Phone Number Format Change - Bulk Add Country Code and Remove Dashes

Phone Number Format Change - Bulk Add Country Code and Remove Dashes

In the past I would create a new customer in my Zoho Books, and enter their phone number in the format customary for the USA (that's where we are domiciled):
Areacode-Prefix-Number
234-456-6789
This scheme is important as many other software packages understand data formatted like that as a phone number.
+1 country code is hardly ever used in the US (unless you are doing business across the globe).

Some time ago, ZOHO has changed the input format for phone numbers (to address international customers, I guess) to:
+CountrycodeAreacodePrefixNumber
+12344566789

So, for US customers that's rather unusual (as we hardly ever specify "+1" country code, and dashes "-" are customarily added)

So this new scheme comes with some drawbacks.  Below is a screen grab to illustrate.


I have hundreds of contacts that use the old format.  Sending messages to those numbers worked for years.

Do I need to update them all by hand one-by-one?

Couldn't Zoho just write a script and automatically "fix" phone numbers to US-located contacts on the back end?

Is there a write-up on how to automate this process?

Also, I find it hard to believe that your web coders cannot program the client contact form (for US customers) to instantly change the customary syntax of 234-456-6789 to what your database is expecting +12344566789 while the numbers are entered into that field.
That's as basic as it gets and great many sites do that automatically.

So to summarize:
1. Can you code the contact form to convert US customary phone number format to what you want us to enter?
2. Can you provide an automated way of converting old US phone numbers (by adding "+1" and removing "-" dashes)?
3. Can you at least do a write-up how to automate this conversion process?

      • Recent Topics

      • Zoho creator dropdown option update using deluge

        Hi how can i add options in dropdown rather than updating manually

      • Add an Iterator Module to Zoho Flow

        Hi Zoho Team, I hope you're doing well. We would like to request a new feature in Zoho Flow: an Iterator module. An iterator is a special type of module that converts an array into a series of bundles, outputting each array item as a separate bundle.

      • Restrict form submissions based on records of another form

        Hi, is there a way to restrict submission of one form based on records of another form in creator? For example, there are two forms: one to collect user registration details, and one for a registered user to submit information. If there is not a record

      • Client Script | Update - Introducing Subform Events and Actions

        Are you making the most of your subforms in Zoho CRM? Do you wish you could automate subform interactions and enhance user experience effortlessly? What if you had Client APIs and events specifically designed for subforms? We are thrilled to introduce

      • Canvas Email iMap

        Hi, I want to be able to have this option (seen below) in our custom Canvas design I'm building. But I don't see that option. Being able to see all related emails is important for us. But in our Canvas, it doesn't seem to have any option....

      • Search Mail with URL parameters

        Is it possible to search Zoho Mail by passing URL params like we can in Gmail? eg. mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/from:(jane@doe.com)

      • Renaming organization does not reflect on all places like billing and others

        I have renamed the organization name to Novizna from Evnesoft but in billing and email it still displays Evnesoft

      • Changing Data on Cancelled /Paused Subscriptions

        What's a good way to edit a cancelled subscription without reactivating it? There are some custom fields and data that we'd like to add to these but when we edit it, it reactivates it and creates an invoice. Also need to be able to do this for paused

      • Forwarding email into Desk - DMARC errors

        Hi, Our email domain is hosted through Exchange Online (Office 365). Customers email support@ourdomain.xyz which is delivered to Exchange. Exchange rewrites the TO email header to the email address associated with our Zoho Desk (support@ourdomain.zoho.xyz).

      • ASAP Chrome Extension not loading

        We have ASAP enabled in Zoho Desk. I installed the ASAP Chrome Extension (Windows 10), but when I click the extension button while on our site, it never fully loads. I just get what's shown below.

      • Why is the Zoho portal not mobile friendly?

        I just got started with the portal and im sort of shocked how it looks. I already filled a hint/complaint about this. On the website you see a wonderful site with a modern design. Yet in real life its a mid 2000 look and feel. One major issue i see thats

      • Unable to access Zoho Help Community on my main browser

        Hi, I have been unable to access https://help.zoho.com on my chrome browser for a while now. Initially I thought it was a glitch from Zoho, but when I accessed from incognito mode, I was able to access it. I have cleared cache - cookies, but still access

      • Controlling Lookup Paths

        When building pivot tables, Zoho automatically selects 'lookup paths' for you based on which columns are configured. Sometimes, I want zoho to not use a look-up at all between two tables.... but that doesn't seem to be an option, as long as any relationships

      • Can you sell Subscriptions using Zoho Commerce?

        In addition to physical products and the apparently coming soon 'Digital Products', it is possible to sell Subscriptions using Zoho Commerce?

      • Does 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 you

      • Zoho Subscriptions -- Zoho Commerce integration

        Is there integration between Zoho Subscriptions and Zoho Commerce? I would like to create subscription plans in Zoho Subscritpions and list them for on my Zoho Commerce store.

      • Free Webinar Alert! Building Your Brand: Solopreneur Tips to Use Zoho Mail

        Hello Zoho Mail Community! We’re excited to invite you to an exclusive session: "Building Your Brand: Solopreneur Tips to Use Zoho Mail." In this webinar, we’ll explore how Zoho Mail helps solopreneurs create a professional brand with custom email domains,

      • Tip 24: How to generate a file preview in a report without downloading it.

