Upcoming updates - July 2019

Hello App Creators,

We’re here with another set of updates.

During Jul-2019, the Zoho Creator team will be rolling out the following feature updates:

subform.insert() and subform.clear()
Zia-powered smart data import during form creation
Ability to control rendering of HTML content in Formula field
Lookup data from Radio and Drop down fields
Setting background images for panels

Here are the links to the recent posts in this series: Apr-2019 updates, May-June updates. Refer to our changelog for the complete list.

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subform.insert() and subform.clear()

Yes! It’s here!

We’ll be introducing two Deluge tasks — subform.insert() and subform.clear() — that’ll enable you to dynamically add and manage data in your subforms. You'll be able to address the following scenarios:

Insert data into subform as part of the add record Deluge task
Dynamically insert rows in the subform when your user's adding or editing data
Delete data from subforms

To achieve these, we've introduced the Collection data type, which can hold a list of values or a map. Let's take a look at these scenarios with syntax.

Inserting data into subform when you're adding a record in the main form

The add record Deluge task will now support adding rows in subforms. Syntax:

row1 = <mainForm_linkName>.<subForm_linkName>();
row1.<textField_linkName> = "value1";
row1.<multiSelectField_linkName> = {"value2", "value3"};
row2 = <mainForm_linkName>.<subForm_linkName>();
row2.<textField_linkName> = "value4";
row2.<multiSelectField_linkName> = {"value5", "value6"};
rows = collection();
rows.insert(row1, row2);
rec_id = insert into <mainForm_linkName>
[
<mainForm_textField_linkName> = "value";
<subForm_linkName> = rows;
];

Dynamically insert rows in subform when your user's adding or editing data

row1 = <mainForm_linkName>.<subForm_linkName>();
row1.<textField_linkName> = "value1";
row1.<multiSelectField_linkName> = {"value2", "value3"};
row2 = <mainForm_linkName>.<subForm_linkName>();
row2.<textField_linkName> = "value4";
row2.<multiSelectField_linkName> = {"value5", "value6"};
rows = collection();
rows.insert(row1, row2);
input.<subForm_linkName>.insert(rows);

Delete data from subforms

This is where the clear() task will come in handy. Syntax:

input.<subForm_linkName>.clear();

It'll behave differently based on the type of subform:

When you operate the clear() task on a blank/inline subform, it'll delete all the rows in that subform
When you operate the clear() task on a subform that itself is a form, it'll just delete the relationship between the main form's record and related subform records. Records in the subform will remain intact.

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Zia-powered smart data import during form creation

Applicable to: Zoho Creator 5

Remember the Zia-powered smart data import capabilities that were recently introduced w.r.t. app creation? They’ll now available during form creation as well.

Additionally, the following abilities will be introduced:

Edit a cell’s value by double-clicking it
Edit identical cells in a column by right-clicking
Enable the No duplicate values property for a column
Enable the Mandatory property for a column
Establish relationship with data in existing forms via lookup field

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Ability to control rendering of HTML content in Formula field

We're introducing the Show value in reports as field property for the Formula field. It can be set with the value Plain text or Rich text.

Having the formula field display data as plain text may benefit the performance of displaying its data in reports. How? — Late last year we upgraded our security framework w.r.t. processing HTML and CSS content. This ensures that only valid/allowed tags and attributes are rendered in your apps. Therefore, choosing to display the formula field's data as plain text will let the system skip consulting this white list. Even if HTML tags are present, they'll be treated and displayed as characters.

Note:

Existing formula fields will be set to show their data as Rich text.
Formula fields that you add after this update will be set to show Plain text. You’ll have to set it to Rich text to have that formula field render HTML tags in reports.

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Lookup data from Radio and Drop down fields

In other words, you’ll be able to include radio and drop down fields as the lookup's Display fields.

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Setting background images for panels

Applicable to: Zoho Creator 5

You’ll be able to upload an image and set it as the background for a panel or a cell in a panel. The panel or cell’s content will appear over (or “in front of”) the image.

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Let us know what you think about these updates.

Best,

Lakshman | Zoho Creator Team

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