Building extensions #3: Fundamental features of a Zoho Books extension

Building extensions #3: Fundamental features of a Zoho Books extension

In our earlier posts, we covered how to create, test, and publish an extension for Zoho Finance suite applications. Moving forward, we'll look specifically at instances relating to one of the products from the Zoho Finance suite: Zoho Books.
In this post, we'll explore the key features listed below that are available in the Zoho Books extension developer portal.
  1. Automation and customization
  2. Seamless integration
  3. Widgets
  4. Event-based data transfer and notifications
  5. Extension configuration

Automation and customization

These are defined sets of rules that automatically execute operations and customize standards for tailoring modules and fields.

Achieving it in Zoho Books

The Zoho Books extension developer portal provides a variety of automation features, including workflows (rules, actions, and triggers), custom actions, and schedules. There are also customization features, like creating custom modules and fields, adding buttons, and including related lists for both standard and custom modules.

Example use case

Automate emails to customers in various organizations based on their accounts receivable (A/R), so that different emails are sent indicating different actions that will be taken against them based on the total value of credit payments they owe.

By using an extension, you can easily add a new custom field for accounts receivable and specify workflow rules to send an email based on the value.


Widgets

A widget is a user interface that displays data to the end-user in order to facilitate their understanding or collects input data from them in order to perform additional operations.

Achieving it in Zoho Books

The developer portal's widget feature helps create a user interface or run a client-side script. You can easily design and develop user interfaces with any web development framework; these widgets could gather user input, if required, and, based on those inputs, perform logical operations.

Example use case

Issue a mortgage lien release (certificate of release) to a borrower who has paid off their mortgage completely. This certificate indicates that the lien on the borrower's property has been released and they have regained title ownership. In this situation, a customized widget can be developed to collect personalized inputs, such as the issuing bank's (lender's) information and a customized message to be sent to the borrower, before sending the certificate out.


Seamless integration

A seamless integration or tightly coupled integration to establishes a connection between applications for data transfer and synchronization.

Achieving it in Zoho Books

The Connections feature in the Zoho Books extension developer portal can be used to achieve seamless integrations.

You can establish connections between Zoho Books and other apps by:
➤ Using the default, ready-to-use connections offered in the Zoho Books extension developer portal
➤ Creating customized connections for the applications you want to integrate with Zoho Books
Example use case

You can sync data between Zoho Books and Shopify, running your business more efficiently by completing activities from a single app and reducing manual data entry.

This data sync can be achieved by establishing a connection between these apps using the Connections feature. This enables seamless collaboration between sales and finance operations; sales contacts can be added as Zoho Books customers, and invoices issued in Zoho Books can be instantly logged and synced in Shopify.


Event-based data transfer and notifications

These are real-time notifications or actions that are triggered and executed in response to the occurrence of a real-time event.

Achieving it in Zoho Books

Webhooks and signals on the developer portal facilitate real-time data updates and notifications in Zoho Books.
The webhooks feature enhances the connection between two applications. It allows you to capture the occurrence of an event and collect and post the real-time data as an update to another application.

The Zoho Books extension developer portal provides support for both incoming and outgoing webhooks, allowing real-time data updates to Zoho Books from another application and vice versa.

The signals feature allows you to receive real-time notifications.

Example use case

A finance meeting is planned and organized using an event management app, and future potential clients are gathered from the meeting. If the follow-up is successful and a client would like an event organized, it's scheduled for them.

In this case, webhooks capture the occurrence of the event being created, collect the event-related data, update it in Zoho Books, and generate an invoice for the event. Signals can be used to display real-time notifications when new customers are added to Zoho Books.

Learn more about webhooks and signals.

Extension configuration

Manage extension configuration by allowing users to provide their preferences or user-specific data and perform actions when extensions are installed or uninstalled.

Achieving it in Zoho Books

Global fields and installation actions help achieve extension setup and execute installation-related scripts.
  • You can either create global fields to collect input from users or design widgets (with global fields, if necessary), allowing users to provide inputs and choices to configure and use the extension.
  • Perform custom actions during the extension's installation and uninstallation.
Example use case

You can sync and manage Zoho Books projects with Trello, a project management platform, to create customized task views and visually manage tasks.

This is easy to accomplish with global fields and installation actions. Since Trello requires an API key to establish a safe connection with another app, we can add a global field for it in Zoho Books. After installing the extension, users can provide their user-specific API key to establish a secure connection between the apps. Then, an install action script can be created to transfer records.


In this post, we've covered an overview of the features available while developing a Zoho Books extension and how they might be useful. We'll explore each of these features in detail in upcoming posts. We hope you found this information helpful. Keep following us for more posts!


