SQLite as the backend. 

1. Initialization and Table Setup

When you create a CustomStoreSQLite object, it immediately checks if the token table exists in the SQLite database file zohooauth.db. If the DB or the table is missing, its __init__() method creates one with all the necessary columns to store token details like id, user_name, client_id, client_secret, refresh_token, access_token, grant_token, expiry_time, redirect_url and api_domain.


 def __init__(self):
        """
        Initializes the SQLite database and sets up the oauthtoken table if needed.
        """
        self.db_name = 'zohooauth.db'
        if not self.check_table_exists():
            connection = sqlite3.connect(self.db_name)
            cursor = connection.cursor()
            cursor.execute("CREATE TABLE  oauthtoken (id varchar(10) NOT NULL,user_name varchar(255), client_id "
                           "varchar(255), client_secret varchar(255), refresh_token varchar(255), access_token "
                           "varchar(255), grant_token varchar(255), expiry_time varchar(20), redirect_url varchar("
                           "255), api_domain varchar(255), primary key (id))")
 cursor.close()

This means the first time your app runs, it sets up its own database schema automatically.

2. Saving a Token - save_token(self, token)

Purpose:
This method is called every time Zoho returns a new token, whether after a login or a token refresh. Your implementation is responsible for safely persisting this token, typically by upserting (inserting or updating) a row in your database that uniquely identifies the token’s user and client combination.

Expected behaviour: 
The method must store the token in your custom database or storage system.
  • If a matching token already exists (based on user, refresh token, or client credentials), it should be updated.
  • If no match exists, a new entry must be created.
  • Tokens should not be duplicated. Multiple users should be managed separately.
Input Parameters: An instance of Token(OAuthToken) class containing details like access token, refresh token, user signature, client ID/secret, etc.

Return value: None. But must raise exceptions on failure.

Sample Implementation using SQLite:
Here is the logic used in the implementation of save_token() method:
  • If the user name is available, use it to update the token.
  • If no user name but the access token is available in the table, update by the access token.
  • If there is a refresh or grant token with the same client credentials, then update accordingly.
  • If none of these match, insert as a new row.

def save_token(self, token):
        if not isinstance(token, OAuthToken):
            return
        cursor = None
        connection = None
        try:
            connection = sqlite3.connect(self.db_name)
            oauth_token = token
            query = "update oauthtoken set "
            if oauth_token.get_user_signature() is not None:
                name = oauth_token.get_user_signature().get_name()
                if name is not None and len(name) > 0:
                    query = query + self.set_token(oauth_token) + " where user_name='" + name + "'"
            elif oauth_token.get_access_token() is not None and len(oauth_token.get_access_token()) > 0 and \
                    self.are_all_objects_null([oauth_token.get_client_id(), oauth_token.get_client_secret()]):
                query = query + self.set_token(
                    oauth_token) + " where access_token='" + oauth_token.get_access_token() + "'"
            elif ((oauth_token.get_refresh_token() is not None and len(oauth_token.get_refresh_token()) > 0) or
                  (oauth_token.get_grant_token() is not None and len(
                      oauth_token.get_grant_token()) > 0)) and oauth_token.get_client_id() is not None \
                    and oauth_token.get_client_secret() is not None:
                if oauth_token.get_grant_token() is not None and len(oauth_token.get_grant_token()) > 0:
                    query = query + self.set_token(
                        oauth_token) + " where grant_token='" + oauth_token.get_grant_token() + "'"
                elif oauth_token.get_refresh_token() is not None and len(oauth_token.get_refresh_token()) > 0:
                    query = query + self.set_token(
                        oauth_token) + " where refresh_token='" + oauth_token.get_refresh_token() + "'"
            query = query + " limit 1"
            try:
                cursor = connection.cursor()
                cursor.execute(query)
                if cursor.rowcount <= 0:
                    if oauth_token.get_id() is not None or oauth_token.get_user_signature() is not None:
                        if oauth_token.get_refresh_token() is None and oauth_token.get_grant_token() is None \
                                and oauth_token.get_access_token() is None:
                            raise SDKException(Constants.TOKEN_STORE, Constants.GET_TOKEN_DB_ERROR1)
                    if oauth_token.get_id() is None:
                        newId = str(self.generate_id())
                        oauth_token.set_id(newId)
                    query = "insert into oauthtoken (id,user_name,client_id,client_secret,refresh_token,access_token," \
                            "grant_token,expiry_time,redirect_url,api_domain) values (?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?);"
                    val = (token.get_id(),
                           token.get_user_signature().get_name() if token.get_user_signature() is not None else None,
                           token.get_client_id(), token.get_client_secret(), token.get_refresh_token(),
                           token.get_access_token(), token.get_grant_token(), token.get_expires_in(),
                           token.get_redirect_url(), token.get_api_domain())
                    cursor.execute(query, val)
            except Error as e:
                raise e
            finally:
                connection.commit()
                cursor.close() if cursor is not None else None
                connection.close() if connection is not None else None
        except Exception as ex:
 raise SDKException(Constants.TOKEN_STORE, Constants.SAVE_TOKEN_DB_ERROR, cause=ex)

