Ever wanted to run a Levenshtein Distance algorithm inside Zoho Deluge? No? Me neither, but I did it anyway.
I built a fully functional fuzzy matching system inside Zoho, brute-forcing a dynamic programming solution using Maps and recursive list generation.
- Does it scale? Not really.
- Does it work? Absolutely.
- Did I need to do this? Not at all, but it was fun.
I don’t even use this anymore because I found a better way around fuzzy matching for my needs, but hey, if you ever need a low volume Levenshtein calculator inside Zoho, now you have one. 🤷♂️
How It Works
The function computes Levenshtein Distance, a metric for fuzzy string similarity, by calculating the number of insertions, deletions, and substitutions needed to convert one string into another.
This method is commonly used in spell-checking, DNA sequencing, and fuzzy search algorithms—so obviously, I decided to implement it inside Zoho, because why not?
🔹 The Challenge: Zoho doesn’t support 2D arrays natively.
🔹 The Solution: I brute-forced it using Map-of-Maps as a manual matrix.
🔹 Bonus: I even used recursion to generate number sequences (which is completely unnecessary but kinda cool).
Code & Example Usage
Main Function: standalone.levenshteinDistance
📌 Input: {"s": "kitten", "t": "sitting"}
📌 Output: "3"
Code:
string standalone.levenshteinDistance(Map args)
{
// Retrieve input strings.
s = args.get("s");
t = args.get("t");
m = s.length();
n = t.length();
// If one string is empty, return the length of the other.
if(m == 0)
{
return n.toString();
}
if(n == 0)
{
return m.toString();
}
//info "Length of s: " + m.toString() + ", Length of t: " + n.toString();
// ------------------------------
// Get index lists via the helper function.
// The helper function standalone.UtilitygetListOfLength returns a comma-separated string.
// For example, if (m+1) is 5, it returns "0,1,2,3,4".
// ------------------------------
indices_m_str = standalone.UtilitygetListOfLength({"myLength":m + 1});
indices_n_str = standalone.UtilitygetListOfLength({"myLength":n + 1});
//info "indices_m_str: " + indices_m_str;
//info "indices_n_str: " + indices_n_str;
// Convert these comma-separated strings into lists of long values.
indices_m = list();
numList_m = indices_m_str.toList(",");
for each numStr in numList_m
{
if(numStr.trim() != "")
{
indices_m.add(numStr.trim().toLong());
}
}
indices_n = list();
numList_n = indices_n_str.toList(",");
for each numStr in numList_n
{
if(numStr.trim() != "")
{
indices_n.add(numStr.trim().toLong());
}
}
//info "indices_m list: " + indices_m.toString();
//info "indices_n list: " + indices_n.toString();
// ------------------------------
// Initialize matrix as a map-of-maps.
// Each row is a map keyed by the column index.
// ------------------------------
matrix = Map();
for each i in indices_m
{
rowMap = Map();
for each j in indices_n
{
rowMap.put(j,0);
}
matrix.put(i,rowMap);
}
// Set up the first column: matrix[i][0] = i.
for each i in indices_m
{
rowMap = matrix.get(i);
rowMap.put(0,i);
}
// Set up the first row: matrix[0][j] = j.
firstRow = matrix.get(0);
for each j in indices_n
{
firstRow.put(j,j);
}
// ------------------------------
// Compute Levenshtein distances.
// ------------------------------
for each i in indices_m
{
if(i == 0)
{
continue;
}
for each j in indices_n
{
if(j == 0)
{
continue;
}
// Determine cost: 0 if characters are the same, otherwise 1.
