Access Your Act-On Data in SugarCRM

  • Updated

Install the Act-On package for SugarCRM to let Sales users view Act-On activity history on records in SugarCRM and use Act-On dashlets (such as Hot Prospects). This article covers installing the SugarCRM package, configuring the connector, enabling the connector modules, and adding dashlets.

Quick Reference (Advanced Users)

  1. Download the Act-On SugarCRM package ZIP.
  2. Generate an Act-On API key (Settings > Apps > API Access).
  3. In SugarCRM: Admin > Developer Tools > Module Loader (upload, install, commit).
  4. In SugarCRM: Admin > System > Repair (Quick Repair and Rebuild).
  5. In SugarCRM: Admin > System > Connectors (Set Connector Properties > Act-On Integrator).
  6. Set Act-On URL + API Key, then Test Connector.
  7. If needed: authorize IP in Act-On (Settings > Apps > API Access > Authorize IP).
  8. In SugarCRM: Admin > System > Connectors (Enable Connectors > Act-On Integrator).
  9. Enable Contacts, Leads, Targets, then add dashlets to dashboards.

Install the Act-On Package for SugarCRM

If you already have the package but need to upgrade versions, uninstall it before proceeding.

  1. In SugarCRM, go to Admin > Developer Tools > Module Loader.
  2. Find the existing Act-On package and click Uninstall > Commit.

To install the package:

  1. Download the Act-On Sugar package ZIP file. If macOS automatically unzips the file, re-compress it before uploading.

    This file only works with SugarCRM v7.10 or later. If you need help confirming your SugarCRM version, see: this SugarCRM support page.

  2. In Act-On, go to Settings > Apps > API Access, then click Generate Key.

    If you do not see the Apps option, contact Support to have the OAuth feature enabled.

The Apps > API Access screen in Act-On, with the Generate Key button highlighted.

  1. Copy the generated API key into a Word or Google document for safe keeping.
  2. Using your administrator account, sign in to SugarCRM.
  3. Go to Admin > Developer Tools > Module Loader.
  4. In Module Loader, click Choose File.
  5. Select the ZIP file you downloaded in step 1 (for example, ...ActOnPackage-4.3.1.zip), then click Upload.
  6. Locate the Act-On package under the Module Loader upload area and select Install > Commit.

The SugarCRM Module Loader with the Act-On package's Install option highlighted.

  1. Go to Admin > System > Repair.

The SugarCRM Admin > System screen with the Repair link highlighted.

  1. Click Quick Repair and Rebuild. A “done” message appears once completed.

The SugarCRM Repair screen with the Quick Repair and Rebuild link highlighted.

  1. Go to Admin > System > Connectors.

The SugarCRM Admin > System screen with the Connectors link highlighted.

  1. Click Set Connector Properties.

The SugarCRM Connectors screen with Set Connector Properties highlighted.

  1. Click the Act-On Integrator tab.

The Set Connector Properties dialog with the Act-On Integrator tab open.

  1. In the first box, enter the (Global) Act-On URL for your account.
    • The format is https://ciXX.actonsoftware.com.
    • Replace ciXX with the “ci” instance code shown in your browser address bar when you are logged into Act-On.

The Act-On Integrator tab fields for entering the Act-On instance URL and API key.

  1. Paste the API key you generated in Act-On into the second box labeled API Key (Global).

    If you intend to link multiple Act-On accounts to one SugarCRM instance, see: Connecting a Single SugarCRM Account with Multiple Act-On Accounts.
  2. Click Test Connector.

The Test Connector button in the SugarCRM Act-On Integrator configuration.

Testing the Connector

You may have to click Test Connector twice.

If testing fails with Illegal Remote Endpoint followed by an IP address, authorize that IP in Act-On.

The error message shown in SugarCRM when the connecting IP address is not authorized in Act-On.

To resolve this:

  1. Copy the IP address shown in the error.
  2. In Act-On, go to Settings > Apps > API Access > Authorize IP.

The Authorize IP screen under Act-On's Apps > API Access settings.

  1. Paste the IP address (no extra spaces) and click Submit.

Pasting the IP address into the Authorize IP field in Act-On.

  1. Return to SugarCRM and click Test Connector again. If testing still fails, confirm the URL and API key values are correct, then test again. Click Save.

Enable Your Act-On Connectors

  1. Using your administrator account in SugarCRM, go to Admin > System > Connectors.

The SugarCRM Admin > System screen with the Connectors link highlighted.

  1. Click Enable Connectors.

The SugarCRM Connectors screen with the Enable Connectors option highlighted.

  1. Click the Act-On Integrator tab.

The Act-On Integrator tab used to enable the Contacts, Leads, and Targets modules.

  1. Ensure that Contacts, Leads, and Targets are under Enabled. If they are not enabled, move them to Enabled.
  2. Click Save.

The Contacts, Leads, and Targets modules moved to the Enabled column in SugarCRM.

Enable Act-On Dashlets

After the connector modules are enabled, add Act-On dashlets to a SugarCRM dashboard.

To enable the dashlets in SugarCRM:

  1. Sign out of SugarCRM and close all browser sessions completely.
  2. Sign back in to SugarCRM.
  3. Open a dashboard where you want to add Act-On dashlets.
  4. Click the menu icon in the bottom-right corner.

The menu icon in the bottom-right corner of a SugarCRM record, used to add a dashlet.

  1. Click Add Dashlet.
  2. Select the Act-On Activity History dashlet for Leads and Contacts. Customize the options to select which marketing behaviors you want displayed, then click Save.

Configuring which Act-On Activity History behaviors to display on the dashlet.

  1. Repeat the steps above to add the Marketing Timeline dashlet. Give it a name, choose the record type from the available list, and customize the options as needed.
  2. Add the Hot Prospects dashlet and customize the options:
    • Max Records: Number of records displayed in the Hot Prospects dashlet.
    • Days of History: Number of days of Act-On activity history to consider.
    • Minimum Score: Minimum lead score value required for a record to appear.

The Hot Prospects dashlet configuration, showing the lead score threshold field.

For additional configuration options and troubleshooting, see Post SugarCRM Integration Options & Troubleshooting.

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