3: Fetching a Token - find_token(self, token)

Purpose:
This is the method the SDK calls whenever it needs to make an API call on behalf of a user, but has only partial token information.
Depending on the token flow - Grant Token, Refresh Token, Access Token, or ID-based - only a specific token or ID may be provided during the API call. In such cases, find_token(self, token) method locates and return the complete OAuthToken object from storage if a matching one exists. If no matching token exists in the storage, this method will return None, and the SDK will proceed to generate a new token with the provided details and save it using the save_token(self, token) method. 

Expected behavior:
  • Based on the available details in the input token (user name, access token, refresh or grant token), this method should query storage and return a complete token object.
  • If no match is found, it should return None.
Input Parameters: A partially filled Token(OAuthToken) object.

Return value: A fully populated Token object if found, or None.

Sample Implementation using SQLite:
The find_token(self, token) method implementation does the following:
  • Dynamically builds a WHERE clause based on available attributes.
  • Queries the database for a matching record.
  • Fetches the matching record, if any, and populates the Token object with the full set of stored values (access token, refresh token, expiry time, etc.).
  • Returns the Token object if a matching record is found, or return None.
Without this method, your app wouldn’t know which token to use during API calls. For example, consider the case when a user reopens your app after hours. You have their refresh token stored. The SDK calls find_token(self, token) to get the full token and proceeds without requiring a fresh login.

def find_token(self, token):
        cursor = None
        connection = None
        try:
            connection = sqlite3.connect(self.db_name)
            if isinstance(token, OAuthToken):
                oauth_token = token
                query = "select * from oauthtoken"
                if oauth_token.get_user_signature() is not None:
                    name = oauth_token.get_user_signature().get_name()
                    if name is not None and len(name) > 0:
                        query = query + " where user_name='" + name + "'"
                elif oauth_token.get_access_token() is not None and self.are_all_objects_null(
                        [oauth_token.get_client_id(), oauth_token.get_client_secret()]):
                    query = query + " where access_token='" + oauth_token.get_access_token() + "'"
                elif oauth_token.get_refresh_token() is not None or oauth_token.get_grant_token() is not None and \
                        oauth_token.get_client_id() is not None and oauth_token.get_client_secret() is not None:
                    if oauth_token.get_grant_token() is not None and len(oauth_token.get_grant_token()) > 0:
                        query = query + " where grant_token='" + oauth_token.get_grant_token() + "'"
                    elif oauth_token.get_refresh_token() is not None and len(oauth_token.get_refresh_token()) > 0:
                        query = query + " where refresh_token='" + oauth_token.get_refresh_token() + "'"
                query = query + " limit 1"
                cursor = connection.cursor()
                cursor.execute(query)
                result = cursor.fetchone()
                if result is None:
                    return None
                self.set_merge_data(oauth_token, result)
        except Exception as ex:
            raise SDKException(Constants.TOKEN_STORE, Constants.GET_TOKEN_DB_ERROR1, cause=ex)
        finally:
            cursor.close() if cursor is not None else None
            connection.close() if connection is not None else None
        return token

4: Deleting a Token - delete_token(self, id)

Purpose:
Delete a specific token record from storage based on a unique token ID. It is commonly used when a user logs out or an admin revokes access for a user.

