Connections

Connections

What are Connections?

Connections serve as a bridge to authenticate and integrate with external services. You can consider connection as a way that allows you to link forms in your Zoho Forms account with a third-party service.
Zoho Forms provides a range of pre-built integrations with popular services like Zoho CRM, Salesforce, Google Sheets, Outlook calendar and more. If the desired service is not available, you can create custom connections on your own and connect to the desired services using webhooks integration.
Notes
Note:
  1. You can create more than one connection with the same service.
  2. Connections is supported only in our paid plans.

Enabling Connection for Zoho Forms Org

The Super Admin of your Zoho Forms organization has to initialize a connection. To do this,
  1. Login into your Zoho Forms account as the Super Admin.
  2. On the forms listing page, in the left pane under Setup, click Control Panel.
    Navigate to Control Panel
  3. Click Connections under Developer Space.

  4. Click Connect.
    Connections Page

Services

Services are the connectors using which you can create your connections. The following are the types of services:
  1. Default Services: 
    These are pre-configured services. You can easily create a connection using default services and authenticate it using your credentials. 
    Default Services
  2. Custom Services: If your required service is not available in the default services list, you can configure it on your own.

Configuring Custom Services

To create a custom service,
  1. Click Create Service under Custom Services and provide the following information:
    • Service Name: This is the display name of the service that you want to create. Display name can contain up to 50 characters.
    • Service Link Name: Link name of the service to help you to uniquely identify your custom service.

      Note:  The link name that you provide must satisfy the following conditions:
      • It must begin with a lower case letter.
      • It can contain lower case letters, numbers, and underscores (_).
      • It can contain up to 50 characters.
    • Authentication Type: Choose from the following authentication types based on the desired service's API documentation:
      Type Description Fields
      API Key This auth type requires you to specify the params for establishing a connection with the desired service. In the next step, you will have to supply values for these params to perform the integration. For example, if you specify authtoken as param, the next step would be to provide your account's auth token to establish a successful connection.

      On choosing API Key as authentication type, you need to provide values to the following fields:

      • Actual Parameter:  Name of the key (as specified in the API documentation of the desired service) against which the parameter needs to be sent 
      • Parameter Display Name:  Display name for the parameter. This name will be prompted when you authenticate a connection.
      • Param Type:   This decides how the authentication parameters will be sent along with the URLs specified in the invoke URL scripts. Supported param types: Query string, Form Data, and Header
      Note:
      • You can add as many parameters as required.
      • Parameter could be any type of key that is required for authentication. Example: api-key, user-key, authtoken, apitoken, etc.
      Basic This auth type requires you to specify the username and password in the next step. The provided username and password will be automatically encrypted with base64 algorithm and passed as header in the format:  basic <encrypted_username>:<encrypted_password>. N/A
      OAuth 1 This auth type requires you to specify the required parameters to perform an OAuth 1 authentication.

      On choosing OAuth 1 as authentication Type, you need to provide values to the following fields:

      • Consumer Key:  Consumer key that is issued by the service provider
      • Consumer Secret:  Your consumer secret to authorize your application
      • Request Token URL:  URL to fetch the request token as specified in the API documentation of the desired service
      • Authorize URL:  Authorize URL as specified in the API documentation of the desired service
      • Access Token URL:  URL to fetch the access token as specified in the API documentation of the desired service
      • Param Type:  This decides how the authentication parameters will be sent along with the URLs specified in the invoke URL scripts. Supported param types: Query string, Form Data, and Header
      OAuth 2 This auth type requires you to specify the required parameters to perform an OAuth 2 authentication.

      On choosing OAuth 2 as authentication Type, you need to provide values to the following fields:

      • Grant type:  Grant type that the desired service uses to perform authorization. You can choose from the supported grant types: Authorization code and client credentials
      • Client Id:  Client ID that is issued by the service provider
      • Client Secret:  Your client secret to authorize your application
      • Authorize URL:  Authorize URL as specified in the API documentation of the desired service
      • Access Token URL:  URL to fetch the access token as specified in the API documentation of the desired service
      • Refresh Token URL:  URL to fetch the request token as specified in the API documentation of the desired service
      • Param Type:  This decides how the authentication parameters will be sent along with the URLs specified in the invoke URL scripts. Supported param types: Query string, and Header.
    • Scope (applicable only to OAuth 2 auth type): Scopes required to perform integration as specified in the desired service's API documentation.
    • Scope Delimiter (applicable only to OAuth 2 auth type): Delimiter with which the desired service API expects the scopes to be separated.

