Kaizen #21 - Functions in Zoho CRM
Hello everyone!
Welcome back to another week in the Kaizen series!
What will you learn from this post?
- What are Functions in Zoho CRM?
- Creating a function
- Choosing a function category
- Function body
- Integration Tasks
- Triggering Functions
- From Zoho CRM functionalities
- From third-party applications
- Limits of Functions
1. What are Functions in Zoho CRM?
- Functions help you accomplish the tasks that are not available by default in Zoho CRM.
- You must write custom functions using DELUGE [Data Enriched Language for the Universal Grid Environment]—An online scripting language.
- Using custom functions, you can automate actions within Zoho CRM, across Zoho products, or between Zoho CRM and any other third-party application.
Note:
Functions are supported only in the enterprise and ultimate editions.
2. Creating a function
To create a function:
Step 1: Go to Setup > Developer Space > Functions
Step 2: Click +New Function
Step 3: Enter details like the Function Name, Display Name, Description, and choose the function category.
2a. Choosing a function category
Functions can fall under five categories:
- Button: The function gets executed when the user clicks the custom button.
- Automation: The function gets executed based on workflow rules.
- Schedule: The function gets executed based on a schedule.
- Related List: The function gets invoked from a related list.
- Standalone: A stand-alone function that can be triggered externally.
- Validation Rule: The function gets executed based on a validation rule.
Here is an example of a function that automatically generates a quote from a deal on just the click of a button. In DealToQuote() function, the input values are extracted from deals. You can also choose to get them from the users as arguments or JSON request body.
2b. Function Body
potDetails = zoho.crm.getRecordById("Deals",potId.toLong());//integration task /*Extracting details from the deal*/ quotesubject = ifnull(potDetails.get("Deal_Name"),""); contact = ifnull(potDetails.get("Contact_Name").get("id"),""); account = ifnull(potDetails.get("Account_Name").get("id"),""); description = ifnull(potDetails.get("Description"),""); RelatedProducts = zoho.crm.getRelatedRecords("Products","Potentials",potId.toLong()); product_items = List(); sub = 0.0; /*Extracting product details from the deal and adding it to quote*/ for each product in RelatedProducts { proid = product.get("id"); proname = product.get("Product_Name"); productDesc = ifnull(product.get("Description"),"Manque Description Produit !!!"); quantity = 1; price = ifnull(product.get("Unit_Price"),"0.0").toDecimal(); listprice = price * quantity; lineitem = Map(); lineitem.put("product",{"name":proname,"id":proid}); lineitem.put("product_description",productDesc); lineitem.put("quantity",quantity); lineitem.put("net_total",listprice); lineitem.put("total",listprice); lineitem.put("list_price",listprice); sub = sub + listprice; product_items.add(lineitem); } /*Storing quote details*/ paramap = Map(); paramap.put("Product_Details",product_items); paramap.put("Subject",quotesubject); paramap.put("Contact_Name",contact); paramap.put("Account_Name",account); paramap.put("Deal_Name",potId.toLong()); paramap.put("Sub_Total",sub); paramap.put("Grand_Total",sub); paramap.put("Description",description); createResp = zoho.crm.createRecord("Quotes",paramap); info paramap; info createResp; newid = createResp.get("id"); return "Success"; |
Step 5: Once you have written your logic, click save and execute.
Step 6: Enter the argument values, if any.
Step 7: If your function gets executed successfully, you will get a success message.
Step 7: Click Save.
3. Integration Tasks
Integration tasks are pre-defined functions that allow you to get, create, and update records in Zoho CRM. You can simply use these method names in your Deluge script along with the required data to make API calls.
In the above example, we have used the getRecordById() integration task that retrieves the details of the deal. For instance, the Deal Name, Contact Name, Account Name, and so on.
Syntax:
<response>=zoho.crm.getRecordById(<module_name>, <record_ID>, <connections>); |
Parameters:
| Parameter | Description |
response | The response with the list of records matching the criteria. |
module_name string, mandatory | The API name of the module you want to fetch the records from. |
record_ID string, mandatory | The unique ID of the record. |
connections string, optional | The connectors that are associated with the function. |
Example:
potDetails = zoho.crm.getRecordById("Deals",potId.toLong()); |
Some of the other available integration tasks are:
- zoho.crm.convertLead(): To convert a lead into a contact and and an account.