Expected behaviour:
  • Locate the token record by its unique ID.
  • Delete the corresponding record from storage.
Input Parameters: The token ID to be deleted.

Return values: None

Sample Implementation using SQLite:

def delete_token(self, id):
        cursor = None
        try:
            connection = sqlite3.connect(self.db_name)
            try:
                cursor = connection.cursor()
                query = "delete from oauthtoken where id= " + id + ";"
                cursor.execute(query)
                connection.commit()
            except Error as ex:
                raise ex
            finally:
                cursor.close() if cursor is not None else None
                connection.close() if connection is not None else None
        except Error as ex:
            raise SDKException(code=Constants.TOKEN_STORE, message=Constants.DELETE_TOKEN_DB_ERROR, cause=ex)

5: Deleting All Tokens - delete_tokens(self)

Purpose: Delete all tokens from storage, typically used for global logout or cleanup scenarios.

Expected behaviour: Remove all token records from storage in a single operation.

Input Parameters: None

Return Values: None

Sample Implementation using SQLite:

def delete_tokens(self):
        cursor = None
        try:
            connection = sqlite3.connect(self.db_name)
            try:
                cursor = connection.cursor()
                query = "delete from oauthtoken;"
                cursor.execute(query)
                self.connection.commit()
            except Error as ex:
                raise ex
            finally:
                cursor.close() if cursor is not None else None
                connection.close() if connection is not None else None
        except Error as ex:
            raise SDKException(code=Constants.TOKEN_STORE, message=Constants.DELETE_TOKENS_DB_ERROR, cause=ex)

6: Fetch all tokens - get_tokens(self)

Purpose: Retrieve all currently stored tokens.

Expected behaviour:
  • Query storage for all token records.
  • Construct and return a list of token objects 
Input Parameters: None

Return Value: A list of Token objects representing all stored tokens.

Sample Implementation using SQLite:


def get_tokens(self):
        cursor = None
        try:
            connection = sqlite3.connect(self.db_name)
            tokens = []
            try:
                cursor = connection.cursor()
                query = "select * from oauthtoken;"
                cursor.execute(query)
                results = cursor.fetchall()
                for result in results:
                    oauth_token = object.__new__(OAuthToken)
                    self.set_oauth_token(oauth_token)
                    self.set_merge_data(oauth_token, result)
                    tokens.append(oauth_token)
                return tokens
            except Error as ex:
                raise ex
            finally:
                cursor.close() if cursor is not None else None
                connection.close() if connection is not None else None
        except Error as ex:
            raise SDKException(code=Constants.TOKEN_STORE, message=Constants.GET_TOKENS_DB_ERROR, cause=ex)

7. Finding a Token by ID - find_token_by_id(self, id)

Purpose: Retrieve a specific token by its unique id.

Expected behaviour:
  • Search storage for a token with the given ID.
  • If found, return the complete token object; if not, return None.
Input Parameters: The unique identifier of the token (id)

Return Values: Returns a fully populated Token(OAuthToken) object if found; otherwise, returns None.

