Zoho Creator Upcoming Updates — May 2024

Zoho Creator Upcoming Updates — May 2024

Hello all!

We're back after a brief break with our latest monthly post, packed with exciting new features:
  • During actions in Blueprint
  • Widget configuration
  • Subform column freeze
  • Data types in formula fields
  • Maximum character limits
- - - - - - - - - -

During actions in Blueprint

Adding to the customization options available in blueprints, we'll be introducing a new during section that enables the collection of data from the transition owner when performing transitions. Under this new section, you can choose to either update fields or open a form.

Update fields - This enables you to select specific form fields to display during a transition. You also have the option to skip on-edit workflows while updating these fields.

Open a form - This allows you to specify which form should be opened during the transition. This form opens as a pop-up, and only after successful form submission will the transition be completed.
 

 
Business value 
You'll be able to mandate data that needs to be collected from a transition owner while performing a transition and this data entry can also be used to trigger workflows.
 
Applicable for: C5, C6
Availability: All DCs
Released on: 02-Jul-24
Reference: Understand stages and transitions
 
- - - - - - - - - -

Widget configuration

We're thrilled to announce enhanced customization capabilities for widgets in Zoho Creator. With the all-new widget configuration feature, you can have complete control over customizing the components within a widget, specific to an application.

The latest update allows for configuring widget fields in the manifest.json file during the widget creation process. This means you can define variable fields within the widget to accommodate dynamic values and make use of a single widget across multiple applications.

How will it work?
  1. While creating a widget, you can edit the config section in the manifest.json file to name the fields and specify the component type.
  2. When you add the widget to your page, the Widget Configuration menu will slide in from the right, listing out the configurable fields.
 
Use case
Let's assume you have two software applications, an employee management application and an HR management application. It's essential to maintain records on both application dashboards whenever an employee checks in or out of the organization. To streamline this process, a unified widget can be created, and its fields can be configured dynamically using the manifest.json file.

Business value
Widget configuration opens up a world of possibilities for adding a personalized touch to your applications. In addition to its adaptability to various contexts, this feature fosters reusability, allowing the widget to be utilized across multiple applications.
 
Applicable for: C5, C6
Availability: All DCs
Released on: 11-Jul-24
Reference: Understand Widgets
 
- - - - - - - - - -

Subform column freeze 

We'll be rolling out a new enhancement aimed at improving the editing experience within subforms containing a large number of fields. We understand the horizontal scrolling in these subforms can cause a disorienting experience, leading to a loss of focus.

To address this, we've implemented a solution: column freezing. Now, when editing subforms, the first one or two columns will automatically freeze depending on the view port, providing a stable reference point as you navigate through the remaining fields. Typically, the first two fields will be easily identifiable ones, like name and email, and therefore serve as suitable references.

Going forward, this new behavior will become the default setting and be automatically applied to all users.

See how it works

 
Note: This new behavior will be applicable only for forms, embedded forms, and published forms. It won't be available in PWAs or on mobile.
 
Business value 
This behavior change will result in smoother data entry processes, minimized errors, and improved productivity.
 
Applicable for: C5, C6
Availability: All DCs
Released on: 12-Jul-24
Reference: Understand popup subform
 
- - - - - - - - - -

Data types in formula fields

Our formula field is a powerful feature that allows you to automatically generate a value for each record in your form, based on a predefined expression. Now, we're launching a new field type property with two options: single line (supports up to 255 characters) and multi line (supports more than 255 characters).

Going forward, the single line data type will be the default option for newly created formula fields after the rollout. Existing fields will be assigned the multi line option. However, if you switch an existing field to the single line option, only the first 255 characters will be saved.

Note: The new changes will not affect the current behavior of existing formula fields unless their 'field type' property is changed. Henceforth, any newly created formula field with the multi line data type will come with certain limitations, such as that it cannot be searched or used in pages. Therefore, if you need to use the formula field in these instances, we recommend using the single line field.

Where can I find it?
Once the rollout is complete, you'll find the data type option under the field properties of the formula field.


Business value 
The new updates enhance functionality by making it easier to handle and display data, particularly for larger values, expanding the range of use cases.
 