      Notes
      Note:
      • You can select from the supported delimiters: comma, space, and plus. If not specified, comma is assumed as default delimiter.
      • You can choose delimiters only if you provide more than one scope.
2. Click Create Service after providing the necessary details.

Creating a Connection

  • Go to My Connections tab and click Create Connection .
  • Pick the desired service.
  • Then provide the connection and other required details:
    • Connection Name: Display name of your connection
    • Connection Link Name: Link names must be unique and can be used in Deluge integration tasks and invoke URL scripts to establish authentication.

      Notes
      The link name that you provide must satisfy the following conditions:
      • It must begin with a lower case letter.
      • It can contain lower case letters, numbers, and underscores (_).
      • It can contain upto 50 characters.
  • Click Create and Connect .

    Connecting with a Service

  • User Permissions dialog will pop up, provide your authentication credentials and proceed. 
  • A summary of the connection will be displayed.

    Connection Summary
  • Upon successful authorization, the connection will be created and listed in your connections page.
  • Hover over the connection to editrevoke or delete it.

    Edit, revoke, delete connection

  • Once your connection for a custom service is successfully created, you can use can use it while  configuring a webhook  to  process the data collected through Zoho Forms in your web application.

Editing a custom service

To edit a custom service,

  1. Navigate to Custom Services tab.
  2. Click the edit button corresponding to the custom service.
  3. Make the required changes and click the Update button.

    Edit a custom service
Note:
  • You can only edit the custom services that you have configured.
  • If a custom service is edited, all the existing connections created using the service will be revoked.
The following table lists the editable and non-editable custom service fields:
Authentication type Editable fields Non-editable fields
Basic
  • Service name
  • Authentication type
  • Service link name
API Key
  • Service name
  • Param type
  • New parameters can be added
  • Existing parameters can be edited and deleted
  • Authentication type
  • Service link name
OAuth 1
  • Service name
  • Param type
  • Consumer ID
  • Consumer secret
  • Authorize URL
  • Access token URL
  • Refresh token URL
  • Authentication type
  • Service link name
OAuth 2
  • Service name
  • Param type
  • Client ID
  • Client secret
  • Authorize URL
  • Access token URL
  • Refresh token URL
  • Scopes can be added but cannot be edited or deleted
  • Authentication type
  • Grant type
  • Service link name


        Create. Review. Publish.

        Write, edit, collaborate on, and publish documents to different content management platforms.

        Get Started Now


          Access your files securely from anywhere

            Zoho CRM Training Programs

            Learn how to use the best tools for sales force automation and better customer engagement from Zoho's implementation specialists.

            Zoho CRM Training
              Redefine the way you work
              with Zoho Workplace

                Zoho DataPrep Personalized Demo

                If you'd like a personalized walk-through of our data preparation tool, please request a demo and we'll be happy to show you how to get the best out of Zoho DataPrep.

                Zoho CRM Training

                  Create, share, and deliver

                  beautiful slides from anywhere.

                  Get Started Now


                    Zoho Sign now offers specialized one-on-one training for both administrators and developers.

                    BOOK A SESSION







                                Quick LinksWorkflow AutomationData Collection
                                Web FormsEnterpriseOnline Data Collection Tool
                                Embeddable FormsBankingBegin Data Collection
                                Interactive FormsWorkplaceData Collection App
                                CRM FormsCustomer ServiceAccessible Forms
                                Digital FormsMarketingForms for Small Business
                                HTML FormsEducationForms for Enterprise
                                Contact FormsE-commerceForms for any business
                                Lead Generation FormsHealthcareForms for Startups
                                Wordpress FormsCustomer onboardingForms for Small Business
                                No Code FormsConstructionRSVP tool for holidays
                                Free FormsTravelFeatures for Order Forms
                                Prefill FormsNon-Profit

                                Intake FormsLegal
                                Mobile App
                                Form DesignerHR
                                Mobile Forms
                                Card FormsFoodOffline Forms
                                Assign FormsPhotographyMobile Forms Features
                                Translate FormsReal EstateKiosk in Mobile Forms
                                Electronic Forms
                                Drag & drop form builder

                                Notification Emails for FormsAlternativesSecurity & Compliance
                                Holiday FormsGoogle Forms alternative GDPR
                                Form to PDFJotform alternativeHIPAA Forms
                                Email FormsFormstack alternativeEncrypted Forms

                                Wufoo alternativeSecure Forms

                                TypeformWCAG

                                    All-in-one knowledge management and training platform for your employees and customers.

