What is meant by extensions in Zoho People?
An extension is a software add-on that enhances the functionality of your service. You can build extensions using various languages, including HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. Sigma also offers functions for managing server-side operations, enabling you to integrate your service with third-party applications and broaden its capabilities.
Why use extensions in Zoho People?
Extensions help you integrate Zoho People with third-party services. Extensions can be developed for unique requirements that an organization could have. Extensions also enable organizations to share a service by simple installation of an extension instead of having to create a new solution from scratch.
Configuring and Publishing an extension
- Step 1: Getting access to the developer console.
Before building your extension, you need to set up a
Zoho Sigma account:`
For Existing Zoho Users
- Log in to Zoho Sigma using your Zoho credentials to access the Developer Console.
For New Users
- Visit Zoho Sigma and enter your workspace name.
- Fill in the required details and click Create Workspace.
- Check your registered email for a confirmation link. Click the link and follow the instructions to complete your registration.
Once registered, you’ll have access to the Zoho Developer Console and can start creating your first extension.
- Step 2: Analyze your requirements, identify, and formulate a feasible plan and structure of your extension
- Step 3: Create your extension
![](https://help.zoho.com/galleryDocuments/edbsn7a4e45feca6a603ee91d766ef8a6291746225e527cfd1d5e30d13bdbcc11f98e841837b64b7bd6c02c0c8e48042785ba?inline=true)
- Access Zoho Sigma (https://sigma.zoho.com)
- Navigate to the Extensions tab and click on New Extension.
- In the new extension page, specify the extension's name. Once the name is specified, a unique namespace is automatically populated. Once created, the namespace cannot be changed.
- Provide a description for the extension.
- Select Zoho People service.
- Agree to the terms and conditions.
- Click Create.
Now the extension you created will be saved as a draft.
- Step 4: Acess and setup your extension
To access your extension, hover pointer over the extension you created and click on the Edit (pencil) icon. Now make the necessary changes:
- Adding a service: You can use an existing service or create a new one. (Click + Create Service.)
- Adding forms: Use an existing form to add new sections and fields or create a new form from scratch. (Select a service > Extend Service > Edit a form or create new form.)
- Adding workflows and other automated actions: Create workflows to trigger automated actions such as webhooks, mail alerts, checklists, tasks, field updates, and custom functions. (Select a service > Automation)
- You can also create an extension that integrates different third-party applications with Zoho People using Connections.
- To make changes to the extension name and description and add a logo for it, go to Publish > Hover pointer over a extension > click edit (pencil) icon.
![](https://help.zoho.com/galleryDocuments/edbsnfad59c3328da8e6a40e60af7037459e1ca6f2b25a65c16147132d52caa98d24c91a7816840b9085fcff0329a4e18b520?inline=true)
![](https://help.zoho.com/galleryDocuments/edbsna6f8998162a122a9735820f4c8d4c4ed8aebf953b17cbfe9c46d38d28c81d6b6db48da72d0f26ff9525316afe3a615ca?inline=true)
- Finally, click Save, click Publish,
![](https://help.zoho.com/galleryDocuments/edbsnf90811e08eba1447e8827afce8cee9119c2df04060c032d5cecb08d901cc21a87e50e25246f0615ad074917b48efbf44?inline=true)
- Click Publish once more, and you will see that the extension is now published. You can share the extension link available to other admins who can use it to install the extension.
- Use the Share Privately option if you wish to share the extension privately to a specific user's email address.
![](https://help.zoho.com/galleryDocuments/edbsnaf9bb7772cd3015aac09d287ca415fc8edd7c3c8883949c805134474a56c571a2d94f9551d2339f6004099b64f8ba321?inline=true)
- If you access the link, you will see this window. Using the drop-down, select the portal for which you would like to install this extension and click Continue to Install.
![](https://help.zoho.com/galleryDocuments/edbsn478ba7424e509b429cb7534252457e12f5f767fbaabf787de4dc26fef300195c3dd187456ced8878ad5adb0a18238058?inline=true)
- Once installed, you can view details of the installed extension in Settings > Merketplace > Installed tab.
![](https://help.zoho.com/galleryDocuments/edbsn84407a78c00b9b35d4fa7325a1474136345e6e87a7cc8c8574848419662984aaf16cde3fc4ce05030c99a06a4ee6f885?inline=true)
Hosting an extension in marketplace
- Access Sigma. (https://sigma.zoho.com)
- Go to the Extension tab.
- Hover the pointer over an extension and click on Extension Details.
- Go to the Version tab.
![](https://help.zoho.com/galleryDocuments/edbsn2cdb203eaa5d6eb9bd7af8210ad127e1101732baa024485515c000c2ab8f8778bcd761fa51b40fb8159e8afbd55476b4?inline=true)
- Click on Submit to MarketPlace adjacent to the version you wish to submit.
- Enter the company name and click Publish
- Enter your primary details, such as the application category, the URL for your app's privacy policy, and the URL for your terms of agreement.
- Click Next.
- Under Prerequisites, select the supported edition from the drop-down.
- Click Next.
- Upload files for the Extension icon, thumbnail, and screenshots under the Imagery tab.
- Click Next.
- Under the Summary tag, enter the tag line, description, key features, user education links, and help videos.
- Click Next.
- Select if the extension is available globally and whether it is a free or paid version. Fill in the other details related to pricing type, pricing, annual discounts, plan name, and free trial information.
- Click Add Plan to provide more pricing plans.
- Click Submit.
The application will be submitted to the Zoho Marketplace team for validation. Upon successful validation, it will be listed in Zoho Marketplace.