Client-side technologies
Pega Platform™ versions 7.3.1 to 8.3 use the following client-side technologies for some design-time and run-time user tasks.
For information about the client-side software used in Pega Platform versions 8.4 and later, see Client-side software requirements.
For information about the client-side software used in Pega Platform versions 7.3, see the following topics:
- Client-side technologies in Pega 7.3
- Client-side technologies in Pega 7.2.1
- Client-side technologies in Pega 7.2
Design-time client-side software
The following table summarizes the design-time client-side software and the corresponding Pega roadmap.
| Software | Description | Pega roadmap |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Flash |
| Adobe is planning to discontinue Adobe Flash and will stop updating and distributing Adobe Flash Player at the end of 2020. The Declarative Network Analyzer (DNA) tool, and Referencing Rules viewer will be replaced in a future release before Adobe Flash Player is discontinued. |
| Microsoft Office | Microsoft Office is not required for any design-time functionality. | Many Pega Platform features support the .docx and .xlsx formats. |
Run-time client-side software
The following table summarizes the run-time client-side software for the end-user portal and the corresponding Pega Platform roadmap.
| Software | Description | Pega Platform roadmap |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Flash | Flash controls are not used in end-user applications. | None |
| Microsoft Silverlight |
| Using Silverlight in end-user applications is optional. |
| Microsoft Office | Microsoft Office is required on your desktop if you use the Silverlight word merge capability in your application. | None |
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash can be used at design time. Developers can use Flash controls in Dev Studio for the Referencing Rules viewer and the DNA tool.
To open the Referencing Rules viewer, from any Designer Studio rule form, click Actions > View References. The viewer displays a list of rules that reference the currently displayed rule.
Referencing Rules viewer
Another Flash control displays the DNA tool. The DNA tool is useful for Lead System Architects who want to trace and debug the evaluation of complex declare expressions. You can access the DNA tool when unit testing a declare expression by clicking Actions > Run in the Declare Expression rule form. You also can access this tool by clicking Designer Studio > Process and Rules > Business Rules > Declarative Network.
Declarative Network landing page
Microsoft Silverlight
Microsoft Silverlight can be used during design time and run time. Silverlight is an application framework that enables cross-browser interaction with rich media and desktop applications. There are Silverlight plug-ins for many browsers.
You can use Silverlight controls in Designer Studio for the following actions:
Document merging
Document merging is the generation of Microsoft Word documents by combining the data that is collected during case processing with predefined Microsoft Word templates. You can use document merging by referencing the CreateMergedWordDoc flow action at design time.
Document merging differs from documenting your application for the Direct Capture of Objectives (DCO), which uses server-side documentation generation. Server-side documentation generation was introduced in Pega 7.1.8.
Document scanning
Users can use TWAIN-compliant document scanners to scan and attach documents to cases to satisfy business requirements. The control is loaded if the pyLaunchScannerConfiguration or pyCreateScannedDocument local actions are referenced in a case.
Image viewing
You can view digital images that are attached to cases directly in the Pega Platform without using additional image software.