                                              Create. Review. Publish.

                                              Write, edit, collaborate on, and publish documents to different content management platforms.

                                              Get Started Now




                                                                You are currently viewing the help pages of Qntrl’s earlier version. Click here to view our latest version—Qntrl 3.0's help articles.




                                                                    Manage your brands on social media


                                                                      • Desk Community Learning Series


                                                                      • Digest


                                                                      • Functions


                                                                      • Meetups


                                                                      • Kbase


                                                                      • Resources


                                                                      • Glossary


                                                                      • Desk Marketplace


                                                                      • MVP Corner


                                                                      • Word of the Day


                                                                      • Ask the Experts


                                                                        Zoho Sheet Resources

                                                                         

                                                                            Zoho Forms Resources


                                                                              Secure your business
                                                                              communication with Zoho Mail


                                                                              Mail on the move with
                                                                              Zoho Mail mobile application

                                                                                Stay on top of your schedule
                                                                                at all times


                                                                                Carry your calendar with you
                                                                                Anytime, anywhere




                                                                                      Zoho Sign Resources

                                                                                        Sign, Paperless!

                                                                                        Sign and send business documents on the go!

                                                                                        Get Started Now




                                                                                                Zoho TeamInbox Resources





                                                                                                          Zoho DataPrep Demo

                                                                                                          Get a personalized demo or POC

                                                                                                          REGISTER NOW


                                                                                                            Design. Discuss. Deliver.

                                                                                                            Create visually engaging stories with Zoho Show.

                                                                                                            Get Started Now








                                                                                                                                • Related Articles

                                                                                                                                • Google Maps Connections

                                                                                                                                  Table of Contents Steps to Create a Google Maps connection Setting up a Google API Key Creating an API Key Additional Info: API Key Restrictions To use Google Maps services for Address Auto-fill and Postal/Zip Code Validation, a Google Maps ...
                                                                                                                                • Configuring a Webhook

                                                                                                                                  In simple terms, a webhook is a way for one system or application to send real-time data to another system or application as soon as an event occurs. A webhook is basically a notification that is sent to a destination (URL) when an event occurs. With ...
                                                                                                                                • What is a form builder?

                                                                                                                                  A form builder is a software tool or platform that allows users to create, customize, and manage online forms without the need for advanced programming skills. It provides a user-friendly interface where individuals or businesses can design forms to ...
                                                                                                                                • Zoho Flow

                                                                                                                                  Overview With the Zoho Forms - Zoho Flow integration, you can create actions to trigger automated workflows in your chosen apps on form submission. This integration lets you integrate your form submissions with various tools your business uses, ...
                                                                                                                                • Microsoft Power Automate Integration

                                                                                                                                  Microsoft Power Automate (previously known as Microsoft Flow) is a cloud automation tool that helps users create workflows to automate repetitive tasks. These workflows help users connect different applications and services with the help of ...
                                                                                                                                  Wherever you are is as good as
                                                                                                                                  your workplace

                                                                                                                                    Resources

                                                                                                                                    Videos

                                                                                                                                    Watch comprehensive videos on features and other important topics that will help you master Zoho CRM.



                                                                                                                                    eBooks

                                                                                                                                    Download free eBooks and access a range of topics to get deeper insight on successfully using Zoho CRM.



                                                                                                                                    Webinars

                                                                                                                                    Sign up for our webinars and learn the Zoho CRM basics, from customization to sales force automation and more.



                                                                                                                                    CRM Tips

                                                                                                                                    Make the most of Zoho CRM with these useful tips.



                                                                                                                                      Zoho Show Resources