Applicable for: C5, C6
Availability: All DCs
Released on: 02-Jul-24
Reference: Understand formula field
 
- - - - - - - - - - 

Maximum character limits in fields 

Zoho Creator supports a wide range of fields, each designed to collect a specific type of data. While many of these fields come with maximum limits, such as the 255 character limit for the single line field, others, like the rich text field, have no maximum limits.
In our ongoing efforts to standardize character limits and optimize backend performance, we're introducing limits on fields that were previously unrestricted. Going forward, these fields will support up to 64KB(i.e 65,535 characters).

The new limit will be applicable for the Rich Text and Multi line fields.

These limits are scheduled to be implemented by mid-June 2024. We understand that this change may be significant for you, so we're providing ample time for adjustment to the new limit. We request that you update your fields accordingly, to prevent any errors.

Following the rollout, exceeding the maximum limit will result in an error, and you won't be able to proceed with the form submission. Please be aware that this adjustment will also impact rich text automation conducted using the Creator API.
 
Applicable for: C5, C6
Availability: All DCs
 
- - - - - - - - - -
 
And that wraps up this month's updates! If you'd like to receive email notifications when these features are rolled out, just subscribe to our Release Notes page. Please feel free to share your thoughts on these updates in the comment section below.
 
Regards,
The Zoho Creator Team

    • Sticky Posts

    • Introducing Zoho Creator's 2025 Release Projection 2

      Hello Creators! I'm Prakash, from the Creator product management team, and today I'm delighted to unveil our next set of features as part of Release Projection 2 for 2025. With thoughtful analysis and planning, we've curated powerful new capabilities

    • Zoho Creator - 2023 Release Projection 1

      Hello everyone! A very Happy New Year to you and your family. Hope you're all good and having a great time using Zoho Creator to make your lives easier and your businesses prosper. 2022 was an action-packed year for us at Creator, and we hope to continue

    • Zoho Creator User Group meetups in a city near you! - Oct - Nov, 2023

      Greetings from the Zoho Creator team! We're hosting a series of Zoho Creator meetups in various cities across the globe, and we'd love to meet you there! Our meetups are a great opportunity to network with industry peers, exchange ideas and best practices,

    • Zoho Creator - 2023 Release Projection 2

      Hello everyone! Time truly flies when you're having an incredible journey, and today we mark the completion of an eventful and action-packed six months. It feels like just yesterday when we embarked on this adventure together with the launch of our new

    • Upcoming Updates - August 2022

      Hi all, Greetings from the Zoho Creator team! Today we've got news for you on some exciting updates. And rest assured— there’s more to come! In this post, we'll be going over the upcoming features and improvements for this month as mentioned below. A

    • Recent Topics

    • Tracking Non-Inventory Items

      We have several business locations and currently use zoho inventory to track retail items (sales and purchase orders). We were hoping to use zoho inventory to track our non-inventory items as well (toilet paper, paper towels, etc). I understand that we

    • Profile Page View Customization

      I need to change the fields, sections from the profile view of an emplyoyee.

    • Zoho Desk Android app update: Filter, Sort and Saved filters Enhancements

      Hello everyone! We are excited to introduce the below features on the Android version Zoho Desk mobile app: 1. Filter & Sort support has been introduced for the Contacts and Accounts modules. 2. Sort options is now available in Custom Modules as well.

    • Accessing shared mailboxes through Trident (Windows)

      Hi, I have a created a couple of shared mailboxes. The mailboxes are showing up on the browser based Zoho workplace, but I cannot seem to figure out how to access my shared inboxes through Trident (Windows). Am I missing something or is this feature not

    • Feature Request: Ability to set Default Custom Filters and apply them via URL/Deluge

      I've discovered a significant gap in how Zoho Creator handles Custom Filters for reports, and I'm hoping the Zoho team can address this in a future update. This limitation has been raised before and continues to be requested, but remains unresolved. The

    • Closing the Loop: Why Lookup Asymmetry is Harming Data Integrity in Creator

      TL;DR: Lookup fields allow users to add new related records inline via the "+" icon, but there's no equivalent ability to edit an existing related record without navigating away and losing form context. Adding a native "Edit" icon—with automatic User

    • filtering lookup field options based on information in another module.

