Zoho Developer Community Monthly Digest - October 2023

Zoho Developer Community Monthly Digest - October 2023



Hello everyone!

Welcome to the spooktacular October edition of the Zoho Developer Community Digest. October is a month when technology and cybersecurity awareness take center stage, as it is globally recognized as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. It's a time when developers don their virtual capes, not only to embrace the eerie vibes of Halloween but also to stand guard against ghoulish hackers. We'll be exploring how to stay safe in the digital realm and unveil some exciting updates in the developer world at Zoho. Let's get down to business!

Techtober Highlights

Cybersecurity Awareness Month

With the emergence of a multitude of cyber threats, it's paramount to reinforce the importance of cyber safety and decipher the malicious threats and vulnerabilities. Zoho's dedication to data security and privacy is widely known. To uphold this commitment, Zoho participated in the Cybersecurity Awareness Month campaign. Read through this blog to understand the history of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Zoho's theme this year, and how to leverage tools and practices to improve online security.

Zoho Developer Hangout - Episode 10

In this episode, our community member @Anonymous User, CRM Engineer at Vaspian, offers insights on developing maintainable applications, and imparts a great deal of  knowledge from his experiences in handling errors in Deluge. He goes on to talk about different scenarios where tools like Zoho Catalyst, GCP, AWS, and other serverless functions come in handy, and their effective utilization for different business use cases. 

Zoho QEngine

We're thrilled to introduce a test automation software to run your entire testing lifecycle. Check out what's in store for developers and quality teams as the beta version of Zoho QEngine is now open to public. 

Catalyst 2.0

The all-new Catalyst brings you a host of services that are designed to fuel your ideas and accelerate your app development. From powerful AI/ML tools, to browser automation, to seamless application hosting, there's a solution for your every need. Read more about it here.

Zoho Cliq 5.0

An enterprise-ready and AI-driven solution designed to make your communication smarter and more efficient. Cliq 5.0 is tailored for enterprises with advanced AI features to make work effortless including additional features for smarter meetings, and a revamped developer platform. Check out what's new here.

Upcoming Events

Here are the exciting events lined up for the community in the coming weeks:
  1. Zoho Cliq for Developers 101: In this season's Developers 101 series, we're focusing on Zoho Cliq developer platform. This is a three-part series, curated to provide a comprehensive understanding of the various Cliq Platform components, such as slash commands, bots, widgets, and more. Beyond that, it elucidates specific business problems these features address. For registration and more detailsclick here.

  2. Zoho Developer Hangout 11: In this episode, Zoho MVP @Bhoomi Joshi and her teammate @Ram Adarasupally, are set to share their take on the significance of custom portals, integration of Zoho applications with third-party web portals, and the technology stack involved in the underlying architecture. They will also review the business process of a custom portal in a demo that focuses on banking integrations and custom API. Register here and know more.

  3. Extensions 101 (continued): The first five sessions of this series provided an overview of several key features within the Sigma platform, such as building extensions, authentication mechanisms, authorization methods, and creating widgets. The next two sessions in this series will focus on an authentication mechanism and its relevant authorization approach for integrating Zoho CRM with other applications. Register here to participate in this exciting series.

  4. Creator Tech Connect Series: Creator's tech connect series would comprise of technical sessions that provide immersive training on the key essentials and technical nuances of building a solution in Zoho Creator. This is a great opportunity for our developer community to stay informed about Creator's new feature releases, product roadmap, best practices to follow while scripting in deluge, new deluge concepts, and cloud functions. Click here for more information. 

    Date: November 16th, 2023

    Topic: Catchup and Release Updates in Zoho Creator

    APAC & ANZ: 11 AM to 12 PM IST - Registration Link

    Americas & EMEA: 9 PM to 10 PM IST - Registration Link


  5. Creator Learning Table Series: This series is designed to provide users with valuable insights and knowledge about Creator's capabilities in various business use cases and applications. This year we've adopted the "12 Months, 12 Industries" concept. Each month, we will focus on a specific industry, illustrating its unique processes with real-time business scenarios and how to make best use of Creator for that industry.

