Building extensions #4: Integrating Zoho Books with applications using connections

Building extensions #4: Integrating Zoho Books with applications using connections

In our last post, we looked at an overview of the key features available for creating a Zoho Books extension, including connections. In this post, we'll go over connections in depth, including their types and applications.

What are connections?

"Connections" is a component in the developer console that allows you to establish secure connections between applications. In general, a secure connection is essential for apps to work seamlessly for data transmission and synchronization. The connections functionality in the Zoho Books extension developer portal is ideal for securely connecting Zoho Books to other Zoho products or third-party applications.

Types of connections

The Zoho Books extension developer portal allows you to use both predefined and custom connections.

Predefined connections:
 These are ready-to-use connections that are preconfigured for various applications to connect with Zoho Books. You can simply search for the application you want to connect to from the default list, choose it, enter some basic information (scope), and connect to Zoho Books.

Custom connections:
 These are connections for apps not included in the default list. You can create a custom connection by manually setting up or configuring information about the application you want to connect to Zoho Books with—such as the authentication type and other corresponding details—and then proceeding with the connection.

Notes
Note: You can also create these custom connections for applications in the default list if you want to customize the connection with specific details.

Now, let's explore the steps to create these connections with an example for each.

Steps to create a predefined connection
  • Go to Sigma and access your workspace.
  • Enter the developer portal of the Zoho Books extension you're creating a connection for.
  • Navigate to the Build section and click Connections to view the connection details, types (predefined and custom), and support to create a new connection.

  • Click the New Connection button to create a new connection.
Notes
Note: Alternatively, you can use the View All option under a connection type to see all the services under that particular connection type and begin building connections.

  • You'll be redirected to the connections page of your extension's developer space, where you can select default or custom services to create connections.


In this post, we'll walk you through creating a predefined connection using the default services available.

For our example, let's create a connection for Wrike (a project management service) available in the default services list and integrate it with Zoho Books.
  • Choose Wrike from the default services list.

  • Click the Create Connection button.

  • Provide the connection details.
➤ Enter the connection name.
➤ Toggle and choose whether you want every user to enter their credentials during connection authorization.
➤ Choose the scopes necessary for your purposes for the connection.

  • Click Create And Connect. Proceed with the flow to accept the scopes and authorize the connection.
  • The connection is now authorized, and you'll be directed to the connection details page. This page will also contain sample code in both deluge and JSON formats that can be used to utilize this connection as part of your extension components. Depending on which component you want to invoke the connection in, you can use the appropriate sample code format.
Notes
Note: Giving the connection name in the script is critical to be able to use the connection in the extension.


  • Close the connection's detail page, and you'll be taken back to your extension's developer portal.
  • If needed, you can create multiple connections for your extension. The connections you've created will be visible in the My Connections section of the Connections page.

  • You can click on a connection to view its details or choose to revoke it, if necessary. You can reconnect a revoked connection whenever you need it.
Let's look at a simple scenario for the predefined connection we created. Assume that each time a project is created in Zoho Books, a new project is created in Wrike to handle project management in detail. In addition, if any tasks are available as part of that Zoho Books project, they'll be instantly created in Wrike alongside the project. This can be accomplished easily in an extension using workflows, custom functions, and connections.

Let's check out the steps to make this happen.
  • Create a custom function for the Projects module by selecting Automate, then Workflow Actions, then Custom Functions, then New Custom Function. Include the logic to fetch the details and its tasks from a Zoho Books project and create a matching project in Wrike.
createwrikeproject deluge function - Please find the code snippet as an attachment in the post
  • In the code above, the Zoho Books project's details, such as project name and task details, are fetched from the Project Map parameter in the custom function.
  • The retrieved project details are constructed as a Map and then passed to the invokeURL deluge task to invoke the Wrike API and create a project. Additionally, a check is made to see if the Zoho Books project has tasks associated with it. If it does, then those tasks are added to the project created in Wrike using the Wrike API to create tasks.
  • The Invoke URL task requires some basic parameters to invoke the API and provide a response.
➤ url: This is the URL of the application's API that will be invoked. In our case, it's the Wrike API URL for Create Project and Create Task.
➤ type: This is the method of the HTTP request required for the API. Since we're creating projects and tasks in Wrike, the type is POST in our example.
➤ parameters: These are data that need to be constructed and passed as the body for the API.
➤ connection: The name of the Wrike connection we created has to be supplied as the value for the connection parameter. This ensures that data transfer between Zoho Books and Wrike is authorized and secure.
  • Next, create a workflow rule for the Projects module by selecting Automate, then Workflow Rules, then New Workflow Rule.
  • Set the Action Type as "When project is created."

  • Now, associate the custom function (createwrikeproject) as a workflow action to this workflow rule. Save the workflow rule.


We've now completed our extension setup for our use case.

After testing and publishing our extension, whenever a new project is created in Zoho Books, a matching project is created in Wrike as well, along with any tasks.


