Zoho Creator monthly roundup - September 2024

Hello all,

We're back with an exciting set of new features and enhancements that will elevate your Creator experience even further. In case you missed it, we’ve recently revamped our Product Roadmap page, now with a refreshed design and showcasing all the updates planned for the rest of the year. Be sure to check it out for a peek into what's coming next!

Now, let's dive into the updates for this month:

Zia assistance using Zoho GenAI
Field permissions for portal users
Enhanced flow for connection creation
SAML authentication enhancement for portals
Extension testing before publishing

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Zia assistance using Zoho GenAI

We’re excited to announce the launch of our own large language model (LLM), Zoho GenAI, which will power Zia assistance by default. However, we’ll continue offering OpenAI as a paid option via BYOK (bring your own key).

How does it work?

Going forward, when you use Zia Assistance to create a new app or form, or get next-field suggestions, Zia will be powered by Zoho GenAI by default.
If you prefer to use OpenAI with Zia, you can integrate it by visiting the Zia section under Operations and configuring it by adding your API key.

Business value
By leveraging Zoho GenAI as the default option for Zia Assistance, you benefit from our in-house AI capabilities at no extra cost. The dual options (Zoho GenAI and OpenAI) also offer enhanced flexibility and convenience, allowing you to choose the product that best fits your needs.

Applicable for: C6

Availability: US, IN DCs
Reference: Understand Zia features in Creator

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Field permissions for portal users

Our existing portal permission sets have empowered you to control the application components and data that portal users can access and interact with. With this new update, we’re taking it a step further by giving you the ability to configure field-level permissions within the portal, providing you with even more granular control over which fields are visible to your portal users. A key use case for this feature is handling personally identifiable information (PII), allowing you to control exposure to sensitive fields (like email addresses) by selectively granting or restricting access based on user permissions.

How will it work?
You’ll now find a Field Permission option under the More section on the Portal User Permissions page.

Business value

Field permissions provide greater flexibility and security and ensure portal users see only the information that’s relevant to them.

Applicable for: C5, C6

Availability: All DCs
Reference: Understand portal permissions

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Enhanced flow for connection creation

We’ve made several updates to streamline the connection creation flow, with the aim of making it easier for you to create and authorize connections:

Automatic connection name: The connection name will now be auto-generated when you select a connector. You can still edit it at any time.
Simplified authorization: By default, the same authorization will apply across all environments. If you prefer different authorizations for each environment, select the Use different authorizations for each environment option and specify the relevant environments.
Auto-generated authorization account name: The authorization account name will be automatically generated based on the third-party account name, if available, or assigned a system-generated name. You can edit this name later, on the Connection Details page.

Business value
This update streamlines third-party integration by enabling one-click connection creation for any selected built-in connector, reducing manual input and automating tasks, leading to increased efficiency and fewer potential errors.

Applicable for: C5 & C6

Availability: All DCs

Reference: Create and Authorize Connections

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SAML authentication enhancement for portals

We've rolled out enhancements to the user addition flow for Zoho Creator portals that use SAML authentication. Previously, there was no direct sync between the portal and the identity provider (IDP), requiring admins to manually add users under the Portal Users section before they could access the portal using SAML. With this new update, users from the IDP will now be automatically added as portal users upon signing up using SAML. The consumption of limits, as per your pricing plan, will be calculated as signups occur.

Note: This feature is applicable only to public portals.

Business value
This enhancement simplifies user management by automating the user addition process, providing a smoother and more efficient onboarding experience.

Applicable for: C5, C6

Availability: All DCs
Reference: Understand SAML authentication

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Test extensions before publishing

We'll be rolling out a new feature that lets you test your extensions on a sample application before you publish them. Previously, the process involved only development and publishing. With this enhancement, it will now include development, testing, and publishing. This added testing phase allows you to evaluate how your extensions perform in a live setting, giving you the chance to make any needed adjustments before completing the publishing process.

How will it work?

Going forward, you'll find a Test option for the Extensions.
By clicking this, you'll be taken to a sample application where you can create a new page and insert your widget. Once done, click Access Application to see how your extension appears and functions on the page.

Business value
This enhancement enables you to test your extensions in a sample environment before publication, ensuring they function as intended and minimizing the risk of issues after launch.

Applicable for: Creator in Sigma

Availability: All DCs

Reference: Create and Manage Extensions

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That wraps up this month's updates. Feel free to share your thoughts on these updates in the comments below!

Regards,

The Zoho Creator Team

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