if(s.subString(i - 1,i) == t.subString(j - 1,j))
{
cost = 0;
}
else
{
cost = 1;
}
deletion = matrix.get(i - 1).get(j) + 1;
insertion = matrix.get(i).get(j - 1) + 1;
substitution = matrix.get(i - 1).get(j - 1) + cost;
minValue = deletion;
if(insertion < minValue)
{
minValue = insertion;
}
if(substitution < minValue)
{
minValue = substitution;
}
rowMap = matrix.get(i);
rowMap.put(j,minValue);
}
}
result = matrix.get(m).get(n);
//info "Levenshtein distance: " + result.toString();
return result.toString();
}
Recursive Helper Function: standalone.UtilitygetListOfLength
📌 Input: {"myLength": 6}
📌 Output: "0,1,2,3,4,5"
Code:
string standalone.UtilitygetListOfLength(Map args)
{
myLength = args.get("myLength");
//info "Input myLength: " + myLength;
if(myLength == null || myLength <= 0)
{
//info "Base case reached (myLength <= 0). Returning empty string.";
return "";
}
else
{
// Recursively get the string for (myLength - 1)
prevStr = standalone.UtilitygetListOfLength({"myLength":myLength - 1});
//info "Previous string returned for myLength " + (myLength - 1).toString() + ": " + prevStr;
if(prevStr.equals(""))
{
result = "0";
}
else
{
result = prevStr + "," + (myLength - 1).toString();
}
//info "Returning result for myLength " + myLength.toString() + ": " + result;
return result;
}
}
This helper function is completely unnecessary, but I made it anyway. Instead of just looping, it recursively builds a CSV string of numbers—which is both inefficient and hilarious. 😆
Why Did I Do This?
Because it wasn't supposed to work—but it does.
- Zoho doesn’t support Levenshtein distance? I built it anyway.
- Zoho doesn’t have fuzzy matching? Now it does.
- Zoho doesn’t support 2D arrays? I brute-forced a matrix using Maps.
- Does this scale for massive data? Nope, but it’s perfect for low-volume cases.
Thoughts? Ideas? Have you ever done something in Zoho just because you wanted to see if it was possible? Let me know. 😆
TL;DR:
📌 I brute-forced Levenshtein Distance into Zoho
📌 Zoho wasn’t built for this, but I made it work anyway
📌 Does it scale? No. Does it work? Yes.
📌 Do I use it? Nope. Was it fun? Absolutely.
Let me know what you think! 🚀
Recent Topics
Product Updates in Zoho Workplace applications | November 2025
Hello Workplace Community, Let’s take a look at the new features and enhancements that went live across all Workplace applications this November. Zoho Mail Format comments easily using Slash Commands With Slash commands, you can easily format text, insert
Right-Click Pipeline to Open in New Tab
Please add the ability to right-click on a pipeline to open it in a new tab
Adjusting Physical Inventory
Not getting very far with support on this one, they say they are going to fix it but nothings happened since November. Please give this a thumbs up if you would like to see this feature or comment if you have some insight. Use Case: Inventory set to be
sync views to sheet
Im looking to sync my views aka reports in analytics to zoho sheets, when data is updated in analytics it also should be updated in sheets, till now zoho sheets only offer raw data connection and it is not enough as these reports are difficult to re-do
How to update the Status in a custom module?
Hi, I have a custom module "cm_payment_registry" in Billing, I am trying to change the status which is "Draft" with: array = {"custom_status":"Approved"}; zoho.billing.update("cm_payment_registry",organization.get("organization_id"), XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, array,"connectionname");
Replace Zoho Invoice with QuickBooks
We are implementing Zoho FSM for a cleaning business in the US with 50+ field workers. This business has been using Quickbooks for accounting for decades and will not migrate to Zoho Books. A major issue in the integration is the US sales tax calculation.
2025 Highlights: A Year of Steady Progress and Significant Developments
As we come to the end of 2025, let's take a moment to reflect on the significant progress and developments we've made to improve your travel and expense management. In the Spotlight Introducing Online Booking (US edition only - Early access) Enable online
Function #42: Show the actual rate of items on invoices
Hello everyone, and welcome back to our series! In Zoho Books, you have the ability to create Price Lists, wherein you can mark up and mark down the item rates by a specific percentage or set custom rates. Generally, when you apply a price list to an
Ability to Set Text Direction for Individual Cells in Zoho Sheet
Dear Zoho Sheet Team, We hope you are doing well. We would like to request an enhancement in Zoho Sheet that allows users to set the text direction (right-to-left or left-to-right) for individual cells, similar to what is available in Google Sheets. Use
Warehouse fast processing
Hey guys, would anyone be interested in something like the attached image ? If there's any interest I'd be willing to develop it further for others to use, it's much faster than using Zohos native solutions, it can part pack, pack in full, part ship,
Can I create a CODE 128 custom field for my items in Zoho Inventory and then use it for generating Sales Orders?