This example demonstrated a seamless transfer of data from Zoho Books to Wrike with connections. This use case can be taken a step further, making sure the project and its tasks maintained in Wrike are also synchronized in Zoho Books.

In this post, we've seen how to set up a predefined connection and use it in a Zoho Books extension. In the next post, we'll look at custom connections and how to create them.

SEE ALSO


    • Recent Topics

    • Canvas Detail View Related List Sorting

      Hello, I am having an issue finding a way to sort a related list within a canvas detail view. I have sorted the related list on the page layout associated with the canvas view, but that does not transfer to the canvas view. What am I missing?

    • Mass Update in Zoho CRM

      Hello, I want to update my past update records by using deluge on some conditions. anyone can please tell me how can I do it.

    • Admin asked me for Backend Details when I wanted to verify my ZeptoMail Account

      Please provide the backend details where you will be adding the SMTP/API information of ZeptoMail Who knows what this means?

    • Action requested: Retain your sales journey configuration in Path Finder

      Dear Customers, We hope you're well! As you might know, we're completely overhauling our journey management suite, CommandCenter, and are in the last leg of it. As a means of getting ready to go live, we will be announcing a series of requests and updates

    • search layout in new version

      Hello where is the menu for customizing search fields (module search layout) in the new zoho version (2016) ?? thanks nono

    • Zoho Marketplace Analytcis

      Hi Team, Our Zoho Marketplace Dashboard is not showing any data. What do you think we could do?

    • if i have zoho one can i upgrade some of my staff from crm to crm plus within my organisation?

      if i have zoho one can i upgrade some of my staff from crm to crm plus within my organisation? Or because I have many licenses of ZOHO ONE , IF I upgrade some staff to ZOGO CRUM PLUS. they will not be on the same organisat

    • The problem with Commerce ownership changing

      Hi, I am changing the ownership of the company and trying to delete the previous user-owner. I changed the owner of the company from user Tatiana to user Eugene. Eugene is the owner of the organization. It's OK. I am now trying to remove the user Tatiana.

    • Secondary Emails

      I am having issues deleting a secondary email address from a couple of our users and need help. When in Directory, manage email addresses, I click the trash icon by the email address and confirm I am trying to delete the email. I click continue and I

    • Zoho Books | Product updates | June 2025

      Hello Users, We’ve rolled out new features and enhancements in Zoho Books, from the option to record advances for purchase orders to dynamic lookup fields, all designed to help you stay on top of your finances with ease. Introducing Change Comparators

    • Widget Upload to CRM Fails with “Page Not Found” – Even with Correct Index Path

      I'm building a simple widget to export Contact data to CSV in Zoho CRM, triggered via a custom button. The widget uploads cleanly, appears in the widget list, and is successfully assigned to a Contact detail view via a custom button. But when clicked,

    • How can we manage the tags in ticket

      Allowing agents to use Tags indiscriminately can cause havoc. We could not find tag management where 1. The admin can create Tags beforehand for use by Agents 2. Permission can be allocated which roles/profiles can use existing tags or add new tags 3.

    • Feed Notifications filter?

      I'd like to have filter settings for Feed Notifications just like we have for Personal Email. If someone dumps a bunch of files into a project, we get a notification for every file!

    • Custom fields and filters for Timesheet

      HI Zoho Projects team. IT would be great and useful if we can add custom fields to the Timesheet design And is needed more options for filtering the timesheet dashboard, like "Milestones" and task list asociated to the record. Thank you

    • How do I rename the dropdown that contains a form and a report?

      I want to rename this, but I can't find how

    • Filtering two fields

      Hoping somone can assist, i am trying to create a report to show values from two different fields. e.g I have Field 1 Field 2 In some records, fields 1 and 2 are both "yes"; in other records, only one of the fields has the value "yes". Can we generate

    • Unable to Convert Quote to Invoice – Integration Active but User Not Recognized

      I’m having trouble converting a Quote into an Invoice inside Zoho CRM, even though the Zoho Finance Suite integration is enabled (Invoices, Quotes, Products, and Customers are all checked), and my user is an Admin in both Zoho CRM and Zoho Books, using

    • Owner drawings

      I entered an owner’s drawing transaction in 2023 but it’s still appearing on 2024 books. Is that supposed to happen? Or should Is there an additional step? I prefer for this transaction not to appear.

    • Running Balance in Account Statement.

