Extension creation & Adding components
The first step in building an effective and efficient extension is identifying the individual components required to make it work. Once you've identified this, then the rest is simply adding and configuring these components.
Once you've setup a blank extension, the next step is to start adding components to it. Components are the building blocks of your extension, allowing you to develop a broad range of tools to augment your CRM. The Zoho Developer Console equips you with multiple components that aid in this process. These components can be grouped into four broad categories:
Customization
Customization components help users modify the Zoho CRM system to suit their needs.
Name of the Component | Purpose | Limits in Zoho CRM |
Modules allow you to categorize data in Zoho CRM. They make it easy for users to monitor various aspects of their business such as Sales, Marketing, Customers, Products, Events and more. | Enterprise Edition - 10 custom modules plus 1 additional module for every 10 additional user licences. Not available for other editions of Zoho CRM.
| |
Fields are used to store data pertaining to a record. | Standard Edition - 10 fields/module. Not available for the free edition of Zoho CRM. | |
| Custom Related Lists | Related lists are used to associate records in Zoho CRM with other related records and view them in a single details page. | Enterprise Edition - 3 custom related lists/module. Not available for other editions of Zoho CRM. |
| Custom Buttons | Buttons in Zoho CRM allows you to perform predefined actions with a single click. | Enterprise Edition - 10 custom buttons/module. Not available for other editions of Zoho CRM. |
| Custom Links | Links help you access third party applications and URLs. This advanced feature gives you the advantage of integrating content from other sites into your Zoho CRM account. | Professional Edition - 10 custom links/module. Not available for free and standard edition of Zoho CRM. |
Webtabs allow users to access web applications/pages within their CRM interface. | Enterprise Edition - 10 Webtabs. Not available for other editions of Zoho CRM. |
Automation
These components help the user automate the day to day work process, saving time and money.
Name of the Component | Purpose | Limits in Zoho CRM |
Workflow Rules , are a set of actions (alerts, tasks and field updates) that are executed when specific conditions are met. | Free Edition - 1 rule/module. Standard Edition - 3 rules/module. Professional Edition - 10 rules/module. Enterprise Edition - 30 rules/module. | |
Tasks are activities assigned to users. When associating a workflow task with a workflow rule, the task is automatically assigned to the chosen user when the rule is triggered. | Free Edition - 5 tasks/action. Standard Edition - 5 tasks/action. Professional Edition - 5 tasks/action. Enterprise Edition - 5 tasks/action. | |
Workflow alerts are one of the actions associated with a workflow rule. Alerts are nothing but automated emails that are sent to leads/contacts when the associated rule is triggered. | Free Edition - 5 alerts/action. Standard Edition - 5 alerts/action. Professional Edition - 5 alerts/action. Enterprise Edition - 5 alerts/action. | |
Field Updates automatically update the information contained in a field when an associated workflow rule is triggered. | Professional Edition - 3 field updates/action. Enterprise Edition - 3 field updates/action. Not available for free and standard editions of Zoho CRM. | |
| Custom Functions | Custom functions are simple scripts that help update data in related CRM modules or third-party applications. Custom functions can be associated with a workflow rule, or invoked using a custom button. | Enterprise Edition - 1 Instant Action and 5 Time-Based Actions per Rule. Not available for free and standard editions of Zoho CRM. |
| Schedules | Schedules allow users to automate user-defined actions, which can be performed through custom functions either at a particular time or on a recurring basis. | This feature is available only for the Enterprise edition of Zoho CRM. |
Templates
Create customized email and inventory templates.
Name of the Component | Purpose | Limits in Zoho CRM |
Email templates allow you to send mass emails to a group of leads/contacts, or setup a workflow rule to automatically send email notifications to CRM user when a specific conditions are met. | Free Edition - 10 Templates. Standard Edition - 100 Templates. Professional Edition - Unlimited. Enterprise Edition - Unlimited. | |
Inventory templates allow you to customize the layout for your Quotes, Purchase Orders, Sales Order and Invoice prints. | Professional Edition - Unlimited. Enterprise Edition - Unlimited. Not available for the free and standard editions of Zoho CRM.
|
Integrations
These components help you integrate your Zoho CRM with third party services.
Name | Purpose |
| Connectors | Connectors are the primary integration components that allows you to integrate Zoho CRM with any third-party service that follows OAuth 2.0 protocol. |
| Custom Variables | Custom variables are used to store any static information that can be reused at various points in Zoho CRM. |
| Connected Apps | Connected apps are any application that can be integrated with Zoho CRM using CRM user sign in credentials. |
The components you include in the creation of your extension will define what your extension will do and how it will work.
Extensions that you create using Zoho Developer console falls into two categories: Native extensions and Third-party integrations. Native extensions add more functionality to your CRM system, where as Third-party integration allow Zoho to influence or draw data from third-party services such as Dropbox, Pandadoc, Google, etc.,
Native Extensions can utilize the following components:
Third-party Integrations must utilize at least one integration component in addition to the components mentioned above.