SEE MORE



Next>>

    • Recent Topics

    • Kaizen# 209 - Answering Your Questions | All About Client Script

      Hello everyone! Welcome back to another exciting Kaizen post! Thanks for all your feedback and questions. In this post, let's see the answers to your questions related to Client Script. We took the time to discuss with our development team, carefully

    • To Do: shareable task links without login

      Hi! I’m using Zoho Mail and ToDo in my daily work, and I’ve run into one limitation that’s a real blocker for me. Right now, to share tasks with managers or directors, they need to have a Zoho account and be added to a group. In practice, many of them

    • Ability to turn off "Would you like this amount to be reflected in the Payment field?" message

      Team, Is there any way to turn off the message" Would you like this amount to be reflected in the Payment field?" when I make a payment? This is so annoying. This happens EVERY TIME I put an amount in the Payment Made field.

    • Unlock agreement intelligence with Zoho Sign's latest AI updates

      Hello! If you've been struggling with long, complex agreements and spending way too much time on them, here's exactly what you'll want to hear: Zoho Sign now integrates with OpenAI's ChatGPT to make agreement management smarter and simpler. Acting like

    • Currency abbreviations

      Hello, Im stuck, and need help. I need the currency fields for example, opportunity value, or total revenue, to be abbreviated, lets say for 1,000 - 1K, 1,000,000 - 1M, and so on, how should I do this?

    • Embed Sign Document

      Has anyone tried embedding a document in a webpage? I'm building a webpage (using PowerPage) and I'm trying to embed it using an iframe then I got this error: Refused to display 'https://sign.zoho.com/' in a frame because it set 'X-Frame-Options' to

    • Zeptomail API error 500 internal server error

      Hi Everyone, getting this eror continuously! Can anyone please guide around the same! Zeptomail API error 500 internal server error Best Regards

    • We’re transitioning from Zoho ShowTime to TrainerCentral

      Hello everyone, Zoho ShowTime was originally built as a training platform to serve training agencies, HR teams, and individual trainers. As the platform grew, we realized that more creators and businesses could benefit from its capabilities. That’s why

    • Emails Are Not Being Delivered to My Inbox

      Hello Zoho Support Team, I am experiencing an issue with my Zoho Mail account. The most important problem is that emails are not being delivered to my inbox. Details: My Zoho Mail address: info@coreforcelife.com What happens: I am not receiving any incoming

    • Radar In Focus: Track customer support metrics using Radar's static reports

      Hello everyone, Welcome back to the Radar In Focus series, where we explore how Radar features can add value to your business. In this episode, we're looking at Radar static reports. The help desk is filled with vast amounts of data that can be analyzed

    • Mail ToDo & Tasks Webhooks

      Our company uses Zoho ToDo inside Mail to manage our tasks. When I create a task and assign it to a team member it does not notify them unless I add a reminder via mail. I'm trying to create a webhook for when a task is created to send a cliq message

    • Allocating inventory to specific SO's

      Is there a way that allocate inventory to a specific sales order? For example, let's say we have 90 items in stock. Customer 1 orders 100 items. This allocates all 90 items to their order, and they have a back order for the remaining 10 items which could

    • Improved UI for a Seamless User Experience - Calls, Tasks, and Meetings

      Hello all, We are making UI unification across CRM so that the UI experience is seamless across the product. As part of that effort, we have made changes to the details page of activity-based module records—Meetings, Calls, and Tasks. Let's look at these

    • Where can I find rejected inbound mails and their reason for rejection

      Hi, I was recently made aware by a mailing list which I am subscribed to (ffmpeg-devel@ffmpeg.org) that my Zoho mail Mail account is rejecting some emails. If I look under Admin Panel > Security & Compliance > Quarantine > Incoming, the list there is

    • Refund

      Hi There, Please refund me asap possible, because of no support given. Thank you

    • تغيير عمله الدفع"Change payment currency"

      ما هى طريقه تغيير عمله الدفع "ما هي طريقة تغيير عملة الدفع؟"

    • How do I fix this? Unable to send message; Reason:554 5.1.8 Email Outgoing Blocked.

      How do I fix this? Unable to send message; Reason:554 5.1.8 Email Outgoing Blocked.

    • Attention API Users: Upcoming Support for Renaming System Fields

      Hello all! We are excited to announce an upcoming enhancement in Zoho CRM: support for renaming system-defined fields! Current Behavior Currently, system-defined fields returned by the GET - Fields Metadata API have display_label and field_label properties

    • Zia's ability to generate and improve content extended to Desk mobile app (iOS and Android)

      In support, agents will have to understand customers' pain points completely to provide empathetic personalized solutions and a positive experience. However, at times, agents might find it challenging to comprehend the customer issues and connect with

    • BANK FEED - MAYBANK , provider from YODLEE IS NOT WORKING

      As per topic, the provider YODLEE is not working for the BANK FEED. It have been reported since 2023 Q3, and second report on 2023 Q4. now almost end of 2024 Q1, and coming to 2024 Q2. Malaysia Bank Maybank is NOT working. can anyone check on this issue?

    • Item images

      Can we get an "On hover" expanded image for items please ?