- zoho.crm.getRelatedRecords(): To get records related to a parent record. Example: The products associated with a deal.
- zoho.crm.updateRelatedRecords(): To update the records related to a parent record.
- zoho.crm.searchRecords(): To search for specific records by specifying the criteria for the search.
4. Triggering functions
A function needs a trigger to get executed. You can trigger a function in two ways:
4a. From Zoho CRM functionality
4b. From third-party applications
Scenario:
Functions are primarily used to write custom business logic in Zoho CRM. Consider a scenario, where you want your sales representatives to create a quote after reviewing the deal. Instead of letting them create each quote manually, you can add a custom button in the Edit Deal page, which when clicked upon, triggers a function that creates a quote.
Also, you can configure a third-party system to automatically create a quote in Zoho CRM when the deal amount is less than 1000 OR the deal stage is closed-won. Thus, avoiding manual intervention and enabling them to emphasise on substantial deals.
Let us discuss how to trigger the DealToQuote() function via a custom button and a third-party application. You can also trigger the same function from a third-party application as a REST API webhook.
4a. From Zoho CRM functionality (Custom Button)
- Go to Setup > Customization > Modules and Fields.
- From the List of Modules, select the required module.
- In the Links & Buttons tab, click Create New Button.
- In the Create Your Button page, do the following:
- Enter the name of the button. The button name should not exceed 30 characters.
- Click the Add Description link and specify the details of your custom button. The description should not exceed 250 characters.
- Choose the location of your custom button from the drop-down list.
- Custom buttons can be placed in 6 different places in your CRM account - Create/Clone page, Edit page, View page, List View page, a button to each record in the list view and Related Lists Page. Note that you can create up to 50 buttons for each module.
- Choose an action to be executed when a user clicks the custom button. You can either choose a predefined action from the gallery or the existing functions that were already created by the users in your organization. Also, define your own action by writing a custom function, open a new web tab or invoke a URL based on your needs. It is mandatory to choose the button action. In our case, From Existing Actions in Functions. Choose the function and click Configure.
6. Map the input values to the fields in that module and click Save.
Once the custom button is associated with an action, CRM Administrators can manage permissions by assigning only specific profiles to view and access the custom button.
Similarly, you can associate functions with Schedules, Workflows, Validation Rules, and Related Lists.
4b. From third-party applications
Here, we are going to configure a third-party system to automatically create a quote in Zoho CRM when the deal amount is less than 1000 OR the deal stage is closed-won, thus avoiding manual intervention.
To achieve this, we are going to trigger the DealToQuote() function from a third-party application (automate.io), whenever the above conditions are met.
If you want to trigger a function from a third-party application, you must make it available as REST API.
1. Go to Setup > Developer Space > Functions
2. Choose the function > Click more options > Click REST API
3.Enter the API name for the function.
4. Enable OAuth 2.0 to share the function as an API within your organization and enable API key to share the function as a webhook with any third-party user.
Click Save.
You must make the API call from the third-party application using the request URL received here.
The DealToQuote() function is triggered from a third-party application (automate.io). You can achieve the same using:
- Zoho Flow
- Zoho CRM workflow rule that is triggered whenever a deal is updated
Sample bot configuration in automate.io:
We have triggered the DealToQuote() function using custom button as well as a third-party application.
5. Limits of Functions
Function calls in Zoho CRM are associated with credits. Each function call results in reduction of one credit from your account.
