Building extensions #5: Integrating applications with Zoho Projects through Connections

Building extensions #5: Integrating applications with Zoho Projects through Connections

In our last post, we discussed the essential features that a Zoho Projects extension can provide. Starting with this post andin every subsequent post going forward, we'll go through each of those features in depth, one by one, with an example use case.
In this post, we'll explore the Connections feature in detail.

Connections: When and why?

Creating a tightly coupled integration requires the establishment of a secure connection between applications. To achieve this secured connection, the Sigma platform provides the Connection feature that can be used to establish a secure link and perform data operations across applications seamlessly and efficiently through an extension.

Use case

Working on development-related tasks might require dealing with a variety of files, such as code snippets, help documents, or service level agreements. While several file management applications are available to securely store and organize data, manually handling file storage between applications remains challenging.

For our example, let's use Zoho Projects to manage all tasks, and Dropbox to manage and store data.

What is the difficulty faced?

Dropbox offers a file request feature that allows you to collect files and organize them into folders. However, as we talked about in our previous post, manually categorizing and uploading task-related files to their respective file request folders in Dropbox would be a time-consuming and laborious activity. Instead, it would be more efficient to integrate Dropbox with Zoho Projects so that uploading task files to Dropbox file request folders can be done instantly from within Zoho Projects.


How can it be sorted?

You can create a connection between Zoho Projects and Dropbox. With the secure connection setup, the file request folders available in Dropbox can be listed on the task details page of Zoho Projects through an extension. You may then easily upload files from Zoho Projects to their corresponding folders in Dropbox, saving time and making you more organized.

What are the components required to achieve this use case?

  1. A connection between Zoho Projects and Dropbox.
  2. An extension configuration that includes:
  • Creating an extension
  • Configuring the plugin manifest
  • Setting up the widget code to display the Dropbox file request folders inside the Zoho Projects task details page.
Now, let's see how we can achieve each of these components.

1. Creating a secure connection using the Connection feature

  • Log in or sign up into developer.zoho.com.
  • Go to Sigma and access your workspace.
  • Once you enter your workspace, select the Connections section in Sigma.
Note: Connections created in Zoho Projects are also accessible within the Connections section in Sigma. These connections can be used in extensions to connect with other applications.

  • Choose the service as Zoho Projects and select your Zoho Projects organization. Click on Create Connection.

  • Sigma offers a list of default services from which you can choose and easily connect with Zoho Projects. If the application you want to integrate isn’t in the default list, you can add and build a connection with it using the custom services option.
Note: If you’re looking to connect Zoho Projects with another Zoho Product that also follows the OneAuth authentication mechanism, select the service Zoho OneAuth from the Default Services list to create the connection.

  • In our example, the application to connect with Zoho Projects is Dropbox, and because it’s in the Default Services list, go ahead and choose Dropbox.

  • After choosing the service, enter the connection name. A connection link name will be populated automatically.
  • Toggle Use credentials of login user to Yes if you want every user installing the extension to access the connection using their own login credentials, or No if admin credentials are enough to access the connection.
  • In our example, we'll proceed with the former. So toggle to Yes, and then click Create and connect.
Note: For services in which the option to choose the scopes is displayed, choose the necessary scopes, and then click Create and connect.

  • You’ll be directed through a series of authorization steps before being prompted to connect with Dropbox by entering your login information.
  • The connection will be established successfully once you sign in with Dropbox, and you will be redirected to the Connection Summary details page in Sigma.
  • To access this connection as part of an extension, you’ll need to configure the sample code provided under the JSON section in the plugin-manifest.json file. We’ll explore this in the next section.

2. Extension configuration

Now that we've successfully established our connection, let's look at how we can achieve our use case feature of displaying the Dropbox file request folder within the Zoho Projects task detail page. As mentioned earlier, to accomplish this, we’ll need to implement the following measures.
A. Create an extension

B. Configure the plugin-manifest.json file

C. Set up the widget code
Let's explore these steps in order.

A. Create an extension
B. Configure the plugin-manifest.json file
  • As previously stated, to access the connection established between Zoho Projects and Dropbox, the connection must first be configured in the plugin-manifest.json file.
  • Copy the JSON sample code from the Connection Summary Details page and paste it into the plugin-manifest.jsonfile as the value for the connections key.

