• Create - You can build custom tabs by creating a Zoho Creator application, form and view(s) from within Zoho CRM. The form will be associated to the tab and the view(s) will be visible in the tab.
  
• Import - You can build custom tabs by importing an already existing application from Zoho Creator, along with the form and view(s) from within Zoho CRM. The form will be associated to the tab and the view(s) will be visible in the tab.
  
  

Permission Required
User who is the owner of the Zoho Creator Account (associated to the CRM account).

Create an Application

To create an application

1. Click Settings > Setup > Marketplace > Zoho  > Build Custom Apps.
   
2. In the Custom Apps page, click Create your Application.
   
3. In the Create page, follow the 6 step procedure to create a custom tab.
   Please note that you will get a 3-step procedure (steps 1, 2, and 6) if you are the only user in the Zoho CRM account.

The following are the six steps involved in creating a Zoho Creator app:

Step 1 - Create a Custom Tab

In the first step you need to provide names for the application, form, CRM tab and Tab Group.

1. Specify a name for the Creator app in the Application Name box.
   
   
   
   
2. Enter the name for the form in the Form Name box.
   
3. Specify a name for the CRM custom tab in the Custom Tab Name box.
   The form will be linked to this custom tab in CRM.
4. Select the check box to associate the custom tab to a Tab Group. You can do the following:
   
   • Select an existing Tab Group Name from the drop-down list, or
     
   • Select Create a tab group from the list to enter the name of the new group. See Also Tab Groups
     
5. Click Next.
   The application and form will be created and the form will be associated to this application.

Step 2 - Build your App

In this step, you need to build your form as per your needs and also create views for the form.

1. Drag and drop the Basic Fields for the form.
   
   
   
   
2. Drag and drop the Zoho CRM field from the Advanced Section.
   
   • In the Adding Zoho CRMwindow, enter the Label Name
     
   • Choose the Zoho CRM Module from the drop-down list.
     
   • Specify other settings, if required and click Done.
     
3. Click Views > New Views to create views for the form.
   
4. Click Next.
   

Note

• In the Personal Free Edition of Zoho Creator, the Zoho CRM field is not supported while building a form. On the other hand, with the Zoho Creator Integration activated in your Zoho CRM account, you will be able to add the Zoho CRM field in your forms irrespective of your Zoho Creator edition.
  

Step 3 - Add a Developer

A Developer , in Zoho Creator, refers to a user who can not only access and edit the applications shared in the administrator's workspace (based on the permissions) but also create applications in the administrator's workspace. Please note that you cannot add more than one developer to an application. Adding a developer for an application is optional.
In this step, you need to add a developer for the application created from within Zoho CRM.

1. Choose the Developer of the Application from the drop-down list.
   In the drop-down all the Zoho CRM users will be listed.
2. Click Next.
   
   
   
   

Step 4 - Module Level Permission

Here, you can share the custom tabs with the CRM profiles. Only the users with the selected profile will be able to view the tabs and the Creator Views in it. Each section here refers to a View of the Form, that can be shared with the CRM users

1. Select the check box(es) of the CRM profiles.
   The Administrator profile and the Developer's profile will be selected by default.
2. Click Next.
   
   
   
   

Step 5 - Share Creator Views with CRM Users

In this step, you can share the Form Views with the users in your CRM account.

1. Select the check box(es) corresponding to the users with whom you want to share the view.
   
2. Click Save & Next.
   
   

Note

• While sharing the views with users, make sure that you do not exceed the total number of users that you can add to the Creator account.
  
• The Zoho CRM users will be able to add, edit or delete the records in the View based on the permissions defined in Zoho Creator.
  

Step 6 - Enable Related List Views

You can also associate the data from custom app with default CRM modules. For example, if you want to associate the travel expenses incurred to meet a lead or contact, link them easily using this option.

1. Click Add Related Lists.
   
2. Enter a name for the Related list.
   
3. Select a module under which you want to add the related list.
   
4. Map the field that can be used to link CRM and custom Apps.
   
5. Select the columns that needs to be listed.
   
6. Click Save.
   
   

Note

• Related lists will not be automatically deleted from modules immeidatley after deleting custom app. You've to manually delete custom related list from Detail View. For more information, refer Delete Custom Related Lists.
  

Import an Application

To import an application

1. Click Settings > Setup > Marketplace > Zoho  > Build Custom Apps.
   
2. In the Custom Apps page, click Import App from Zoho Creator.
   
3. In the Import page, follow the 4-step procedure to import custom tabs.
   

Please note that you will get a 2-step procedure (only the first two steps) if you are the only user in the Zoho CRM account.

Importing Zoho Creator App

Step 1 - Import a Creator App

In the first step you need to select the name of the application, form, CRM tab and Tab Group.

