Power of Automation :: Automatically update the Work hours of a task based on Custom field Value

Power of Automation :: Automatically update the Work hours of a task based on Custom field Value

Hello Everyone,


A custom function is a software code that can be used to automate a process and this allows you to automate a notification, call a webhook, or perform logic immediately after a workflow rule is triggered. This feature helps to automate complex tasks and calculations. 


Lets take the below use case from a customer - 


They have created a custom field 'Task Type' at task level. Based on the value provided to that field, work hours should be automatically updated in that task. Below are the mappings between Task Type & Work Hours.


Task Type

Work Hours

AAIR

12 hours

Account Intel

32 hours

Competitor Intel

8 hours

Connects

8 hours

Custom Intel

9 hours

Deal Shortlisting

2 hours

IT Intel

4 hours

Priority Task

10 hours

Profiling

8 hours

Quarterly Analysis

16 hours

Win Loss

8 hours


This can be accomplished using the below code. Create a connection using the scopes “ZohoProjects.portals.READ, ZohoProjects.tasks.ALL, ZohoProjects.timesheets.READ” and update the connection name ‘******’ in the below code. Find the attached screenshot of the Arguments.

Here is the link to know how to create a connection.

// scopes: ZohoProjects.portals.READ, ZohoProjects.tasks.ALL, ZohoProjects.timesheets.READ

workhourMapping = Map();
workhourMapping.put("AAIR", 12);
workhourMapping.put("Account Intel", 32);
workhourMapping.put("Competitor Intel", 8);
workhourMapping.put("Connects", 8);
// workhourMapping.put("Custom Intel", Yet to decide);
workhourMapping.put("Deal Shortlisting", 2);
workhourMapping.put("IT Intel", 4);
// workhourMapping.put("Priority Task", Yet to decide);
workhourMapping.put("Profiling", 8);
workhourMapping.put("Quarterly Analysis", 16);
workhourMapping.put("Win Loss", 8);
if(taskType==null || !workhourMapping.containKey(taskType)) {
return "Task type is empty or map doesn't contain the specified task type";
}
else {
taskResponse = zoho.projects.getRecordById(portalId,projectId,"Tasks",taskId,"projects");
owners = taskResponse.get("tasks").get(0).get("details").get("owners");
// info owners;
taskWorks = List();
for each  owner in owners
{
if(owner.get("name").containsIgnoreCase("Unassigned"))
{
info "No owner found";
break;
}
else
{
isOwnerPresent = true;
ownerId = owner.get("id");
ownerWorkHours = workhourMapping.get(taskType);
taskWork = Map();
taskWork.put("user_id",ownerId);
taskWork.put("working_hours",ownerWorkHours);
taskWorks.add(taskWork);
break;
}
}
// info taskOwners;
updateTaskParameter = Map();
if(isOwnerPresent)
{
updateTaskParameter.put("owner_work",taskWorks);
updateTaskParameter.put("work_type","work_hours");
updateTaskParameter.put("person_responsible",ownerId);
updateTaskResponse = zoho.projects.update(portalId,projectId,"tasks",taskId,updateTaskParameter,"********");
info updateTaskResponse;
}
}
return "success";


Creating custom functions in Zoho Projects is straightforward and well-documented. Zoho provides a range of built-in functions that you can use as a starting point, and you can also easily define your own functions using Zoho's scripting language, Deluge. Give it a try and see how it can save your time and boost your productivity!

 

Watch this space for more such custom function codes. 