        Hi folks, This month we will teach you how to preview a report file before sending it to someone or sending it for approval. While viewing reports in Zoho Creator, users cannot access or preview files uploaded through the File Upload field without downloading them.    In this tip, we'll show you a way to do this. Key concept: The best way to achieve this function is to preview the uploaded file's content using the Add Note field in a stateless form (pop-up window) based on the record ID.   Use case:

      • Zoho Books CREDIT LIMIT is completely USELESS due to a BUG!!! Please fix it ASAP!!

        Credit Limit should not be taken into account if payment terms on the Invoice are without credit. If selected Credit 0 days (Prepayment) why in this world would a notification pop up saying credit limit is exceeded and not allowing to create an invoice?

      • Add additional field to quick search results

        IN the advanced search, we can add any field to the columns. In the regular search results (before you press enter, there is no option to modify the results. It would be super useful to include a custom field where it currently displays the pipleine

      • Zoho CRM API, Python SDK v7 Quoted_Items

        Hello. How do I use this SDK to retrieve the Quoted_Items from a Quote and downstream the items in a Sales Order I can see references to a constant INVENTORY_MODULES_ITEMS = ["invoiced_items", "quoted_items", "purchase_items", "ordered_items"] But I cannot

      • Continue after error for each loop on invoke url

        Hello. I'm trying to upload files to workdrive using invokeurl. It goes through a list of urls using for each. Sometimes the file is larger than 5mb. The whole workflow stops in that event. I'd love a work around to upload larger files, but I don't think

      • Modify the default layout of how task fields are ordered in Project View

        Hi all, I am trying to change the order the columns on project List view when a project is created initially. See image below. Currently, when a project is created, a predefined collumns are created and also its orders. I am aware that I can "hide", and

      • Inserted Records not showing in Kanban view

        When insert a new record into a report from a workflow, it doesnt show in KANBAN view. When i view the report in a regular list view, the records are there. If i edit the record (while in list view) and then update it at all (even if i dont change anything,

      • Enhanced Column Customization in Zoho CRM Email Templates

        Dear Zoho CRM Team, I'm trying to create a footer in the Zoho CRM email template based on a specific design, but I’ve encountered limitations with the current WYSIWYG editor. Currently, the editor only allows adding preselected column structures with

      • Connector working as expected but not when called from an extension

        I am playing around with building a Zoho CRM extension and seeing if anyone has some insight on the below issue I am facing. When I execute the Connector API it works as expected returning me the download URL for a merged document that has merged successfully.

      • Zoho Flow Doesn't Detect Desk Custom Field Change

        I have a Flow that is configured to be triggered when a custom field on a ticket changes. I also have a Schedule in Desk that runs a script that changes the custom field. When I change the custom field manually in the Desk interface, the Flow runs as

      • CRM

        I have a portal set up where a contact can see other contacts within an account automatically. When a contact in the portal enters a deal, how do I make sure that deal is assigned to the account so other contacts in the account can see the deal was generated?

      • Page - Gauge - Target Values

        Is there a way to make the Target and Maximum values say a formula or query?  For example, total sales for the month = 109 and I want to make my gauge today's percentage.

      • Instantly refine your CRM dashboard using Filters and download underlying data – all in a few clicks!

        Hello everyone, Imagine you’re a sales manager overseeing multiple product lines across different regions. You're viewing your sales dashboard in Zoho CRM, which gives a powerful overview, but you often need to drill down to see how a specific product

      • Understanding "Deposit from Other Accounts" vs. "Sales Without Invoices"

        Hello, Zoho team! I am a new Zoho Books user trying to correctly input some historical financial data. I'm hoping you can help me understand best practices for when to use "Deposit from Other Accounts" vs. "Sales Without Invoices." I'm an author who receives

      • Unified WhatsApp Number Management in Zoho Desk and SalesIQ

        Dear Zoho Desk Support Team, We are currently utilizing both Zoho Desk and Zoho SalesIQ for our customer support operations. While both platforms offer WhatsApp integration, we are facing challenges due to the requirement of separate WhatsApp numbers

      • Pin multiple columns and adjust column widths in CRM subforms

        Hello all, Subforms act as secondary forms or tables in which you can associate multiple line items to a primary record and thereby ensure more structured and comprehensive data organization. We've made some recent enhancements to subforms. Here's what's

      • Can't create Workflow for Module 'Service Appointments'

        Hey everyone. I am trying to create a workflow from FSM to Desk. When I start the creation process I select the Module (Service Appointments) and then title it and hit next and it just sits there. Now If I select a different module it works fine. Have

      • Add multiple users to a task

        When I´m assigning a task it is almost always related to more than one person. Practical situation: When a client request some improvement the related department opens the task with the situation and people related to it as the client itself, the salesman

      • I can not receive emails.

        MY MAIL BOX DOSE NOT REISIVE ANY MAILS

      • How to Export Filtered List of Contacts?

        This seems like it should be simple, but I'm stymied. I'm trying to export a filtered list of my Contacts for analysis in a spreadsheet. The use case is that I'm an ecom business based in the US. The bulk of our customers are individuals stored as Contacts.

      • Feature request - pin or flag note

        Hi, It would be great if you could either pin or flag one or more notes so that they remain visible when there are a bunch of notes and some get hidden in the list. Sometimes you are looking for a particular name that gets lost in a bunch of less important

      • Merge Join PDFs Zoho Creator

        Hi all, I have a field where users upload PDF, is it possible to join those pdfs into one with a function or something? Regards.

      • ERROR CODE :554 (certain recipients are bouncing my emails)

        I had set up my SPF, DKIM, and DMARC properly as far as I know, and they look proper according to mxtools and some other online checking tools. My mail does go through to gmails (although still was in spam at first), but certain domains bounced me. I'd

      • Next Page