Maximum credit limit based on your edition
Edition | Allowed Credits | Maximum credits that can be availed in a 24 hour window |
Starter | 5,000 credits + (Number of User licenses x 200) | 10,000 credits |
Standard | 5,000 credits + (Number of User licenses x 200) | 15,000 credits |
Professional | 5,000 credits + (Number of User licenses x 200) | 20,000 credits |
Enterprise/Zoho One/CRM Plus | 20,000 credits + (Number of User licenses x 500) | 1,00,000 credits |
Ultimate | 20,000 credits + (Number of User licenses X 1000) | 2,00,000 credits |
Limits based on properties of a function
Functionality | Description | Limits |
Execution Time | Function should be executed within the specified time. | 1 minute |
Response Limit | Function should return the response within a particular size. | 10 MB |
Lines of execution | The number of lines in a function code has a limit. | 200,000 |
Send Mail | The number of emails that you can using the send mail syntax has a limit. | 1000 per day |
Webhooks | GET and POST URLs | 50,000 requests per day |
We hope you found this post useful. Stay tuned for more!
Cheers!
Previous 'Kaizen' - Node JS SDK
Next 'Kaizen' - Connections in Zoho CRM
Access your files securely from anywhere
New to Zoho Recruit?
Zoho Developer Community
New to Zoho LandingPage?
Zoho LandingPage Resources
New to Zoho Survey?
New to Zoho CRM Plus?
Deliver unforgettable customer experiences
New to Zoho CRM Plus?
Deliver unforgettable customer experiences
New to Zoho Marketing Plus?
Everything you need to run your marketing
New to Zoho Marketing Plus?
Everything you need to run your marketing
New to Bigin?
Topic Participants
Sneha Sridharan
Sticky Posts
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 areKaizen #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 achievedKaizen #142: How to Navigate to Another Page in Zoho CRM using Client Script
Hello everyone! Welcome back to another exciting Kaizen post. In this post, let us see how you can you navigate to different Pages using Client Script. In this Kaizen post, Need to Navigate to different Pages Client Script ZDKs related to navigation A.Kaizen #210 - Answering your Questions | Event Management System using ZDK CLI
Hello Everyone, Welcome back to yet another post in the Kaizen Series! As you already may know, for the Kaizen #200 milestone, we asked for your feedback and many of you suggested topics for us to discuss. We have been writing on these topics over the
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
Links are incorrect when sent out
I'm adding in hyperlinks into my eDM. When I send a test email, it's all correct. However, when I send out the eDM, all the hyperlinks jump up one space so none of the links are opening to the correct page. Why is this happening and how can I fix it?Tip of the week #16 - Search and filter threads based on criteria
Zoho TeamInbox lets you search and filter threads with any information that you have about the thread. You just have to input the criteria and Zoho TeamInbox will list all the threads that match the condition. Firstly, there is a global search you canIntroducing recipient authentication via Stripe Identity in Zoho Sign
Hi everyone! It's important to authenticate your recipient's identity before they access and sign important documents to ensure the highest level of compliance. Zoho Sign already helps businesses do this with various authentication methods: SMS OTP EmailIntroducing Multi-Asset Support in Work Orders, Estimates, and Service Appointments
We’re excited to announce a highly requested enhancement in Zoho FSM — you can now associate multiple assets with Work Orders, Estimates, and Service Appointments. This update brings more clarity, flexibility, and control to your field service operations,CRM: hosting a single html file in Zoho and displaying it as a widget
I have seen that CRM offers the option of uploading a web project to Zoho itself and displaying it as a widget in CRM. The instructions then talk about setting a development environment with Node and developing an application to upload to Zoho. But IKeep Converted Leads
How do I keep the converted leads in the Leads Module after conversion (converting it to account, contact, deal). I want to add it in a converted stage in the leads module in order to get a report or dashboard and see all converted leads from my pipCustomizing Global Search Settings for All Users
Hi Our team use the brilliant global search functionality within CRM many many times daily. But, we struggle with the out-of-the box columns that CRM gives you. We are always telling users to customize this look to more suit our business, to show theIntroducing Formula Fields for performing dynamic calculations
Greetings, With the Formula Field, you can generate numerical calculations using provided functions and available fields, enabling you to derive dynamic data. You can utilize mathematical formulas to populate results based on the provided inputs. ThisFrom Zoho CRM to Paper : Design & Print Data Directly using Canvas Print View
Hello Everyone, We are excited to announce a new addition to your Canvas in Zoho CRM - Print View. Canvas print view helps you transform your custom CRM layouts into print-ready documents, so you can bring your digital data to the physical world withTip of the Week #77– Stay informed of the activities happening in your organization
Whenever a message is handled in Zoho TeamInbox, every action is recorded in the Activity Log. This ensures you always know what’s happening across your teams and inboxes. To access it, simply click the Audits icon on the left pane’s top bar after loggingZoho Logs - Not seeing logs since 30 Nov
Hi, we have a few functions running, I am testing some new ones and noticed that although I can see executions, I cannot see any logs, even when the first line on the functions is a log. I reviewed some existing functions, one of which is invoked on aWorkdrive MS Office integration
Have installed subscribed version of Zoho WorkDrive VSTO runtime not found is the error when I try to install Zoho_WorkDrive_For_Office Unable to open work files in Excel and Word Urgent, since I have migrated all my OneDrive files to work drive alreadyHow do I create an update to the Cost Price from landed costs?