    • Sticky Posts

    • Automation Series: Auto-create Dependent Task on Status Change

      In Zoho Projects, you can automatically create and assign a dependent task when a task’s status is updated. This helps teams stay aligned, ensures reviews happen on time, and reduces manual effort. In this post, we’ll walk through an easy setup using
    • Time Log Reminder

      Tracking the time spent on tasks and issues is one of the most important functions of a timesheet. However, users may forget to update the time logs because they have their own goals to achieve. But, time logs must be updated at regular intervals to keep
    • Introducing the Zoho Projects Learning Space

      Every product has its learning curve, and sometimes having a guided path makes the learning experience smoother. With that goal, we introduce a dedicated learning space for Zoho Projects, a platform where you can explore lessons, learn at your own pace,
    • Update on V2 API End-of-Life Timeline

      Dear Users, Earlier this year, we shared the launch of the V3 APIs and requested users to migrate from the older V2 APIs by December 2025. We have received valuable feedback from our users and partners regarding their migration timelines. We are happy
    • Automation Series: Auto-update Phase Status

      Hello Folks! You can auto-update your phase's status based on status of underlying tasks using custom functions. In this series, we will showcase how to create and run custom functions, using Deluge, with ease. Follow the steps below and automate your

    Nederlandse Hulpbronnen


      • Recent Topics

      • Send / Send & Close keyboard shortcuts

        Hello! My team is so close to using Zoho Desk with just the keyboard. Keyboard shortcuts really help us to be more efficient -- saving a second or two over thousands of tickets adds up quickly. It seems like the keyboard shortcuts in Desk are only for
      • Handling Agent Transfer from Marketing Automation Journey to SalesIQ WhatsApp

        We are currently using Marketing Automation for WhatsApp marketing, and the features are great so far We have a scenario where, during a campaign or journey, we give customers an option to chat with our sales team. For this, we are using SalesIQ WhatsApp
      • Webinar - Getting Started with Zoho LandingPage

        Want to launch landing pages that support real marketing goals? This webinar is designed to help you understand the role landing pages play in your overall campaigns and how they contribute to lead generation and conversions. During this session, you’ll
      • Increase Round Robin Scheduler Frequency in Zoho Desk

        Dear Zoho Desk Team, We hope this message finds you well. We would like to request an enhancement to the Round Robin Scheduler in Zoho Desk to better address ticket assignment efficiency. Current Behavior At present, the Round Robin Scheduler operates
      • Zoho mail to contacts and leads, but not to accounts?

        We use the accounts tab a lot for our business because they can be linked to the sales orders. Now we want to use the mail add on to link communication of our emails to our accounts. However this is only possible for contacts and leads? It would be convenient
      • Marketing Tip #19: Upsell on product page to increase order value

        Upselling doesn’t have to feel pushy. It can actually feel helpful when done right. Think "people also bought", upgrades, add-ons, or complementary items. A smart upsell increases your average order value and improves the customer experience by making
      • CRM limit reached: only 2 subforms can be created

        we recently stumbled upon a limit of 2 subforms per module. while we found a workaround on this occasion, only 2 subforms can be quite limiting in an enterprise setting. @Anonymous User I've read about imminent increase of other components (e.
      • Kaizen #198: Using Client Script for Custom Validation in Blueprint

        Nearing 200th Kaizen Post – 1 More to the Big Two-Oh-Oh! Do you have any questions, suggestions, or topics you would like us to cover in future posts? Your insights and suggestions help us shape future content and make this series better for everyone.
      • オンライン勉強会のお知らせ Zoho ワークアウト (2/19 参加無料)

        ユーザーの皆さま、こんにちは。コミュニティチームの中野です。 2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/6AyVUxp6QDmMQiDGXGkxPA ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 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指すイベント「Zoho
      • Removing Tables from HTML Inventory Templates - headers, footers and page number tags only?

        I'm a bit confused by the update that is coming to HTML Inventory Templates https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/kb/crm-nextgen/customize-crm-account/customizing-templates/articles/nextgen-update-your-html-inventory-templates-for-pdf-generator-upgrade It says
      • Ability to Link Reported Issues from Zoho Desk to Specific Tasks or Subtasks in Zoho Projects

        Hi Zoho Desk Team, Hope you're doing well. When reporting a bug from Zoho Desk to Zoho Projects, we’ve noticed that it’s currently not possible to select an existing task or subtask to associate the issue with. However, when working directly inside Zoho
      • How do i move multiple tickets to a different department?