    • Free webinar—Redefining workforce security with Zoho Vault: Passwords, passkeys, and multi-factor authentication

      Hi everyone! Did you know that in Q2 alone, 94 million data records were leaked globally? Behind every breach is a combination of poor password habits, phishing attacks, privilege misuse, and simple human error. The fallout—including reputational damage,

    • Zoho Sign product updates - Q3 2025

      Hello everyone! Q3 was all about AI. Here's the list of features and enhancements that have gone live, along with a list of what we have in pipeline for the last quarter: AI-powered agreement management Sending documents and authenticating recipients

    • Zoho sites header

      Good day, Im stuck with this situation. I choose a template for my website creation. I have tweaked every instance of the visual editor, regarding the header, I have created created customize fonts presets... I have followed every single step. and my

    • Zoho Books Sandbox environment

      Hello. Is there a free sandbox environment for the developers using Zoho Books API? I am working on the Zoho Books add-on and currently not ready to buy a premium service - maybe later when my add-on will start to bring money. Right now I just need a

    • Quick Create needs Client Script support

      As per the title. We need client scripts to apply at a Quick Create level. We enforce logic on the form to ensure data quality, automate field values, etc. However, all this is lost when a user attempts a "Quick Create". It is disappointing because, from

    • Kaizen #152 - Client Script Support for the new Canvas Record Forms

      Hello everyone! Have you ever wanted to trigger actions on click of a canvas button, icon, or text mandatory forms in Create/Edit and Clone Pages? Have you ever wanted to control how elements behave on the new Canvas Record Forms? This can be achieved

    • DNS set up

      I want to create an email with my company domain. When I tried to add new record with cloudflare it didn't work. The DNS record can't be manually added. I followed the instruction but still can't add it. Could you help?

    • Pocket from Mozilla is closing shop. Don’t lose your favorites . Move them to Zoho Mail Bookmarks now! 📥🔖

      The end of Pocket shouldn't mean the end of your important links and content. Easily import them into Zoho Mail's Bookmarks and continue right where you left off. You can bring over your entire Saves, Collections, and tags just the way they are. Bookmarks

    • General suggestions

      Hello, I've picked this forum as it is at the top of the list! :) First suggestion: A general forum for issues and comments that are not specific to a particular Zoho application. Second suggestion: Put a link on the home page to "Zoho Identity Access Manager" The first suggestion came about because I didn't know where to post the second! ;) Regards Mark

    • Can't upload attachments.

      I can't upload attachment in Zoho Mail.

    • Need Guidance on SPF Flattening for Zoho Mail Configuration

      Hi everyone, I'm hoping to get some advice on optimizing my SPF record for a Zoho Mail setup. I use Zoho Mail along with several other Zoho services, and as a result, my current SPF record has grown to include multiple include mechanisms. My Cloudflare

    • How use

      Good morning sir I tried Zoho Mail

    • Zoho Mail Desktop App Not Loading + Can’t Manage Multiple Accounts

      Hi everyone, I’ve been having ongoing issues with the Zoho Mail desktop app for the past few weeks. The app starts to load but gives up midway and never actually opens — there’s no error message, it just stops loading. The main reason I use the desktop

    • Error when sending emails from Zoho

      Hello, When trying to send an email from Zoho CRM I keep getting the below error: javax.mail.AuthenticationFailedException: 535 5.7.139 Authentication unsuccessful, the user credentials were incorrect. Any support on this will be much appreciated. Thanks,

    • Zoho Tables is now live in Australia & New Zealand!

      Hey everyone! We’ve got some great news to share — Zoho Tables is now officially available in the Australian Data Center serving users across Australia and New Zealand regions! Yes, it took us a bit longer to get here, but this version of Zoho Tables

    • Not all emails from outlook365 migrated to my new zoho account

      I recently setup a new email address hosted by zoho. I migrated all my folders and email from my Outlook365 account to my new zoho account, but not all my emails migrated. Looks like only the past 12 months, or so, made the move. How do I get the rest

    • Clients not receiving emails

      I've been informed that my emails are not being received. Is there anything that I should look into to rectify this? Many thanks!

    • Max numbr of IMAP Accounts in Zoho Mail?

      In Zoho mail, you can manage the inboxes of other accounts using IMAP (and POP, actually) https://www.zoho.com/mail/help/external-imap-accounts.html Is there a max to the number of inboxes we can add?

    • Formula Fields Trouble

      Hi,  I can't get even a simple formula field to work and must be doing something dumb. This formula: If(Len(Trim(${Quotes.Subject}))=0,1,2) Gives the error: You used the wrong type of data in an argument. Check what you entered between the parentheses of your functions to make sure you put the right kind of data in the right place. This formula: Len(Trim(${Quotes.Subject}))=0 Gives the error: Syntax Error. Check the examples for any functions you're using to see if you formatted them correctly. Make

    • Next Page