      In our CRM system. We have the standard Accounts and Deals modules. We would like to introduce the ability to classify Accounts by Sector. Our desired functionality is to have a global list of all sectors that an Account can select, with the ability to

    • Service op locatie organiseren met Zoho FSM: waar lopen organisaties tegenaan?

      Bij organisaties met service teams op locatie merken we vaak dat de complexiteit niet zozeer in de planning zelf zit, maar in wat er rond die planning gebeurt. Denk aan opvolging na interventies, consistente servicerapporten, en het bijhouden van installaties

    • Introducing Assemblies and Kits in Zoho Inventory

      Hello customers, We’re excited to share a major revamp to Zoho Inventory that brings both clarity and flexibility to your inventory management experience! Presenting Assemblies and Kits We’re thrilled to introduce Assemblies and Kits, which replaces the

    • Does the ability exist to make tax on the customer profile mandatory?

      I am reaching out to inquire about the possibility of making the "Customer Tax" field mandatory when creating a new customer in Zoho. We want to ensure that all customers have their tax information recorded to maintain compliance with our internal processes.

    • email association with CRM

      Why is it 2024 (almost 2025) and Zoho has not figured out how to integrate email with CRM? It is so inconsistent at associating emails within CRM. I am an attorney. I have clients and work with other attorneys. Attorney John Doe is associated with multiple

    • Fix the speed

      It takes ages to load on every step even though my dataset is quite small.

    • Credit Note for Shipped and Fatoora pushed invoices

      We have shipped a Sales Order and created an Invoice. The Invoice is also pushed to Fatoora Now we need to create a credit note for the invoice When we try it, it says we need to create a Sales Return in the Zoho Books, we have already created a Sales

    • FSM - Timesheet entires for Internal Work

      Hi FSM Team, Several of my clients have asked how they can manage internal timesheets within Zoho FSM. Since their technicians already spend most of their day working in FSM, it would be ideal if they could log all working hours directly in the FSM app.

    • Add a way of clearing fields values in Flow actions

      It would be great if there was an option to set a field as Null when creating flows. I had an instance today where I just wanted to clear a long integer field in the CRM based on an action in Projects but I had to write a custom function. It would be

    • Role Management

      I am creating an analytics dashboard for a company that will be utilized by its various departments such as Finance, Marketing, and HR. My goal is to design the dashboard with separate tabs for each department. Additionally, I plan to implement role-based

    • Highlight a candidate who is "off limits"

      Hello: Is there a way to highlight a candidate who is "off limits"?  I would like to have the ability to make certain candidate and / or Client records highlighted in RED or something like that.   This would be used for example when we may have placed a candidate somewhere and we want everyone in our company to quickly and easily see that they are off limits.  The same would apply when we want to put a client or former client off limits so no one recruits out of there. How can this be done? Cheers,

    • Announcing new features in Trident for Windows (v.1.37.5.0)

      Hello Community! Trident for Windows just received a major update, with a range of capabilities that strengthen email security and enhance communication. This update focuses on making your mailbox safer and your overall email experience more reliable.

    • Early Payment Discount customize Text

      Hi, I’m currently using Zoho Books and am trying to customize the standard “Early Payment Discount” message that appears in the PDF invoice template. I’ve reviewed the documentation here: https://www.zoho.com/books/help/invoice/early-payment-discount.html

    • Deprecation of SMS-based multi-factor authentication (MFA) mode

      Overview of SMS-based OTP MFA mode The SMS-based OTP MFA method involves the delivery of a one-time password to a user's mobile phone via SMS. The user receives the OTP on their mobile phone and enters it to sign into their account. SMS-based OTPs offer

    • Zoho Sheet - Desktop App or Offline

      Since Zoho Docs is now available as a desktop app and offline, when is a realistic ETA for Sheet to have the same functionality?I am surprised this was not laucned at the same time as Docs.

    • DKIM Now Mandatory - Changes to Zoho Forms Email Policies

      Hello Zoho Forms Users, This post is to inform you about an important update regarding the authentication of all email domains in your Zoho Forms account. This year, we are doubling down on our commitment to deliver a secure, seamless, and empowering

    • Call description in notes

      When completing a call, we type in the result of the call in the description. However, that does not show up under the notes history on the contact. We want to be able to see all the calls that have taken place for a contact wihtout having to go into

    • Email Address for Contact not Populating

      When I click "Send Mail" from a Contact's page, their email address does not auto populate the "To" field. How do I make this happen?