        Hello, i have several tickets that have been assigned to the wrong department.  I am talking about hundreds of automatically generated ones that come from a separate system. How can i select them all at once to move them to another department in one go? I can select them in "unsassigned open tickets view" but i can't find a "move to another department" option. I also can't seem to assign multiple tickets to the same agent in that same view. Could somebody advice?
      • Let us view and export the full price books data from CRM

        I quote out of CRM, some of my clients have specialised pricing for specific products - therefore we use Price Books to manage these special prices. I can only see the breakdown of the products listed in the price book and the specialised pricing for
      • Set Default Status of Assembly to "Assembled" When Entered in UI

        I've just discovered the new "confirmed" status of Assemblies within Inventory. While I understand the intent of this (allowing for manufacturing planning and raw material stock allocation), it was initially confusing to me when manually entering some
      • How to apply customized Zoho Crm Home Page to all users?

        I have tried to study manuals and play with Zoho CRM but haven't found a way how to apply customized Zoho CRM Home Page as a (default) home page for other CRM users.. How that can be done, if possible? - kipi Moderation Update: Currently, each user has
      • Plug Sample #14: Automate Invoice Queries with SalesIQ Chatbot

        Hi everyone! We're back with a powerful plug to make your Zobot smarter and your support faster. This time, we're solving a common friction point for finance teams by giving customers quick access to their invoices. We are going to be automating invoice
      • Enrich your contact and company details automatically using the Data Enrichment topping

        Greetings, I hope you're all doing well. We're happy to announce the latest topping we've added to Bigin: The Data Enrichment topping, powered by WebAmigo. This topping helps you automatically enhance your contact and company records in Bigin. By leveraging
      • Zoho Billing Partial Proration...

        Hi, In Zoho billing, we offer upgrades, downgrades, suspends, and resumes. We use online payment for most subscriptions, but have only a few that are offline, but we treat them the same either way.. We prorate only parts of these changes.. Right now zoho
      • Any update on adding New Customer Payment Providers who support in store terminal devices?

        Currently there is only one Customer payment provider listed for terminal devices in USA- Everyware. They charge a monthly fee of almost $149 minimum. Will you add other providers - like Zoho Payments or Stripe or Worldpay that would allow integrated
      • Getting Subform Fields to Display Top to Bottom

        I have a form where the fields are all in one column. I want to insert a subform where the fields are stacked in one column as well. I have built both the form and subform but the subform displays the fields from left to right instead of a stacked column. This will cause a problem displaying the subform correctly on mobile apps. How can I do this please?' Here is my form with subform now. As you can see the subform "Follow Up Activity" is displaying the fields left to right. I need them to go top
      • [Feature Deprecated] Gamescope in Zoho Projects

        This feature is no longer available. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Well, yes. That's true! Tiring work, buzzing coffee makers, busy turnstiles , occupied meeting rooms, back-to-back status updates and what not. Your everyday routine need not have to be this hectic. It can be more rewarding. It can be more fun. Zoho Projects believes in this fact and hence has launched Gamescope - A module that turns every project into an exciting game and boosts the spirit of your team by leaps and
      • Creating a task, i can not work out how to get ID for What_Id

        hi From Module A function I map Module B record reference membershipid (ours). I need Module B Zoho ID to create the related to on task. All examples i've seen start with the Zoho ID. void automation.LTM_Assign_Dispute_Task(String membershipid) { try
      • How to Convert NSF to PST Format Effortlessly? - SYSessential

        It is highly recommended to obtain the error-free solution of the SYSessential NSF to PST converter to convert NSF files from Lotus Notes. Using this professional software, it becomes easier to convert all NSF database items, including emails, journals,
      • Can't connect to POP and SMTP over VPN

        I use Thunderbird to access Zoho Mail via POP and SMTP. I have configured an app-specific password for Thunderbird to use. Everything is properly configured and works correctly — until I enable my VPN. I'm using a paid commercial VPN service (Mullvad).
      • my zoho mail is hacked

        my email is sending my username and password to people i dont know
      • Suministrar accesos