Hi fellow Zoho Inventory battlers, I am new to Zoho inventory and was completely baffled to find that the cost price of products does not update when a new purchase order is received. The cost price is just made up numbers I start with when the productHow to change Zoho Vault password
I am searching where I can change the Vault Password after having changed the Zoho account password. I don't see this option anywhere in my account. It should be simple and accessible! Please help. Thanks!Appraisals on Employee Information Profile
Is it possible to show completed appraisals on each employee's "Employee Information" page? I would presume at the bottom - similar to the "Related Lists" concept in Zoho CRM. Obviously view access would be limited to employee and appropriate other rolesZoho Workdrive - Communication / Chat Bar
Hi Team, Please consider adding an option to allow admins to turn on or off the Zoho Communication Bar. Example of what I mean by Communication Bar: It's such a pain sometimes when I'm in WorkDrive and I want to share a link to a file with a colleaguePrefered Bin Missing in android APP
Andoroid app dosent show preferred bin in the picklist. The workaround support reccomend is to use the computre to create the picklist. it shuld be information to be shown aas basic for the pciker.When Marking a Multiple Choice Answer Exclusive - Not Following My Survey Disqualification Logic
Using a multiple choice (many answers) question and I created survey disqualification logic that was working as intended. My question: Disqualification page logic is: If (QUESTION) is "any one of the following" then (OPTIONS) - a custom message populatesWhere to Add Machines as Products to Map with Assets in Zoho FSM?
implementing Zoho FSM for a clinical equipment supply company. The business sells and installs clinical machines in hospitals and clinics, and they also handle service requests, scheduled maintenance, calibration visits, and general machine upkeep. InShow Zoom Link in Recipient's Calendar
We set up meetings within a record, selecting the "Make this an online meeting". We use Zoom. Most of the recipients go to their calendar (usually Gmail or Outlook, corporate) to join the Zoom meeting, but there is no Zoom link in the calendar. Can thisPassing the CRM
Hi, I am hoping someone can help. I have a zoho form that has a CRM lookup field. I was hoping to send this to my publicly to clients via a text message and the form then attaches the signed form back to the custom module. This work absolutely fine whenZoho CRM for Everyone's NextGen UI Gets an Upgrade
Hello Everyone We've made improvements to Zoho CRM for Everyone's Nextgen UI. These changes are the result of valuable feedback from you where we’ve focused on improving usability, providing wider screen space, and making navigation smoother so everythingZoho Bigin - should be able to link a "contact" to multiple "companies"
Hello Support, I called into telephone support and was told that a contact can only be linked to one company. We have situations were director are contacts of and directors of multiple companies so that seems a basic weakness in Bigin. When go to addDoes Thrive work with Zoho Billing (Subscriptions)?