    Date: November 9th, 2023

    Topic: Learning Table Series: Creator For Hospitality

    APAC & ANZ: 11 AM to 12 PM IST - Registration Link

    Americas & EMEA: 9 PM to 10 PM IST - Registration Link

Community Discussions

Zoho Developer Forum

Developers ZUG Cliq Channel

Note: These conversations are confined to the Developers ZUG Cliq channel members. If you're keen on becoming a part of this space, please fill in this onboarding form to receive your invitation to join the channel.
  • Following the Zoho Developer Hangout - Episode 9, @Anonymous User shared an article that explains how to send JSON parameters from Client Script to a Deluge function when using ZDK.Apps.CRM.Functions.execute(). Get access to the well-regarded article here.
  • When @Anonymous User encountered difficulties updating an integration field in Zoho Projects using API (Deluge scripts)Tasha Willows-Staples stepped in and pointed him in the right direction in this conversation.
  • Take a look at the suggestions given by @Anonymous User, @Anonymous User, and @Anonymous User when Anthony wanted to trigger a notification in Zoho CRM when the current owner changes from a specific set of owners.
  • @Anonymous User was experiencing issues with Zoho CRM Client Script's "setValue" function on the Detail Page, and @Anonymous User provided a helpful workaround, which you can find in this conversation
  • Looking for a way to add alerts when users click the cancel or submit buttons in Zoho Creator and understand how to call these buttons in Deluge? Find the solution in this conversation.
  • @Anonymous User thoughtfully curated a repository of support email addresses for various products that would prove beneficial to the community. Click here to access the sheet.
  • Wondering what's the best approach to setup sales territories based on Zip Codes? You're in good company! When Brian reached out for advice, Jessica provided a starting point.
Resource Spotlight

We've consolidated all the resources from the developer community learning series into a centralized hub for your convenient access. Consider bookmarking the Zoho Developer Community website to stay informed about the latest updates in the developer community.
  • Zoho CRM Developer Updates:
    • Record Locking APIs were released in versions 3, 4, and 5, that allow you to lock, unlock records, view and edit locking information of locked records.
    • Upgraded the PHP SDK supporting v5 APIs to version 3.0.0.
    • Upgraded the Java SDK supporting v5 APIs to version 4.0.0.
    • Upgraded the NodeJS SDK supporting v5 APIs to version 3.0.0.
    • Released the Python SDK supporting v5 APIs, with support for new APIs.

Community Spotlight

ZDH Speakers

The contributions of our ZDH presenters have been instrumental in the success of the this segment. We extend our heartfelt appreciation for their efforts.

As a continuation of featuring a ZDH presenter each month, this time, we would like to introduce our third ZDH presenter, Christopher Mowers. Explore this post to discover the knowledge and insights he shared with the community.

Cliq Channel Contributors

The Developers ZUG Cliq channel has consistently served as the primary hub for community members seeking technical assistance and engaging in savvy discussions. Here are our top contributors who have gone the extra mile to support and assist the Zoho Developer Community:



We want to express our sincere appreciation to all our community contributors. Your commitment, expertise, and the time you invest are invaluable to the community. 


For those who are new to the Zoho Developer Community, check out this post to get started. 


We appreciate you dedicating your time to peruse this month's digest. Make sure to follow the digest each month for the most recent insights and conversations. Stay connected and participate in the forums to be featured in the upcoming month's digest. Wishing you a fantastic month ahead!


Happy coding!


SEE ALSO

      • Recent Topics

      • Tip #48- Power Your AI Workflows with Zoho Assist on Zapier’s MCP- 'Insider Insights'

        We’re thrilled to announce that Zoho Assist is now part of Zapier’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), bringing remote support automation right into your AI ecosystem. What is MCP? The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is Zapier’s new framework designed to connect
      • Insert Cookie Policy in Zoho Sites

        Hello, i need to insert a banner on my site because i'm in Italy so i have to respect EU laws for Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy. I see that i need to insert a code in <head> section of my site to show a banner/popup with cookie info. How i can do this? Thank you Luca
      • Nimble enhancements to WhatsApp for Business integration in Zoho CRM: Enjoy context and clarity in business messaging

        Dear Customers, We hope you're well! WhatsApp for business is a renowned business messaging platform that takes your business closer to your customers; it gives your business the power of personalized outreach. Using the WhatsApp for Business integration
      • Marketing Tip #1: Optimize item titles for SEO

        Your item title is the first thing both Google and shoppers notice. Instead of a generic “Leather Bag,” go for something detailed like “Handcrafted Leather Laptop Bag – Durable & Stylish.” This helps your items rank better in search results and instantly
      • Customer Parent Account or Sub-Customer Account

        Some of clients as they have 50 to 300 branches, they required separate account statement with outlet name and number; which means we have to open new account for each branch individually. However, the main issue is that, when they make a payment, they
      • Forced Logouts - Daily and More Frequent