Can anyone helps me, I don't want to use the SKU code for scanning my products. Because all my products have a CODE-128 label attached.
Start/Stop Timmer in Chrome Extension
The chrome extension is great and allows you to do allot however one of the most common things employees working on projects need to do is track their time. Having an easy start/stop timer to track time would be great.
Invalid collection string
I haven't changed anything in one of my functions. I'm trying to run it manually and suddenly "Invalid collection string" appears. My code has 6 lines and the error says that the error is on 7th line. Why? What does this error mean? Nothing has been changed
Zoho Directory 2025: New Features | Security Enhancements | Enriched UI
Hello everyone, Greetings from the Zoho Directory team! 2025 has been a highly successful year for Zoho Directory. We are delighted to introduce a fresh set of features, an enriched UI, and major product enhancements. These updates aim to deliver a smoother
zoho people 5 report
How do I customize my report in Zoho People Report? I understand that I can get the results of multi-table queries through SQL join statements, but I don't know the relationship between each table. I tried to create a report using Attendance User Report
Leave Report Emailed Weekly
I am wondering if someone knows how to have a report generated either weekly or monthly or both for department heads and ownership of upcoming employee leave. For instance, it would be nice to get an emailed report on Friday for the upcoming week of who
Zoho Flow Decision Continuing Despite Not Meeting Conditions
I have a picklist field called Lead Status in the leads module, with the following lead Statuses: New Lead Attempted Contact - 1 Attempted Contact - 2 Attempted Contact - 3 Attempted Contact - 4 Attempted Contact - 5 Attempted Contact - 6 Attempted Contact
Tip #55- Accessibility Controls in Zoho Assist: Exploring Vision Settings- 'Insider Insights'
As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good moment to reflect on how we can make our tools more inclusive and easier to use for everyone. Remote support often involves long hours in front of screens, varied lighting conditions, and users with different
Zoho Recruit Slow and Freezing on all screens
We have had an issue with Zoho Recruit for weeks being extremely slow and at times freezing. We have 100 mega internet, and I went into each computer and updated the virtual memory so there is more available. Also restarted all computers daily. Still having the issues. Almost unable to work.
Credit Management: #2 Configuring Right Payment Terms for Credit Control
Think about the last time you ordered something online and saw that little note at the checkout, "Pay on Delivery" or "Pay later". It's simple, but it actually sets the tone. As a business owner, you know exactly when payment is expected. Now, imagine
Dependent (Conditional) Fields in Zoho Bookings Forms
Hello Zoho Bookings Team, Greetings, We would like to request the ability to create dependent (conditional) fields in Zoho Bookings registration forms. Current Limitation: There is currently no way to make one field’s available options depend on the value
Bug Report: Search fails to find existing notes after Evernote import
Hello, I recently migrated from Evernote (~2600 notes across 23 notebooks), but the search functionality is currently broken. The Issue: I can manually browse to a specific note and see it exists. However, when I type the exact or partial title of that
Marketing Tip #13: Win repeat customers with post-purchase emails
The relationship with your customer doesn’t end after the sale; that’s when it begins. A thoughtful post-purchase message shows customers you appreciate them, keeps your brand top of mind, and can even lead to another sale. You can thank them, ask for
Zoho Form
I have problem with Zoho Form. One of form i don't received the PDF version. Others okay except this one. W904533
Create & Update Zoho Vault Passwords via Zoho Flow
Hi Zoho Flow / Zoho Vault Team, We’d like to request an enhancement to the Zoho Vault integration in Zoho Flow. Current Limitation: At the moment, Zoho Flow supports only the following selected Zoho Vault actions, such as: Fetch passwords, Share passwords
Custom Related List Inside Zoho Books
Hello, We can create the Related list inside the zoho books by the deluge code, I am sharing the reference code Please have a look may be it will help you. //..........Get Org Details organizationID = organization.get("organization_id"); Recordid = cm_g_a_data.get("module_record_id");