I would like to use Thrive with Zoho Billing Subscriptions but don't see a way to do so. Can someone point me in the right direction? Thank youRadio button data won't update
Wondering if anyone is experiencing the same problem. I tried bulk updating our data on Zoho Creator using API and noticed that the radio button field wasn't updated. I have tried updating it manually, it didn't work. When I tried updating a text fieldRegister the 'Contact Role' addition and change as a Potential edition so it can trigger Workflows
We are trying to use "Contact Roles" in Potentials. Contact Roles are special and different than the other Related lists, so, it may have a special behavior. Something to keep in mind is that you will never have 100 Contact Roles as you can have 100 Tasks, Calls, or any other Related list. In our case we will have 2 in average and up to 4 or 5 maximum. The problem is that we need to bring information from 3 key Contact Roles to the Potential and adding a Contact to the Contacts Roles area never triggerSynchronise item image between Zoho Commerce and Zoho Books/Inventory/CRM
Here is a blindingly simple idea to tie several Zoho products together. Zoho - please include a method to synchronise the item image (or images) from one Zoho application to another. For example, if you upload an item image in Zoho Inventory, a user shouldAccessing shared mailboxes through Trident (Windows)
Hi, I have a created a couple of shared mailboxes. The mailboxes are showing up on the browser based Zoho workplace, but I cannot seem to figure out how to access my shared inboxes through Trident (Windows). Am I missing something or is this feature notIntroducing Global Sets for easy management of similar picklists in CRM
Latest update (December 2025): You can now apply color coding to the values inside a global set, the same way you color code values in regular picklist fields. Update (Sep 2024): We've increased the maximum count limit for global sets. These new limitsUploading a signed template from Sign to Creator
Good day, Please help me on how to load a signed document back into Creator after the process has been completed in Sign. Below is the code that I am trying, pdfFile = response.toFile("SignedDocument_4901354000000372029.pdf"); info pdfFile; // AttachNo Ability to Rename Record Template PDFs in SendMail Task
As highlighted previously in this post, we still have to deal with the limitation of not being able to rename a record template when sent as a PDF using the SendMail Task. This creates unnecessary complexity for what should be a simple operation, andNew in CPQ: Smarter suggestions for Product Configurator by Zia, and additional criteria in Price Rules
Hello everyone! CPQ's Product Configurator in Zoho CRM allows sales teams to define structured product bundles through configuration rules, ensuring that the right product combinations are applied consistently in quotes. Admins set up these configurationsFeature Request: Dynamic Dimension Control for zc_LoadIn Popups
As detailed in this community discussion, Zoho Creator's zc_LoadIn parameter is a vital tool for opening components (forms, reports, or pages) in modal dialogs via HTML snippets, Notes, or Rich Text Fields. While powerful, this feature suffers from aProcess between CRM and Campaigns to ensure double opt-in contacts?
I would like to ask for a few clarifications to ensure we fully comply with best practices and legal requirements: According to the documentation (Zoho Campaigns CRM sync – Default option), the best and recommended way to sync contacts is by using theZoho Books - New Interface keep details with PDF View
Hello, The Zoho Books Interface has changed for estimates etc... One thing is causing issues though. Before the change, in PDF view you could see the detail information including custom fields entered for the estimate. Now, you have to switch betweenTip #52- Zoho Assist Downloads: Everything You Need in One Place- 'Insider Insights'
Looking to start remote support sessions faster, manage unattended devices effortlessly, or join sessions without any hassle? The Zoho Assist Downloads Center has all the tools you need—across desktop, mobile, IoT, and browser environments. With our rangeCondition based aggregate fields in subforms
Hello everyone, We're excited to inform you about the latest enhancements made to our aggregate field capabilities in subforms; create aggregate fields based on conditions! An aggregate field is a column on which a mathematical function has been applied.SalesInbox
Sorry for saying this but SalesInbox is a really mess. BIG FAIL. Bad UX and VERY bad IMAP sync. I don't know how can someone use this to be more productive. It's just the oposite. I'm trying to use SalesInbox for a while but sales people do not have just sales activities so we still have to came back to the mail app anyway. Folders of SalesInbox are not in sync with folders of mail server (wich syncs Ok to mobile) and vice-versa wich leads to double work as now you have to cleanup 3 inboxes (MailPrint labels on selected view
How can I print labels for select view. Always defaults to ALL contacts when I select View = Mailing Labels. Thanks!!Update CRM Price Books to include volume discounts as per Zoho Books/Inventory
Once again, Zoho has 3 great products that all store information in different ways (which is not helpful when you attempt to integrate the 3 products - one of the best features of Zoho). Zoho CRM Price Books are basic at best. Zoho Books/Inventory PriceNext Page