Sample Implementation using SQLite:
This method should follows a similar pattern to find_token, but use the unique id as the search key.

 def find_token_by_id(self, id):
        cursor = None
        try:
            connection = sqlite3.connect(self.db_name)
            try:
                query = "select * from oauthtoken where id='" + id + "'"
                oauth_token = object.__new__(OAuthToken)
                self.set_oauth_token(oauth_token)
                cursor = connection.cursor()
                cursor.execute(query)
                results = cursor.fetchall()
                if results is None or len(results) <= 0:
                    raise SDKException(Constants.TOKEN_STORE, Constants.GET_TOKEN_BY_ID_DB_ERROR)
                for result in results:
                    self.set_merge_data(oauth_token, result)
                    return oauth_token
            except Error as ex:
                raise ex
            finally:
                cursor.close() if cursor is not None else None
                connection.close() if connection is not None else None
        except Error as ex:
            raise SDKException(code=Constants.TOKEN_STORE, message=Constants.GET_TOKEN_BY_ID_DB_ERROR, cause=ex)


Please find the complete custom_store_sqlite.py file here.

How to use this in your project

To start using this custom token persistence class in your own Python project, follow these steps:
  • Download the custom_store_sqlite.py and place this inside your project directory.
  • Import the class in the script where you initialize the SDK. In our sample project, this is the record.py file.
    from store.custom_store_sqlite import CustomStoreSQLite
  • In the SDK configuration, use the CustomStoreSQLite method instead of the FireStore method:

def init(self, client_id, code, location, redirect_url):
        environment = DataCenter.get(location)
        client_secret = "17565609051856218813123b9a98de52c301722b7d"
        logger = Logger.get_instance(level=Logger.Levels.INFO,
                                     file_path="./logs.txt")
        store = CustomStoreSQLite()
        token = OAuthToken(client_id=client_id,
                           client_secret=client_secret,
                           grant_token=code,
                           redirect_url=redirect_url)
        Initializer.initialize(environment=environment,
                               token=token,
                               logger=logger,
 store=store)

That’s it! With this, all token operations (save, fetch, delete) will be routed through your custom store backed by SQLite.


The above video demonstrates this is in action. You can see what the database looks like when populated. 

More Custom Persistence Implementations

The advantage of using Zoho CRM SDKs is that it doesn't box you in. You are free to implement token persistence in a way that fits your business logic, team expertise, or project requirements. Whether you prefer SQLite, NoSQL, or something entirely different, the SDK gives you full control through the TokenStore interface.

In the SQLite example above, we walked through how to implement a custom store using a persistent file-based database. You need to implement all the methods as explained in the previous section, no matter where you decide to persist your tokens. 

To make things easier, we have included two additional reference implementations:
  • An in-memory store, where tokens are stored in a dictionary
  • A list-based store, which keeps token records as simple lists
Each one fully implements the required methods of the TokenStore interface.

SQLite In-Memory DB

This implementation uses SQLite's in-memory mode (using ":memory:") to store tokens in RAM. Here, we have implemented all the required methods from the TokenStore interface: find_token(), save_token(), delete_token(), get_tokens(), delete_tokens() and find_token_by_id().

Please find the custom_store_in_memory.py file here.

List-Based Persistence Using Simple Lists

The second reference implementation is a list-based token store that keeps token records in an in-memory Python list of lists. Each inner list represents a token’s attributes, such as ID, user signature, client ID, access token, refresh token, and so on.
This custom store fully implements all required methods from the TokenStore interface.

Please find the custom_store_list.py file here.

We hope this was useful and gives you enough info to build your own token persistence methods tailored to your needs. We used Python SDK here, but you can apply the same logic with any of our other SDKs. It is all the same logic, just different programming languages. Just remember to implement the required methods exactly as expected by the SDK, as explained here.

Give it a try, and please let us know how it goes or if you hit any bumps!  Comment below, or send an email to support@zohocrm.com. We will be waiting to hear from you!

Happy coding!


We are excited to be approaching the 200th post in our Kaizen series! As we get closer to this milestone, we would love to hear from you. Have questions, suggestions, or topics you would like us to cover in our future Kaizen posts? Your feedback helps us make the series even better.
 
Please take a moment to share your thoughts with us using this form - we'd really appreciate it!


