How to Retain Filters in Embedded Reports in Zoho Creator

When working with reports in Zoho Creator, it's common to embed reports inside a custom page for better UI and workflow control.

However, many developers face this issue: Filters and search values reset when the page is refreshed.

This blog explains why this happens and how to fix it correctly.

The Problem

Consider this setup:

• A report is embedded inside a Zoho Creator page
• User applies filters or searches within the report
• Page is refreshed
• All filters are lost

Report embedded inside a Zoho Creator page showing all 10 students

User applies filter "Class contains 10th" - now showing 5 of 5 students. Notice the "Save Changes" and "Remove Changes" buttons.

But interestingly:

• If the same report is opened directly, filters are retained
• The issue happens only when the report is embedded

So what's the difference?

Why This Happens

Zoho Creator treats embedded reports differently from standalone reports.

To retain this behavior, Zoho Creator provides a feature called Retail Changes.

Solution: Enable Retail Changes

There are two scenarios, depending on how you embed the report.

Scenario 1: Embedding the Report Directly

If you embed the report directly using Zoho Creator's page builder:

1. Open the page in Edit mode
2. Select the embedded report
3. Enable the setting called "Retain Changes"

Report Embed Configuration panel showing the "Retain Changes" toggle under Search & Filters section (highlighted in red)

This is the simplest approach.

Scenario 2: Embedding the Report Using HTML Snippet

In some cases, reports are embedded using HTML snippets (iframe or custom embed).

Here:

• There is no UI toggle for Retain Changes
• You must enable it via a query parameter

Required Query Parameter

Add the following parameter to your report URL:

Example in Zoho Creator

HTML Snippet in Zoho Creator showing the params attribute with zc_RetainChanges=true (highlighted in purple)

Or if you're using a standard iframe embed:

<iframe
  src="https://creatorapp.zohopublic.com/your-app/report/Your_Report_Name?zc_RetainChanges=true"
  width="100%"
  height="600">
</iframe>

When Should You Use This?

Use Retail Changes when:

• Users frequently filter or search reports
• Reports are embedded inside dashboards or workflows
• Page refresh or navigation is expected
• You want a better user experience

Summary

This small configuration makes a big difference in usability.

Final Thoughts

If you're building serious applications in Zoho Creator, understanding these small behaviors helps you deliver polished, professional apps.

The difference between a frustrating user experience and a delightful one often comes down to these seemingly minor details. Taking the time to configure features like Retail Changes shows your users that you care about their workflow and productivity.