        In the last month or so, I've been getting "power logged out" of all of my Zoho apps at least daily, sometimes more frequently. This happens in the same browser session on the same computer, and I need to re-login to each app separately after this happens.
      • Paste issues in ZOHO crm notes

        Hi, since a week or so I have issues with the paste function in ZOHO CRM. I use "notes" to copy paste texts from Outlook emails and since a week or so, the pasting doesnt function as it should: some text just disappears and it gives a lot of empty lines/enters.....
      • ENTER key triggering Submit

        Is it possible to stopped the ENTER key from the mandatory triggering of the Submit button on Creator form? I want forms submitted "ONLY" when the Submit button is pressed. 
      • Is it possible to assign Client user to external task ON PROJECTS' TEMPLATES?

        Is it possible to assign Client user to external task ON TEMPLATES PROJECTS?
      • What happens when someone clicks 'unsubscribe' in a zoho CRM email

        Hello, As per, i am going round in circles trying to find an answer to these 2 question. I have an email template that has an unsubscribe link in the footer in zoho CRM. First, what happens when someone clicks it - where does the contact get unsubscribed
      • Draft & Schedule Emails Directly in Bigin

        Greetings, I hope all of you are doing well. We're happy to announce a few recent enhancements we've made to email in Bigin. We'll go over each one in detail, but here's a quick overview: Previously, you couldn't draft or schedule emails in Bigin, but
      • Cannot Invert Axis for Rankings

        Hi there I want to be able to create a ranking graph in Analytics/BI, with 1 at the top of the Y axis, but I am unable to invert the axis. Super simple example in Excel below. Higher rankings need to be higher up on the graph to give the correct visual
      • Zoho CRM Workflow and Function Backup Options

        Hi everyone! I have been able to make several backups of my CRM data and noticed that the Workflows and Functions are not included in these backups. To my knowledge, there is no backup feature for workflows and functions, which is problematic in of itself.
      • Cliq iOS can't see shared screen

        Hello, I had this morning a video call with a colleague. She is using Cliq Desktop MacOS and wanted to share her screen with me. I'm on iPad. I noticed, while she shared her screen, I could only see her video, but not the shared screen... Does Cliq iOS is able to display shared screen, or is it somewhere else to be found ? Regards
      • Cliq does not sync messages after Sleep on Mac

        I'm using the mac app of Cliq. When I open my mac after it was in sleep mode, Cliq does not sync the messages that I received. I always have to reload using cmd + R, which is not what I want when using a chat application.
      • Free Webinar : Unlock AI driven business insights with Zoho Inventory + Zoho Analytics

        Are you tired of switching between apps and exporting data to build customized reports? Say hello to smarter & streamlined insights! Join us for this exclusive webinar where we explore the power of the Zoho Inventory–Zoho Analytics integration. Learn
      • PO receive quantities

        At last, Zoho has finally got around to allowing us to receive a larger qty than recorded in the PO :-) Saves us all from editing the PO's before receiving larger quantities ( usual for us ) ! It's still in "beta" but available upon request, I've tested
      • Link to images

        I have added images in pages. I would like to link those images with linked in URL so that they open in new window. There is an option of image -> link but I am not able to use the same to open URL in new window. Please check the attached image. Can you
      • Canvas View - Print

        What is the best way to accomplish a print to PDF of the canvas view?
      • What's New in Zoho Analytics - October 2025

        Hello Users! We're are back with a fresh set of updates and enhancements to make data analysis faster and more insightful. Take a quick look at what’s new and see how these updates can power up your reports and dashboards. Explore What's New! Extreme
      • Respond faster and smarter with Zia in your IM Inbox

        You’re in the middle of a busy chat queue. New messages keep popping up. One customer sounds upset. Another is asking a long list of questions. You need context. You need speed. You need help. That’s exactly when Zia Insghts jumps into action. It shows
      • Meeting impossible to use when sharing screen

        he Meeting tool in Brazil is practically unusable when sharing anything, whether it’s a presentation or simple navigation. When accessed via Cliq, the situation gets even worse: even basic calls fail to work properly, constantly freezing. And as you are
      • Let's Talk Recruit: Meet Zia, your all-in-one AI assistant (Part-2)

        Welcome back to Let’s Talk Recruit series. In Part 1, we introduced Zia and how AI is reshaping the way recruiters work. This time, we’re taking a closer look at how far Zia has come and how each update continues to simplify your everyday tasks. When
      • WARNING : Smart list automatically unsubscribes your contacts.

