Beam Help — independent expert support for Zoho. This article shows the minimal, practical path to create an automation that adds followers to tasks in Zoho Projects using a custom function and a Zoho Projects connection; it points to the exact areas to configure and the key settings you must adjust[1][8].
Why this matters
Adding followers manually to every active task wastes time and risks missed updates for stakeholders; automating the follower list ensures the right people stay informed as tasks change[1]. A custom function run from Zoho Projects' Developer Space can call the Projects API and update task data when a trigger fires[8].
Step-by-step
Step 1. Create a Zoho Projects connection with the needed scope: choose Zoho Projects as the service and include the ZohoProjects.projects.UPDATE scope so the custom function can modify Projects data[8].
Step 2. Open Zoho Projects and go to Developer Space, then select Custom Functions to prepare your automation function[8].
Step 3. In the Custom Functions area, switch to the Tasks tab in the top panel so the function is scoped for task-level automation and click to create a new custom function[8].
Step 4. Write your Deluge script inside the new custom function. Use invokeurl to call the Projects API endpoint for the resource you need to update, and pass the connection name you created in Step 1[8].
Step 5. Ensure the portal base URL in your script matches your data centre (for example changing the domain to AU, EU, CN, IN, etc.) so API calls go to the correct endpoint[8].
Step 6. Replace any placeholder connection name in the script (for example "projectdateupdate" shown in examples) with the actual connection name you created for your portal[8].
Step 7. Add the required function arguments during configuration so the function receives task identifiers and any follower user identifiers it needs when executed[8].
Step 8. Attach the custom function to an automation trigger where appropriate (for example a workflow or a task event) so it runs when the task reaches the stage that should add followers[1][8].
Common pitfalls
- If your portal URL uses a different data centre domain and you do not update the endpoint in the script, the function may fail to run[8].
- Use the exact connection name configured in the Connections screen inside your invokeurl call; mismatched names will prevent the API call from authenticating[8].
- Confirm the automation trigger you choose actually fires for the task state or change you expect; otherwise followers won't be added when you need them[1].
What to check
- The Zoho Projects connection includes ZohoProjects.projects.UPDATE and the connection name used by your script matches the one shown in Connections[8].
- The portal domain in the endpoint URL matches your data centre (AU/EU/CN/IN, etc.) so the API calls target the correct server[8].
- The custom function accepts the task identifiers and follower identifiers you supply and is attached to a trigger that runs at the intended task event[8].