Understanding integration forms | Zoho Creator Help

Understanding integration forms

In a nutshell

Integration forms are used to create a direct link between Creator applications and external services (like Salesforce) or internal services (like Zoho CRM). When records are added in the integration form, the data gets added automatically to the corresponding module of the integrated service.

 

To create an integration form, you need a connection and a datasource of the targeted service. Integration forms works through the datasource that has been linked. For example, a connection to your Zoho Recruit service and a datasource to the Contacts module in Zoho Recruit allows you to create an integration form that automatically sends form submissions to that module. 
Availability
  1. Integration forms can be created only in the paid plans of Creator. 
  2. Only the super admin, admins, and developers can create and manage integration forms while other users can access, view, and edit them with relevant permissions.

1. Overview

Integration forms create a link between two services for seamless data transfer. This eliminates the need to write scripts for integration. It helps data to be added directly into the modules of the integrated service when the integration form collects it and makes manual data entry into the modules needless. This automation simplifies it to an extent where anyone can effortlessly link two services for data sync by following a smooth process.

In Creator, integration forms are an integral component that connects Creator to:
  1. External services such as Salesforce, QuickBooks, BigCommerce, etc.
  2. Internal services like ZohoCRM, ZohoRecruit, Zoho Backstage, etc.
Notes
Note:
  1. For all the services that integration forms support, data entered in your Creator integration form gets populated automatically in the respective target service. But records added in the target service cannot be viewed in Creator.
  2. For Salesforce, QuickBooks, ZohoCRM, ZohoRecruit, Zoho Projects, Zoho BugTracker, and Zoho People, the data entered in the target service is also synced back in the integration form report, thereby enabling two-way data sync.
You'll be able to submit data from Creator strictly to those modules allowed by your service subscription. For example, if you've subscribed to Zoho CRM's Standard edition, you'll be able create a form for the Purchase Orders module in your Zoho Creator app but your users won't be able to submit data through it as this module isn't available in Zoho CRM's Standard edition.
Other than the submitted records getting populated in the respective service's module, list reports are automatically created for the modules present in Salesforce, QuickBooks, ZohoCRM, ZohoRecruit, Zoho Projects, Zoho BugTracker, and Zoho People. This allows your users to view the data without having to access the integrated service directly.

Users with ReadWrite, or Custom permissions can view/edit all the records that get populated in the integration form according to the permissions granted to them. Custom permissions include only the View All and Modify All actions.

1.1 See how it works



Supported services
The services supported by Creator for creating integration forms are listed below.

Internal Services

 

ZohoCRM

ZohoRecruit

Zoho Books

Zoho Expense

Zoho Invoice

Zoho Assist

Zoho People

Zoho Projects

Zoho Orchestly

Zoho Calendar

Zoho Sheet

Zoho Backstage

Zoho Campaigns

Zoho Analytics

 

External services

QuickBooks

SalesForce

Expensify

Copper

Salesmate

Streak

Teamwork Desk

Easy Projects

Forecast

Jira Cloud

Redmine

Toggl Track

Chargify

Lucid Meetings

BigCommerce

XING Events

EZOfficeInventory

ActiveCampaign

ActiveTrail

ConvertKit

MailerLite

Moosend

SendinBlue

 

1.2 Use cases

  1. One-way sync - Let's say you've created a Recruitment Management app in Creator. You want all the details submitted by a potential candidate in a form, such as their professional details, resume, and other documents, to be entered in the Candidates module of ZohoRecruit.

    By creating an integration form for the module, the data entered in the form will automatically get synced in the relevant module in Zoho Recruit seamlessly. This allows you to proceed with the hiring process and select the ideal candidate for your company.
  1. Two-way sync - Let's say you've created a Vendor Management app in Creator. You want all the details submitted through the Vendors module of QuickBooks, such as the vendor's open balance, taxes, and expenses, to get populated in the Add Vendors form where they also hold an account.

    By creating an integration form for the module, the records of the module in QuickBooks will be synced automatically in the relevant form effortlessly. Because of the two-way sync, any additional form submission will also get populated in the relevant module. You can then manage the expenses, compare reports, and keep an eye on things efficiently.

1.3 Navigation guide for creation of integration forms

In the Edit mode of the application, when the + button is clicked, the screen shows the different components that can be created in the application. Here, the integration forms are situated as a separate section Using an Integrated Datasource under forms. Check out how you can create integration forms and use their functionality to your business' advantage.

1.4 Prerequisites

To create an integration form, you compulsorily need a:
  1. Connection - A gateway that authorizes the flow of data between Creator and other internal/external services.
  2. Datasource - Allows you to select the module from another service whose data that can be managed, in Creator.
Notes
Note:
  1. In C5, a datasource can be added to support the creation of integration forms. There is no option to edit or manage these datasources.
  2. In C6, the newly added datasources can also be edited and managed from the Microservices page.

1.5 Customize the appearance of integration form

The integration form can be structured and customized according to your business needs. You can set a theme for your application including your integration form, set a specific icon for it, and decide the alignment of your fields and input boxes in the live mode of the application.

  Icon

Icon Name
Description
Setting a theme for your application applies the chosen theme to all the components of your application including your integration form. This includes choosing a layout, setting a color, choosing a font, and more.
Manage the sections of your integration forms, set icons that make them look distinct, and much more.
For browser:


For phone/tablet:
Label Placement
This defines the alignment of field names (or labels), as well as whether they appear next to or above the field input areas. You can choose a suitable layout for your browser, phone, and tablet.

2. Points to note

  1. Integration forms support only form workflows; other workflows, such as payment workflowsblueprints, etc. are not supported currently.
  2. Only one integration form can be created per module of the service in an application.
  3. The Role hierarchy and data sharing rules will not be applicable for the integrations forms.
  4. Any custom user-defined options in the picklist of the target service's module will not appear for selection in the corresponding field on the integration form.
  5. Since the fields in an integration form are predefined, their field link name and field type cannot be altered.
  6. The digit and character limits for the text and number type fields are preset, and cannot be changed.
  7. For Salesforce, QuickBooks, ZohoCRM, ZohoRecruit, Zoho Projects, Zoho BugTracker, and Zoho People, a list report is created by default.
    1. The report type cannot be changed and no new report can be created.
    2. The default list report can be deleted.
  8. For services other than Salesforce, QuickBooks, ZohoCRM, ZohoRecruit, Zoho Projects, Zoho BugTracker, and Zoho People, no reports are created.
  9. Integration report records cannot be deleted in Creator. However, when a record in the module of the integrated service is deleted, it also gets deleted automatically from the integration form's report in Creator.
  10. Integration forms can be created for custom modules in Zoho CRM V2 & Zoho People only.
  11. Custom fields of the selected module in the integrated service are listed in the field palette of Creator’s form builder only for services that support custom fields which includes Zoho Sheets, Zoho People, Zoho Invoice, Zoho Inventory, Zoho Expense, Zoho CRM v2 (Beta), Zoho Campaigns, Zoho Books, Zoho Analytics, Wrike, Jira Cloud, Forecast, and BigMailer.
  1. Create an integration form
  2. Understand form builder for Integration Forms
  3. Understand connections
  4. Manage datasources

What's next?
Previous
What's next?
Learn how to use the form builder and the steps to create an integration form for your applications. 
Previous
Before understanding integration forms, it's essential to learn about forms.