      Running balance should come by default in the accounting statements but in ZOHO we need to customize every time to get the running balance in accounting statement. I did not understand, when the bank account statement opened from Bank Menu can show the

    • Importing Invoices

      Dear Team I used the enclosed csv file to import some invoices and it worked fine. I had to delete the file and when I am trying to re-upload it, I am getting the error for invoice number and branch "Resource does not exit." I tried a number of different

    • Enhance "Send Cliq Notification" Action in Zoho Desk Workflows (and also add Happiness Rating Support)

      ello Zoho Desk Team, We hope you're doing well. We’d like to submit a feature request regarding the “Send Cliq Notification” action available in Zoho Desk workflows — specifically in workflows triggered by Happiness Ratings, but also relevant to all workflows

    • Treatment of Non-Refundable Income after cancelling an Invoice

      A customer made part payments of 30,000 for an invoice 0f 100,000, and then he is unable to pay up the remaining and has asked for a refund. As per company policy, he can only get 75% of the amount paid, which is 22,500. The remaining 7,500 is non-refundable

    • I need refund

      I have purchased the Zoho Book standard plan; I had the impression that I would get the purchase > Bill feature. After purchasing, I found that billing is not included in the Zoho standard plan. I immediately canceled the subscription. I love the product,

    • Handling identifiers during an import

      Importing your data When importing data into an application, it is crucial to prevent data loss or duplication. These types of errors can hinder the development of a clean and well-organised database, which is essential for effective data management and

    • Creating Deposit Invoices

      Hi, we are a company that does project based work with a request at the begining of each project for a deposit payment. At the moment we are creating invoices for the deposit and an invoice for the completion of the project, however they are completely

    • Marketer’s Space - WhatsApp Pricing Update: What Marketers Need to Know and Do

      Hello Marketers, Welcome back to Marketer’s Space! WhatsApp made changes to their pricing model on July 1, 2025, moving from conversation-based pricing to a per-message pricing model. This week’s post focuses on what these changes mean for your WhatsApp

    • It's time to say goodbye to Zoho Recruit for me.

      Hello, I have been a Zoho Recruit user since 2013. The tool has evolved, with a better UI, new features and so on. The pricing is still a great asset too. BUT, that being said, important features are not coming fast enough. I tried to share my point of

    • change subscription within customer portal

      Would be great for the customer to be able to change their own subscription (or restart existing one) within the customer portal. Also, would like to be able to have early termination fee on subscriptions if canceled early.

    • How to make the add-on optional at the time of subscription?

      The scenario is this, we have a service which has optional add-ons. Like the customer who purchased the subscription may or may not want to get the add-on. In our case if the customer choose the addon we have monetary benefit. In case the user does not

    • Unable to add attachments to knowledge base anymore

      I have been adding articles to knowledge base in Zoho Desk (as part of Zoho One). Today suddenly i found that I am unable to upload and attachments to the articles. I get the following error: "Attachment couldn't be added." I have uploaded the screenshot

    • Advanced factors for multiple scoring rules: Now with Zia scoring automations for all modules

      Greetings all, We're happy to offer improved scoring features by adding extra scoring factors, including Zia Scores, in our multiple scoring rules (MSR) feature. These new factors—which empower existing traditional scoring factors—include criteria for

    • Sortie de Zoho TABLE ??

      Bonjour, Depuis bientôt 2 ans l'application zoho table est sortie en dehors de l'UE ? Depuis un an elle est annoncée en Europe Mais en vrai, c'est pour quand exactement ??

    • Restrict Agents from Editing Shared Custom Views in Zoho Desk

      Hello Zoho Desk Team, We hope you're doing well. We’d like to submit a feature request regarding the custom views functionality in Zoho Desk. 🎯 Background We’re actively using custom views to filter and display tickets for different teams based on specific

    • Introduction Dario Schiraldi Deutsche Bank Executive

      Hello Everyone, Dario Schiraldi serves as a key leader at Deutsche Bank, where he plays a crucial role in shaping the bank's strategic direction and driving operational success. With a solid foundation in finance and leadership, Dario is committed to

    • Is Zoho Shifts included in the Zoho One plan?

      In case the answer is no: there's any plan to make it available via One? Thank you

    • Feature Request: API Access for Managing Deluge Functions (with OAuth & Change Tracking)

      Hi everyone, I wanted to share a thoughtful request that came in from one of our Zoho clients this week. I believe many of us as partners and developers might relate to it. “One quick item to flag: we’d love an official way to manage Deluge functions

    • Moving Subscriptions from one Customer to another

      We frequently need to move subscriptions from one Customer to another Customer in Zoho Billing and the only way we have figured out to do this is to cancel it in the old owner's profile and manually recreate in in the new owner's profile. In doing this,

    • how to add new line in Deluge?

      I want to make string with line separation like this: this is the first line second line third line I have tried to use \n <br> or </br> inside the string but I can't achieve the result like the example above. I want to create a task by using custom function

    • How to pause a subscription/recurring order ?

      Hello, I'm evaluating Zoho Subscriptions for a food co-op where members order a box of produce every week. The software that we're currently using allows members to set up a recurring order. Members can pause the recurring order when they don't want a box for a while and then resume it later. Is it possible to pause/resume a subscription ? Thanks John

    • Hosted Payment Pages - how to update the address in zoho billing

      I"m playing around with the muti-page hosted payment pages which have places for customers to enter their addresses when paying. Why does this not update their address in Zoho Billing after payment? What can I do to make this happen?

    • Next Page