  • You will also need to white list the Dropbox domain for Dropbox calls to be processed without being blocked.
  • Include the domain in the plugin-mainfest.json file as the value for the whiteLitsedDomains key.

  • As we saw in our earlier post, the plugin-manifest.json file includes a widget called Projects Extension by default. For our example, because we’re connecting with Dropbox and constructing a widget that will include Dropbox request folders to upload files, enter the widget name and location.

  • The final configured plugin-manifest.json file for our example would be as follows:
  1. {
  2. "connectors": [{
  3. "connectionLinkName": "dropbox",
  4. "userAccess": true,
  5. "sharedBy": "xxxxxxx",
  6. "connectionName": "dropbox",
  7. "serviceName": "dropbox",
  8. "isUserDefinedService": false
  9. }],
  10. "whiteListedDomains": ["https://api.dropboxapi.com"],
  11. "service": "PROJECTS",
  12. "cspDomains": {
  13. "connect-src": []
  14. },
  15. "storage": true,
  16. "locale": ["en"],
  17. "config": [],
  18. "modules": {
  19. "widgets": [{
  20. "name": "Dropbox - File Upload",
  21. "location": "taskdetails_rightpanel",
  22. "url": "/app/dropbox.html"
  23. }],
  24. "triggers": []
  25. }
  26. }

C. Setting up the widget code

Now, that we’ve created an extension and configured the plugin manifest file, let's finally set up the widget code in order to display all Dropbox file request folders inside our task details right panel.

Dropbox.html widget code: Please find the widget code snippet as an attachment in this post.
  • In this widget code, we’ve invoked the Dropbox API to list file request folders by constructing and passing the required data along with the connection we had established for Dropbox.
  • The API will be invoked and return all of the file request folders in the task details right panel, from which users can click on the link and directly upload files to Dropbox from within a task in Zoho Projects itself.
Sample output
  • Once the code is setup, publish and install the extension to check the functionality in the Zoho Projects portal.
  • Enter a task and click the extensions icon in the right panel.

  • From the lists of your Dropbox file requests, select the requests to which you wish to upload files.

  • The file will be successfully uploaded in the respective Dropbox file request.


We’ve demonstrated how to upload files directly to Dropbox file request folders from within Zoho Projects in this example. As part of your extension, you can use the Connections feature to do a variety of tasks, some of which are highlighted below.
  • View and update files associated with a certain request.
  • Create Dropbox folders and share them with collaborators.

Connections, therefore serves as a powerful tool that assists you in establishing a connection with other apps and performing smooth data transactions across your applications, thereby improving business functions and optimizing your work.

We hope this information was useful to you. Continue to follow us for further updates!

Sign up for a Zoho Developer account and start developing extensions for Zoho products using Sigma.

SEE ALSO


Next>>

    • Recent Topics

    • Switching Between Multiple Zoho One Organizations in New UI

      Here’s a polished version in English that you can use on Zoho’s support or community forum: Subject: Switching Between Multiple Zoho One Organizations in New UI Hello Zoho Community / Support Team, I’m currently managing two independent Zoho One organizations.

    • .ds import error from .ds file

       Problem encountered while creating the application Exception occured while publishing message to the topic :: [DataModelTopic]

    • Fully functional FSM workflow

      I am using Books, FSM, Begin and Desk. At this moment, FSM is not fully functional even on its own. For example, Customer A buys 4 air-cons and 3 brackets from us. We are fine to create WO manually in FSM. This should be the full loop for a FSM workflow:-

    • Connect Woocommerce new order to zoho books via zoho flow

      Hello i want help to create a flow to create a new sales order from woocommerce to zoho books. Can someone send me step by step flow, functions and fields?

    • What's New in Zoho Invoice | April - June 2025

      Hello everyone! We're excited to share the latest feature updates and enhancements we've made to Zoho Invoice from April to June 2025. In this, you will learn more about the following features: New Integrations via Zoho Marketplace Add Images to Email

    • PROJECTS - More flexibility with task and pricing

      Hi Everyone, I would like to use PROJECTS in my Zoho Booking app but it does not fit into my business. For example: I charge per sessions fixed price. My session usually are 2 hours and I bill the customer on the end of the month. My session can have

    • Is it possible to change default payable account for a bill?