  Previous Kaizen: Kaizen #191 - Implementing "Login with Zoho" using Python SDKKaizen Directory                    


    Access your files securely from anywhere







                            Zoho Developer Community




                                                  • Desk Community Learning Series


                                                  • Digest


                                                  • Functions


                                                  • Meetups


                                                  • Kbase


                                                  • Resources


                                                  • Glossary


                                                  • Desk Marketplace


                                                  • MVP Corner


                                                  • Word of the Day


                                                  • Ask the Experts



                                                            • Sticky Posts

                                                            • 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 this
                                                            • Kaizen #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 how
                                                            • Kaizen #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
                                                            • Kaizen #152 - Client Script Support for the new Canvas Record Forms

                                                              Hello everyone! Have you ever wanted to trigger actions on click of a canvas button, icon, or text mandatory forms in Create/Edit and Clone Pages? Have you ever wanted to control how elements behave on the new Canvas Record Forms? This can be achieved


                                                            Manage your brands on social media



                                                                  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

                                                                                      • CRM Community Learning Series

                                                                                        CRM Community Learning Series


                                                                                      • Kaizen

                                                                                        Kaizen

                                                                                      • Functions

                                                                                        Functions

                                                                                      • Meetups

                                                                                        Meetups

                                                                                      • Kbase

                                                                                        Kbase

                                                                                      • Resources

                                                                                        Resources

                                                                                      • Digest

                                                                                        Digest

                                                                                      • CRM Marketplace

                                                                                        CRM Marketplace

                                                                                      • MVP Corner

                                                                                        MVP Corner









                                                                                          Design. Discuss. Deliver.

                                                                                          Create visually engaging stories with Zoho Show.

                                                                                          Get Started Now


                                                                                            Zoho Show Resources

                                                                                              Zoho Writer

                                                                                              Get Started. Write Away!

                                                                                              Writer is a powerful online word processor, designed for collaborative work.

                                                                                                Zoho CRM コンテンツ



                                                                                                  Nederlandse Hulpbronnen


                                                                                                      ご検討中の方




                                                                                                              • Recent Topics

                                                                                                              • Zoho Books - Breaking A Working App

                                                                                                                We've been using Zoho for many years now. Across all apps, entering phone numbers in standard formats was enabled in all apps. These formats are: xxx.yyy.zzzz xxx-yyy-zzzz (xxx) yyy-zzzz and we were able also to add extension numbers in these formats:
                                                                                                              • using the client script based on the look up filed i wnat to fetch the record details like service number , service rate

                                                                                                                based on selected service look up field iwant to fetch the service serial number in the serice form how i achive using client script also how i get the current date in the date field in the on load of the form
                                                                                                              • Automate pushing Zoho CRM backups into Zoho WorkDrive

                                                                                                                Through our Zoho One subscription we have both Zoho CRM and Zoho WorkDrive. We have regular backups setup in Zoho CRM. Once the backup is created, we are notified. Since we want to keep these backups for more than 7 days, we manually download them. They
                                                                                                              • 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 functionality
                                                                                                              • How to track repeat customers?

                                                                                                                I own a food business and every order is entered into Zoho with: a unique Customer ID total order amount date of order With this information, I want to be able to see a list of my "best" customers. In other words, descending lists arranged according to:
                                                                                                              • Address 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 are
                                                                                                              • Build data protection into your support

                                                                                                                At Zoho, privacy is our principle. Every Zoho product is built with privacy as the foundation and the finishing touch, guiding every decision we make. Security, privacy, and compliance are woven into the software development lifecycle, starting from how
                                                                                                              • Conditional formatting: before/after "today" not available

                                                                                                                When setting conditional formatting, it only allows me to set a specific calendar date when choosing "Before" or "After" conditions. Typing "today" returns the error "Value must be of type date". Is there a workaround? Thanks for any help!
                                                                                                              • Zoho mail account ownership transfer

                                                                                                                We recently took over another company and have assumed responsibility for its Zoho account, including Zoho Mail and all related services. We would like to formally transfer ownership of this account to our organization. Could you please outline the complete
                                                                                                              • Display Client Name in Zoho Creator Client Portal Dashboard