        I created a smart list of my team members based on the criterion that their email domain was @_____. The list refreshed as expected — but it ended up unsubscribing almost all members of my team. I contacted support, but it took two months to get a reply,
      • Export Purchase orders as Excel

        Is it possible to export purchase orders as excel rather than PDF? Our suppliers don't want orders made in PDF, they need it to be excel
      • 5名限定 課題解決型ワークショップイベント Zoho ワークアウト開催のお知らせ (10/31)

        ユーザーの皆さま、こんにちは。Zoho ユーザーコミュニティチームの中野です。 10月開催のZoho ワークアウトについてお知らせします。 今回はZoomにて、オンライン開催します。 参加登録はこちら(無料):https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/BGYTysOnSqa9LA9eY2IKww ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Zoho ワークアウトとは? Zoho ユーザー同士で交流しながら、サービスに関する疑問や不明点の解消を目的とした
      • Subforms in Stateless Forms

        Stateless Forms are very useful, but we can't build complex data entry pages without Subforms. Can this be implemented? This would make Stateless Forms truly powerful.
      • Custom Function not getting package details when triggered from Workflow Rules.

        I have a custom function for Packages that submits a form in our Creator app that we use to generate custom shipping labels (internal staff complete deliveries so we cannot generate shipping labels straight from Inventory). When the function is executed
      • Billing Preferences per Account

        Hello, We are trying to setup Billing Preferences in Zoho Desk to set up a different pricing per account. We charge different pricing per hour per customer/account. Account A = 100 per hour Account B = 125 per hour In the Billing Preferences in Time Entry
      • Time entry preview for custom time entry templates.

        Our company needed time entries in a specific format to document our client interactions. Since we are using a custom time entry layout, we have lost the "preview" on the time entry tab. Using the default time entry layout, you get a small preview of
      • Set to Review for all

        We are testing the use of Writer as part of an internal review process for statement of work documents and have found that when the document is changed from Compose to Review by one person, that is not reflected for all others who view the document. Is
      • Implementing a Self-Invoicing/Vendor Portal in Zoho Creator

        Hello Zoho Community / Creator Experts, We would like to build a Self-Invoicing Portal (Vendor Portal) in Zoho Creator for our external contractors. Our goal is to allow approved contractors to log in, submit their invoice details (hours worked, project
      • Blocked Email

        We are a Zoho One subscriber and use Yahoo as our MX provider. A few times each year, for the past four years, CRM blocks one or more of my Zoho One users from receiving internal email from CRM. This includes "@mentions" in all modules, and emails from
      • Able to change project on timelog entries

        Ability to move the timesheet entry from one project to another. When a user adds a wrong entry a manager can change/update the timesheet entry to the correct project.
      • What formula to use in computing total hrs and decimal hrss

        So , my data includes log im column , 2 breaks with 2 columns that says back and lunch and 1 column that says back and logged out. What formula should i use to be able to automatically have my total hours as I input time in each column? Thankyou
      • i cannot use <b></b> to bold the message in Creator C6!!!!???What?

        Dear experts and friends, Now Creator 6 blocking us from using <b></b> Anyone facing this issue? I faced it on Creator C6 Previously, it used to work. Now failed to work. Faint~ Seek guidance from everyone on how to bold the message. The super simple
      • Knowledge base: The nitty-gritty of SEO tags

        A well-optimized knowledge base with great SEO can benefit your company by allowing customers to find help articles and support resources using search engines. This enables customers to quickly and efficiently find the information they need without direct
      • Introducing swipe actions in the Zoho CRM Android app

        Hello everyone, How much time do you spend each day on your list view? Probably quite a lot. Since it's such an important part of your work, wouldn't it be easier if you could take action directly from your list view instead of opening each record one
      • Content Security Policy

        Is there a place in ZOHO CRM to add a Content Security Policy to allow for a call to a google.com map, from inside our current app? Or, how do I resolve the issue below?? jquery.js:1 Refused to load the script 'https://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?v=3.41&libraries=places&sensor=true&key=AIzaSyAyQzKeKSbLci4LwZhn9oXvtCkbUo1Ae4g&callback=map_loader'
      • Option to select location?

        As a business coach, I meet with clients at various public locations. I have two or three pre-determined locations that I meet at. I would like the client to choose the location when booking an appointment. Is there a way to do that with a single service, or is the best way to accomplish this by creating one service for each location offered?
      • Next Page