    • New in CRM: Dynamic filters for lookup fields

      Last modified on Oct 28, 2024: This feature was initially available only through Early Access upon request. It is now available to all users across all data centers, except for the IN DC. Users in the IN DC can temporarily request access using this form

    • Why hybrid project management might be the best fit for you?

      Project management techniques are designed to equip teams with proven methods for easy and efficient project execution. While management teams may have apprehensions about adopting the hybrid method of project management, we’ve compiled the top reasons

    • Allow all Company Users to view all projects, but only owner/admins can change projects

      I was wondering if there was a permission setting I could adjust to allow all our company users to see all projects created. Then, only the project owners and admins with the change permission. Thanks

    • Fail to send Email by deluge

      Hi， today I gonna update some email include details in deluge, while this msg pops up and restrict me to save but my rules has run for one year. can you tell me how to use one of our admin account or super admin account to send the email? I tried to update

    • Seeking help to be able to search on all custom functions that are defined

      Hello I have a lot of custom functions defined (around 200) and i would like to search some specific strings in the content of those. Is there a way to accomplish that? If not, is there a way to download all existing custom functions in some files locally

    • Totals for Sales Tax Report

      On the sales tax report, the column totals aren't shown for any column other than Total Tax. I can't think of a good reason that they shouldn't be included for the other columns, as well. It would help me with my returns, for sure. It seems ludicrous

    • Add Bulk Section / Grid Layout Duplicate Feature in Zoho Forms Builder

      Currently in Zoho Forms, users can only duplicate individual fields. There is no option to duplicate an entire section or two-column/grid layout with all internal fields. This becomes inefficient when building structured forms such as Family Details,

    • Leistungsdatum in Rechnungen (Zoho Books)

      Hallo, ist es irgendwie möglich den Leistungszeitraum in der Rechnung aufzuführen? Beste Grüße Aleks

    • Zoho Trident Windows - Streams Not Visible

      Namaste We’re having an issue with Streams not being visible in Trident (Windows), which is important for us as we share many emails internally. It appears that the feature to show Streams above the Inbox folder, as seen in the default mailbox view, is

    • Sales IQ Chat Widget is Only Displaying Last Name

      Can anyone suggest why the widget is only displaying "last name"?! We have the latest version of the wordpress plugin installed. Thanks Thanks!

    • Shopify - Item sync from Zoho Inventory

      Hi team, We’ve connected Shopify with Zoho Inventory. We want that when an item is created in Zoho Inventory, it must create a product in Shopify. But currently, new items created in Zoho Inventory are not getting created in Shopify even after clicking

    • Bulk upload image option in Zoho Commerce

      I dont know if I am not looking into it properly but is there no option to bulk upload images along with the products? Like after you upload the products, I will have to upload images one by one again? Can someone help me out here? And what should I enter

    • Is it possible to setup bin locations WITHOUT mandating batch tracking?

      Hi fellow zoho users, I'm wondering if anyone else has a similar issue to me? I only have some products batch tracked (items with shelf life expiry dates) but I am trying to setup bin locations for my entire inventory so we can do stock counting easier.

    • Kill zoho meeting

      Saying the quiet part out loud. Can zoho please just give up on the idea that they can make a meeting platform and just make our workplace licenses cheaper when you remove it so people can switch to zoom or teams. Tired of the excuses, you guys cant make

    • Utilisation de Zoho en conformité avec l’article 286 du Code général des impôts (CGI)

      Cher(e) client(e), Conformément à l’article 286 du Code général des impôts (CGI) impose aux entreprises assujetties à la TVA d’utiliser des systèmes de caisse ou de gestion commerciale certifiés lorsqu’elles enregistrent des ventes à des particuliers.

    • Unable to Create Task as a Support Administrator

      Hello! I want to ask for help regarding creating tasks within the tickets. I am by default the Support Admin. I should be able to create tasks or activities right? But there's a prompt that I need to contact the Administrator. See photos for reference.

    • Next Page