1. Select an application from the Application Name drop-down list.
   Only the applications that you have already created will be listed here.
   
   
   
   
2. Select a form from the Form Name drop-down list.
   Only the forms that you have already created under the application will be listed here.
3. Specify a name for the CRM custom tab in the Custom Tab Name box.
   The form will be linked to this custom tab in CRM.
4. Select the check box to associate the custom tab to a Tab Group . You can do the following:
   
   • Select an existing Tab Group from the drop-down list, or
     
   • Select Create a tab group from the list to enter the name of the new group.
     
5. Click Next.
   

Step 2 - Customize your form

In this step, you need to build your form as per your needs and also create views for the form.

1. Drag and drop the Basic Fields for the form.
   
   
   
   
2. Drag and drop the Zoho CRM field from the Advanced Section.
   
   • In the Adding Zoho CRM window, enter the Label Name.
     
   • Choose the Zoho CRM Module from the drop-down list.
     
   • Specify other settings, if required and click Done.
     
3. Click Views > New View to create views for the form.
   
4. Click Next.
   

Note

• In the Personal Free Edition of Zoho Creator, the Zoho CRM field is not supported while building a form. On the other hand, with the Zoho Creator Integration activated in your Zoho CRM account, you will be able to add the Zoho CRM field in your forms irrespective of your Zoho Creator edition.
  

Step 3 - Module Level Permission

Here, you can share the custom tabs with the CRM profiles. Only the users with the selected profile will be able to view the tabs and the Creator Views in it

1. Select the check box(es) of the CRM profiles.
   
2. Click Next.
   
   

Step 4 - Share Creator Views with CRM Users

In this step, you can share the Form Views with the users in your CRM account.

1. Select the check box(es) corresponding to the users with whom you want to share the view.
   
2. Click Save.
   
   

Note

• While sharing the views with users, make sure that you do not exceed the total number of users that you can add to the Creator account.
  
• The Zoho CRM users will be able to add, edit or delete the records in the View based on the permissions defined in Zoho Creator.
  

Step 5 - Enable Related List Views

You can also associate the data from custom app with default CRM modules. For example, if you want to associate the travel expenses incurred to meet a lead or contact, link them easily using this option.

1. Click Add Related Lists.
   
2. Enter a name for the Related list.
   
3. Select a module under which you want to add the related list.
   
4. Map the field that can be used to link CRM and custom Apps.
   
5. Select the columns that needs to be listed.
   
6. Click Save.
   
   

Note

• Related lists will not be automatically deleted from modules immediately after deleting custom app. You've to manually delete custom related list from Detail View. For more information, refer Delete Custom Related Lists.
  

Reassign Developer

Using the Zoho Creator Integration, you can add or remove developers for the applications created within Zoho CRM.

Permission Required
User who is the owner of the Zoho Creator Account (associated to the CRM account).

1. Click Settings > Setup > Marketplace > Zoho  > Build Custom Apps.
   
2. In the Zoho Creator Integration page, click Reassign Developer.
   
3. In the Reassign Developer to the Custom App page, do the following:
   
   
   
   
   
   • Select an already created application from the drop-down list.
     The assigned developer, if any, will be selected.
   • Click the Reassign link.
     
   • From the drop-down list, select a user as the developer of the application.
     
4. Click Update.
   

Delete Custom Tabs

As an administrator, you can delete the custom tabs created using the Creator Integration. Deleting the custom tab will not delete the associated application, form or view from the Zoho Creator account. The permissions given to the users to access the application will be the same.

To delete custom tabs

1. Click Settings > Setup > Marketplace > Zoho > Build Custom Apps.
   
2. In the Custom Apps page, click the Del link for the corresponding custom tab.
   
   

Customize Creator Form

The Creator forms once built can be modified later from within CRM. You can add or remove the fields in the form and create views for the form.

To customize the form

1. Click Settings > Setup > Marketplace > Zoho > Build Custom Apps.
   
2. In the Custom Apps page, click the Customize Form link corresponding to the custom tab.
   
   
   
   
3. In the Build your App pop-up window, modify the form and add views, if required.
   
4. Click Finish.
   

Edit Custom Tab Settings

You can edit the custom tab settings anytime. It includes the following actions:

• Changing the application, form and tab names.
  
• Modifying the forms and views.
  
• Sharing the custom tabs to the CRM profiles.
  
• Sharing the Creator views to the CRM users.
  

To edit custom tab settings

1. Click Settings > Setup > Marketplace > Zoho > Build Custom Apps.
   
2. In the Custom Apps page, click the Edit link corresponding to the custom tab that you want to edit.
   
   
   
   
3. In the Edit page, follow the 4-step procedure to edit the details.
   Please note that you will get a 2-step procedure (only the first two steps) if you are the only user in the Zoho CRM account.
4. Click Save.