      We have a case where we need to change a bill account from the default accounts payable to another account (it can be current asset or current liability, depending on the case). However, Zoho Books has set default account for bills, (accounts payable)

    • how to upload a reviewed price list in zoho to replace the existing price list

      Price list upload for my zoho books

    • Company details and emails

      Our company has recently been rebranded and we have new email address - How do I update information for users. I have tried to re invite users with new email but it sends me to organization and there is no where I can change the email or invite with new

    • Linking Resale Certificates to Customer Locations

      Florida Resale Certificates must be on every customer invoice. We have customers with multiple locations and each location has a seperate FL Resale Certificate. The FL Resale Certificate makes the transaction EXEMPT from Sales Tax. Can FL Resale Certificate

    • Notebook App Not Opening

      I love this app but for the last 2 days it recuses to open. My phone tells me the app is bugged and I must wait for a new update. Is anyone else having this problem or is something going on with me? I have many important notes that I can't necessarily

    • Admin and Dispatcher Users show as Field Technicians in Dispatch Module?

      Hi Zoho, Our Admin and Dispatch user both show up as Fied Technicians / Field Agents in the Dispatch module, but they most certainly should not be assigned to any of the work orders and service appointments. These users are NOT service resources. How

    • Copy Sales Order Reference# to Purchase Order#

      Hello, We use our customer's purchase order number as the order number on our purchase order to the supplier.  We direct ship everything from our suppliers and the customers then see their PO number on the packing notes (instead of a sequentially-generated one). Therefore, is it possible to use automation to copy the Sales Order Reference# (customer PO) to the respective Purchase Order# (our PO) when converting the Sales Order to a Purchase Order?

    • Free webinar: Zoho Sign in Q2 2025: A quick walkthrough

      Hi there! We’re halfway through the year—and Zoho Sign has some exciting enhancements to show for it! Join us in our upcoming webinar to discover what's new and what you can look forward to. What will this session cover? Explore the newest features introduced

    • Using a Webhook as an Action

      I have been able to setup where I can use a webhook as a Trigger, but I am wondering how I can use a webhook as an Action. In the Zoho Flow Builder when using Zoho CRM as a trigger, I do not see a way to invoke a URL to POST json data that can be used

    • Adding commas to a numeric value

      Hi, I want to add commas to numeric values so that they look like money E.g 1234.56 to 1,234.56 12345.67 to 12,345.67 12345678.90 to 12,345,678.90 How do you do that in Deluge? Thanks for the help

    • Pushing Zoho People leave into Microsoft calendar: how to chose how "event" is shown (busy, free etc)

      Hi, how can I select how a "leave" event is pushed into Microsoft calendar? I want for leave "working elsewhere" to show as working elsewhere and NOT as busy.

    • Tiktok and Instagram Carousel with Music

      Is it possible to add music or sound (can be downloaded or uploaded or attached) when we upload carousels in IG and Tiktok?

    • [Product Update] Locations module migration in Zoho Books integration with Zoho Analytics

      Dear Customers, As Zoho Books are starting to support an advance version of the Branches/Warehouses module called the Locations module, users who choose to migrate to the Locations module in Zoho Books will also be migrated in Zoho Analytics-Zoho Books

    • Once again, non-admins can no longer revise the site map

      Not sure when this change happened, but it's a problem now. This appears to be a regression on this issue: https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/bug-non-admins-can-no-longer-revise-the-site-map ... which was solved. That issue was also a regression.

    • Detail View in Mobile without Labels

      Zoho creator 6. I have been trying to acheieve this but not able to. I have a quick view of my articles using custom layout for mobile. When i tap on an article it opens in detail view on my mobile which has two cols. Left displays label and right the

    • Updating task using excel file

      Hi, Is there a way to update existing tasks using excel file import?  Thanks

    • Cross module filtering is now supported in CRM

      Editions: All DCs: All Release plan: This enhancement is being released in phases. It is now available in AU, JP, and CN DCs. Help resource: Advanced filters The Cross-module filtering enhancement is now available to all CRM accounts in the following

    • Before Going To The Qc stage , site ready ness file upload mandtoty how to achive this in the blue print transition

      Before Going To The Qc stage , site ready ness file upload mandtoty how to achive this in the blue print transition On click of the Predelivery transition can we show site ready ness file upload mandtoty or on click of the QC show the alert message site

    • Note cards are duplicating

      Hi, I've been using this app for some time and love it. Recently I've noticed that upon closing a note card, it creates a duplicate. If I exit the notebook it's in and go back, everything is back to normal. Not a major issue but still a little annoying.