        Asunto: Enable UPLOAD_RULE for API Attachments Mensaje: Hola, Necesito habilitar la capacidad de subir attachments vía API en Zoho Mail. Actualmente recibo el error: "UPLOAD_RULE_NOT_CONFIGURED" al usar el endpoint: POST /api/accounts/{accountId}/messages/attachments
      • Introducing real-time document commenting and collaboration in Zoho Sign

        Hi, there! We are delighted to introduce Document commenting, a feature that helps you communicate with your recipients more efficiently for a streamlined document signing process. Some key benefits include: Collaborate with your recipients easily without
      • Ticket Loop from Auto Responce

        We’re seeing an issue where a client’s help desk triggers a ticket loop. When they email us, our system creates a ticket and sends the acknowledgement. Their system then creates a ticket from that acknowledgement and sends one back to us, which creates
      • How to make rule to filter out some emails from receiving the notification "Receiving a new ticket"?

        Good Morning, We are currently using the "Receiving a new ticket" notification rule to provide that auto reply template to a customer that emails us for support. However, there are some emails we don't want to receive this auto-reply. Where can I set
      • Zoho Signatures Missing

        In the past after collecting signatures from two different PDFs I would merge them by calling an api and the signatures would appear in the combined PDF. Recently the signatures have disappeared whenever I combine the PDFs together. Why did this randomly
      • Filter button in the Zoho Sheet Android App doesn't toggle on

        I am a new Zoho Sheets user and experiencing a specific issue with the filter functionality in the Android mobile application. Detailed Issue Description: The filter icon appears correctly in the toolbar. Upon tapping the filter icon/button, the toggle
      • Automate pushing Zoho CRM backups into Zoho WorkDrive

        Through our Zoho One subscription we have both Zoho CRM and Zoho WorkDrive. We have regular backups setup in Zoho CRM. Once the backup is created, we are notified. Since we want to keep these backups for more than 7 days, we manually download them. They
      • Exciting Updates to the Kiosk Studio Feature in Zoho CRM!

        Hello Everyone, We are here again with a series of new enhancements to Kiosk Studio, designed to elevate your experience and bring even greater efficiency to your business processes. These updates build upon our ongoing commitment to making Kiosk a powerful
      • Reply to Email for SO/PO

        Hello, We are new to Zoho Books and running into an issue. Our support@ email is our integration user. When our team is sending out PO/SO's we are updating the sender email, but for some reason many of our responses are coming back to our support@ email
      • New activity options for workflows

        Greetings, We are excited to announce the addition of two new dynamic actions to our workflow functionality: Create Event and Schedule Call. These actions have been thoughtfully designed to enhance your workflow processes and bring more efficiency to
      • Remove the “One Migration Per User” Limitation in Zoho WorkDrive

        Hi Zoho WorkDrive Team, Hope you are doing well. We would like to raise a critical feature request regarding the Google Drive → Zoho WorkDrive migration process. Current Limitation: Zoho WorkDrive currently enforces a hard limitation: A Zoho WorkDrive
      • Kaizen #228 - Process Large-Scale Migrated Data Using Catalyst Solutions

        Howdy, tech wizards! This week’s Kaizen explores how Catalyst Solutions in the Zoho CRM Developer Hub help import large volumes of data into Zoho CRM while improving data quality and simplifying the migration process. Why Catalyst Solutions? Catalyst
      • Zoho Expense Import Reports Won't Work Because Default Accounts Already Exist

        Im trying to import reports from another Zoho expense account to mine and im getting errors that won't allow the import to happen The account name that you've entered 'Ground Transportation' already exists. Enter another name for the account and try again.z
      • Inactive License for free account.

        I recently upgraded my Cliq subscription not my team (on the free version), are unable to login to their accounts. The error message received is Inactive License Looks like you have not been covered under the current free plan of users. Please contact
      • Make panel configuration interface wider

        Hi there, The same way you changed the custom function editor's interface wider, it would be nice to be able to edit panels in pages using the full width of the screen rather than the currently max-width: 1368px. Is there a reason for having the configuration panel not taking the full width? Its impossible at this width to edit panels that have a lot of elements. Please change it to 100% so we can better edit the layouts. Thanks! B.
      • Next Page