                                                                                                                Hello Zoho Creator Team, We hope you are doing well. Zoho Creator recently introduced the option to set a client’s display name in the Client Portal settings, which is very helpful for providing a personalized portal experience. However, there is currently
                                                                                                              • Introducing 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 to
                                                                                                              • project name field issue- n8n

                                                                                                                Hey guys, I have a question. I want to create a new product using the workflow. The problem is with the product name field; I don't know how to fill it in. The workflow starts with retrieving information from the leads table, retrieving links to scrape
                                                                                                              • Customizable UI components in pages | Theme builder

                                                                                                                Anyone know when these roadmap items are scheduled for release? They were originally scheduled for Q4 2025. https://www.zoho.com/creator/product-roadmap.html
                                                                                                              • Stop the Workarounds: We Need Native Multi-Step Forms

                                                                                                                After over 17 years of community requests, I'm hoping the Zoho team can finally address the lack of native multi-page form support in Zoho Creator. This has been one of the longest-standing feature requests in the community, with threads spanning nearly
                                                                                                              • Amazon.in FBA multiple warehouse integration with Zoho Inventory

                                                                                                                My organisation subscribed to Zoho One looking at the opportunity to integrate Amazon.in with Inventory. But during the configuration, we understood the integration has severe limitations when it involves multiple warehouses in the same Organisation.
                                                                                                              • 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 the
                                                                                                              • Introducing Workqueue: your all-in-one view to manage daily work

                                                                                                                Hello all, We’re excited to introduce a major productivity boost to your CRM experience: Workqueue, a dynamic, all-in-one workspace that brings every important sales activity, approval, and follow-up right to your fingertips. What is Workqueue? Sales
                                                                                                              • Feature Request - Set Default Values for Meetings

                                                                                                                Hi Zoho CRM Team, It would be very useful if we could set default values for meeting parameters. For example, if you always wanted Reminder 1 Day before. Currently you need to remember to choose it for every meeting. Also being able to use merge tags
                                                                                                              • Issues with Actions By Zoho Flow

                                                                                                                Hi, I have a workflow that fires when a deal reaches a stage. This then sends out a contract for the client to sign. I have connected this up through Actions by Zoho Flow. Unfortunately this fails to send out. I have tracked it down to the date fields.
                                                                                                              • Adding custom "lookup" fields in Zoho Customization

                                                                                                                How can I add a second “lookup” field in Zoho? I’m trying to create another lookup that pulls from my Contacts, but the option doesn’t appear in the module customization sidebar. In many cases, a single work order involves multiple contacts. Ideally,
                                                                                                              • CRM x WorkDrive: We're rolling out the WorkDrive-powered file storage experience for existing users

                                                                                                                Release plan: Gradual rollout to customers without file storage add-ons, in this order: 1. Standalone CRM 2. CRM Plus and Zoho One DCs: All | Editions: All Available now for: - Standalone CRM accounts in Free and Standard editions without file storage
                                                                                                              • Canvas Detail View Related List Sorting

                                                                                                                Hello, I am having an issue finding a way to sort a related list within a canvas detail view. I have sorted the related list on the page layout associated with the canvas view, but that does not transfer to the canvas view. What am I missing?
                                                                                                              • Windows Desktop App - request to add minimization/startup options

                                                                                                                Support Team, Can you submit the following request to your development team? Here is what would be optimal in my opinion from UX perspective: 1) In the "Application Menu", add a menu item to Exit the app, as well as an alt-key shortcut for these menus
                                                                                                              • Ability for admin to access or make changes in zoho form without asking for ownership

                                                                                                                Currently in zoho form only form owner can make the changes in the form and if someone else has to make changes then we have to transfer the ownership to them and even admin also cant access it . So i think admin must have the ability or option to access
                                                                                                              • Issue with WhatsApp Template Approval and Marketing Message Limit in Zoho Bigin