    • Where is the (Bulk) Notes Export function from Notebook ???????

      I have seen various threads over the last two years on this and basically no action from ZOHO at all ! BTW having to go to an individual note and export to PDF (which now doesn't even work ) or some sort of zoho format is by no means the answer ! I still can't see any sort of bulk (or even individual) export function across notes. This is really poor for a notes product that is nearly 4 years old from a "major vendor".  I now have a large number of notes (some with images) that I want to export and

    • Again about the backlighting of the search query when searching in a client for Linux

      Some time passed, I installed a client for Linux version 3.4.0, but I still did not receive the promised search with the backlighting of the search query how it was implemented in the client for android. In the previous topic, you told me that this function

    • Enhancements to finance suite integrations

      Update: Based on your feedback, we’ve updated the capabilities for integration users. In addition to the Estimates module, they can now create, view, and edit records in all the finance modules including Sales Order, Invoices, Purchase Order. We're also

    • Important! ZipRecruiter Sponsored Posting Plan Changes in Zoho Recruit

      Greetings, We’re reaching out to inform you about an important upcoming change to the ZipRecruiter Sponsored job board integration within Zoho Recruit. What’s Changing? Starting June 1, 2025, Zoho Recruit will be updated with ZipRecruiter's latest pricing

    • In the Blue Print Transition requirement received it will show 8 check field in pop up if they any one of this field then only move to next stage Ist quote

      In the Blue Print Transition requirement received it will show 8 check field in pop up if they any one of this field then only move to next stage Ist quote Pls help how i fix this

    • Linking Multi-UOM Barcodes to Products in Zoho Books

      Greetings, I'm using Zoho Books for retail shop and I'm running into a bit of a challenge with products that have multiple Units of Measurement (UOMs) and corresponding barcodes. For example, I sell cigarettes both as individual packets and in cartons

    • Convert Item to composite item

      When using Zoho CRM integrated with Zoho Inventory/Books, the item creation process is a little messy. After a few years of trial and error, we have settled on creating items in CRM, which are sync'ed to Zoho Inventory using Zoho's own internal integration.

    • Mapping “Account Name” from CRM to Campaigns

      I’m syncing our Contacts list to Campaigns and want to select “Account Name” as an available field. Account Name does not appear in the drop down menu for CRM field even though Account Name is a field in our standard layout. How can I make it availa

    • Zoho Campaigns to Zoho Analytics Sync Fails – Field Mapping Shows But Not Applied

      I’m facing a persistent issue with the Zoho Campaigns integration to Zoho Analytics in my workspace. Here’s a detailed description of the problem: Under Edit Setup, I see a field mapping summary that shows: DataField Mapping: Most Recent Login However,

    • Partially receive PO without partial Bill?

      Most of our inventory is pre-paid. Let's say we purchase 30 pieces of 3 different items for a total of 90 pieces. It is common for our supplier to send us the items as they are ready. So we will receive 30 pieces at a time. How can I partially receive

    • Host in US Data Centre

      I humble apply to be registered on US Data centre

    • Multiple images, one record

      I have a form that is used to capture the following info: -Facility Name -Origin -Shipment # -Picture of Damaged Pallet (Image field) I want to be able to capture multiple pictures without having to create a new record, as there might be multiple damaged pallets on the shipment. Obviously, one never knows how many damaged pallets might be on a shipment so I'd prefer not to create 20 image fields and have most of them unused.  I'd prefer that they have an option to add another image only if they need

    • how to dynamically upload multiple images for single record?

      Is the use of dynamic multiple images in a single record supported? I've searched but have not found the answer. If it is supported, how is it done? I saw 1 suggestion to add a sub-form but that doesn't seem to be the answer. I don't want to add a set number of image fields. Each record would have a different number of images. I want the addition of images to be dynamic. thanks

    • Multi-upload field

      Hi I need to include a file upload field that allows the user to select multiple files and upload all at once. I hope I can do this with HTML, I'm new to merging HTML and deluge... Can I trigger a hidden file upload window to appear On User Input of a field in an embedded form? Thanks! Levi

    • is it possible to add multiple attachments to a record?

      Hello, I'm trying to add functionality so that a record can have several associated attachments. I obviously added a File Upload field to my form, but that appears to only allow one total. Is there a way around this? Thanks, - Kevin

    • Next Page