Zoho Creator offers a robust platform for building and customizing applications, enabling you to tailor forms, set up notifications, and manage user access with ease. This guide provides insights into making your application public, embedding views, and managing data efficiently.

Making Your Application Public

Sharing Your Application

To share your application publicly, logging into Zoho is required. While this is the recommended approach for internal use within your organization or team, it is still possible to merge with other systems if needed.

Embedding Data in Web Pages

Simplifying Data Integration

Imagine you’ve developed an inventory management application to track products, availability, purchases, and client data. If you want to display a price list on your business website, embedding this data into a web page directly can simplify the process.

Instead of manually exporting data to a CSV file and updating your website, Zoho Creator allows you to embed views and forms directly. This feature helps keep your website up-to-date with the latest information from your database with minimal effort.

How to Embed Forms and Views

To embed a form on your website, follow these steps:

  1. Access the Program in Edit Mode: Start by selecting “Access this program in edit mode” from the main menu. Note that embedding is not available in this mode.
  2. Locate Embed Options: Click on “More Actions” and select “Embed in your website” from the top of the Contacts form. You will see the embed code in a pop-up window.
  3. Customize the Form: To adjust the appearance of the embedded form, click “Customize Form Properties and Look and Feel.” If any changes are required, you can make them using the links on the left.
  4. Paste the Code: Take the code that was generated and paste it into the HTML of the page you want to edit. Basic HTML knowledge is required. If you’re unfamiliar with HTML, consulting an expert is recommended.

The same process applies to embedding different views and forms. The embedded code will typically use an iframe to include the object. Adjust the container’s dimensions as needed to fit your page layout.

Utilizing Creator’s Additional Features

Accessing the Main Console

Zoho Creator’s main console serves as a command center where you can view, edit, and run your apps. To access it:

  1. Go to Home Page: Click “GoTo Home” or visit Zoho Creator Home.
  2. Check Account Settings: Review your current subscription, available quota, and user list by clicking “Account Settings.”
  3. Personal Profile Editing: The “My Profile” link in the sidebar allows you to change your profile information.

Selling and Distributing Applications

Building apps for others can be a profitable venture. Once you’ve developed a few apps, consider listing them in the Zoho Marketplace. Although the Marketplace is still developing, it functions similarly to an app store where customers can discover, try, and purchase apps.

To explore the Marketplace, visit Zoho Marketplace or click “GoTo Marketplace” within Creator.

Becoming a Zoho Developer

To become a registered Zoho Creator developer, access the Developer Zone:

LOOKING FOR A ONE-STOP SOLUTION TO YOUR GROWTH NEEDS?

  1. Enroll in the Developer Program: Visit Zoho Developer Zone to read the provider’s guidelines and sign up.
  2. Access Developer Zone: You can enter the Developer Zone from within Creator by clicking “GoTo Developer Zone” or by visiting Zoho Developer Zone.

Managing Application Data

Backing Up Your Application

It’s crucial to regularly back up your application data:

  1. Run the Application: You can back up your application even while in edit mode.
  2. Save as Script: Click “More Actions” and select “Save as Script” to download the complete Deluge code as a .ds file.
  3. Back Up: Put the.ds file somewhere safe. You can view its structure with a text editor and use it to restore or recreate your application if needed.

To create a duplicate of your app, use the “Duplicate” button on the Home page next to the app’s name.

Importing and Exporting Data

For importing multiple records:

  1. Save Data: Export your data as an Excel, CSV, or TSV file, with CSV being the preferred format.
  2. To copy data, open the exported file and cut and paste the desired information.
  3. Import Data: In the application, open the form or view where the data will be imported, then select “Import Data” from “More Actions.”
  4. Paste and Submit: Paste the copied data into the import dialogue and ensure the correct file type is selected.

For exporting data, use the “More Actions” option to export in formats such as spreadsheets, HTML, PDFs, RSS, JSON, and TSV feeds. Feeds provide real-time data access to third-party apps.

Advanced Cloud Development

Zoho Creator provides a solid foundation for cloud-based applications. For advanced cloud features, consider using platforms like Google AppEngine:

  1. Deploy to AppEngine: Click “More Actions” and select “Deploy in Google AppEngine” to start the deployment process.
  2. Follow Prompts: Complete the deployment by following on-screen instructions. For more details, visit Google AppEngine or watch a demo at Viddler.

Zoho Creator’s capabilities extend beyond basic app development, offering powerful tools for embedding data, managing applications, and leveraging advanced cloud platforms. Explore these features to optimize your applications and streamline your workflows.

© Image credits to Nick Collins

LOOKING FOR A ONE-STOP SOLUTION TO YOUR GROWTH NEEDS?

Posted in CRM