                                                                                                                We are facing issues while creating and using WhatsApp message templates through Zoho Bigin, and we request your clarification and support regarding the same. 1. Utility Template Approval Issue Until December, we were able to create WhatsApp templates
                                                                                                              • Zoho CRM Calendar View

                                                                                                                Hello Zoho team, We need desperately a calendar view next to list, kandan and other views. I think it should be easy to implement as you already have the logic from Projects and also from Kanban View in CRM. In calendar view when we set it up - we choose
                                                                                                              • Camera

                                                                                                                I can sign on to a meeting and see the other participants, but my screen is dark. The instructions for Zoho "Camera Settings" say "click on lock icon in address bar," but I don't see that icon! Suggestions?
                                                                                                              • What is Workqueue and how to hide it?

                                                                                                                Hi, My CRM suddenly have this "Workqueue", may I ask how to set the permission of this tab?
                                                                                                              • Batch/lot # and Storage bin location

                                                                                                                Hi I want to ask for a feature on Zoho inventory I own a warehouse and I've gone through different management software solutions with no luck until I found Zoho, it has been a game changer for my business with up to the minute information, I'm extremely happy with it. It's almost perfect. And I say Almost because the only thing missing for me (and I'm sure I'm not alone) is the need of being able to identify the lot number of my inventory and where it is located in the warehouse. Due to the nature
                                                                                                              • Adding Sender Address with Basic Plan

                                                                                                                According to the knowledge base, I should be able to add Sender addresses with the Basic Plan. But whenever I try to add an email, it takes me to a search window and I cannot find any emails in the list. Even mine, which is the admin. email.
                                                                                                              • Conditional Field Visibility in Bigin CRM

                                                                                                                I would like to request support for conditional field visibility within Bigin CRM. This feature should allow administrators to configure show/hide rules for fields based on predefined criteria (e.g., field values, picklist selections, stage changes,
                                                                                                              • Bill automation in Zoho Books

                                                                                                                Hi I am looking for 3rd-party options for bill automation in zoho which are economical and preferably have accurate scanning. What options do I have? Zoho's native scanning is a bit pricey
                                                                                                              • Reporting Tags

                                                                                                                We've been using reporting tags for years (before itemizing was available) and now we are finding reporting these tags are impossible to track. Reports have changed in the customization and our columns of reporting tags no longer show up. We do not use
                                                                                                              • Function #53: Transaction Level Profitability for Invoices

                                                                                                                Hello everyone, and welcome back to our series! We have previously provided custom functions for calculating the profitability of a quote and a sales order. There may be instances where the invoice may differ from its corresponding quote or sales order.
                                                                                                              • Consumption based inventory

                                                                                                                I am currently using Zoho Books for my hospitality business, which includes lodging and restaurant services. We purchase many items in bulk for storage and consumption as needed. I'd like these items to be recorded as inventory when purchased and categorized
                                                                                                              • Smarter Access Control: Role-Based Access vs. Responsibility-Based Profiles

                                                                                                                Every business has roles, responsibilities, and workflows. While roles help define structure, responsibilities within those roles are rarely the same. As your team grows, some members need access to only a specific set of features. Others require visibility
                                                                                                              • Partner with HDFC And Sbi Bank.

                                                                                                                Hdfc and sbi both are very popular bank if zoho books become partner with this banks then many of the zoho books users will benefit premium features of partnered banks.
                                                                                                              • API in E-Invoice/GST portal

                                                                                                                Hi, Do I have to change the api in gst/e-invoice portal as I use zoho e books for my e-invoicing. If yes, please confirm the process.
                                                                                                              • Member role in zoho meeting

                                                                                                                does a user with member role can see other users in the organization
                                                                                                              • Mail Merge is not working properly as far as the AUTOMATE section is concerned

                                                                                                                Hi there, I created a Mail Merge template for the Deal module. I would like Deal owners to mail merge their Deal records, download the Mail Merge document as a Word doc and make a few changes before sending it to the customer. Thing is, neither the "Merge
                                                                                                              • Next Page