Migrate different zoho subscription to zoho one
Dear We have different zoho subscription we need to migrate it to zoho one. Currently we are paying for zoho email, zoho expense, zoho payroll etc under different admin We need to move it too zoho one flexlible plan for all my employees
Features, Feedback and Votes
We’re launching the Feedback Forum for our customers. This is 'THE' place where you can add everything you’d like to see in Zoho Books. If you don't find the specific feature you need, simply add it so others can also vote for it. While we cannot promise
There Might Be A Glitch in Determining If A String Represents A URL
I suspect there might be a glitch in determining if a string represents a URL or not. For example, I cannot embed the following URL. Perhaps the exclamation mark or parentheses are the culprit? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_the_Grinch_Stole_Chri
Customer Management: #4 Enhance Customer Journey
When Neha started DefineOps, a growing IT support and consulting firm, most of her work was straightforward. A client would sign up for a free version, decide whether the service works for them, and then either continue or discontinue. Billing was simple,
Android app sync problem - multiple devices have same problem
Hello, I am having a problem with synchronization in the Android app. When I create a drawing, the data does not sync correctly—only a blank note is created without the drawing. I tested this on multiple devices, including phones and tablets, and the
Marketing Tip #1: Optimize item titles for SEO
Your item title is the first thing both Google and shoppers notice. Instead of a generic “Leather Bag,” go for something detailed like “Handcrafted Leather Laptop Bag – Durable & Stylish.” This helps your items rank better in search results and instantly
Territory Assignment Issues (Lead to Account + Contact)
1. Lead → Account & Contact Territory Assignment on Conversion A Lead is automatically assigned one or more territories using a workflow and Lead Assignment Rules. This works as expected, and we are able to assign multiple territories to a Lead automatically.
Marketer's Space: Proven tips to improve open rates – Part II
Hello Marketers! Welcome back to another post in Marketer's Space! We're continuing from where we left off a fortnight ago. We ended the previous post discussing the subject line, and we'll continue from there. Let's dive right in. Pre-header Pre-header
SQL Table slowed to a crawl
Hi all - I seem to have noticed an update. Now whenever I am typing in the script field for the SQL tables there is a huge delay and it is all very slow. This has never been the case for me in over 5 years of using Analytics - I really hope it's fixed
Deluge Events/search API works in user environment but not in sandbox – why?
I am creating an Extension for Zoho CRM using Zoho Sigma Platform I’m using the following Deluge code to search Events in Zoho CRM based on Start_DateTime: criteria = "(Start_DateTime:greater_than:2025-12-20T00:00:00+00:00)"; url = "crm/v8/Events/search?criteria="
What are Zoho Meeting capabilities included in Zoho Workplace Standard?
I am evaluating using Zoho Meeting for my organization, but it is not clear what Zoho Meeting capabilities are already included in Zoho Workplace Standard. - Are meeting recordings included in Workplace Standard? - Can we invite external meeting participants
How can I get the participant list of a reoccurring meeting afterwards?
I'm trying to use the Meeting Participant Report from the API docs but when I call it on a reoccurring meeting it returns that there are no participants because it thinks I'm talking about the meeting in the future. Is there a way to use webhooks or some
Function #50: Send Mass emails to your customers
Hello everyone, and welcome back to our series! We have reached a milestone of 50 Functions, which means that we have automated 50 different tasks in Zoho Books. Every Friday, we have shared a nifty function aimed at either automating a task or streamlining
Full Hebrew Language Support for Client-Side Zoho Assist Interface
Dear Zoho Assist Team, We would like to request an enhancement to Zoho Assist's client-side interface to support full Hebrew language customization, including all popups, notifications, and session-related messages. Current Limitation The Join page allows
Next Page