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Client-side technologies in Pega 7.2.1
Pega 7.2.1 uses client-side technologies for some design-time and run-time user tasks:
For more information about supported software, see the Platform Support Guide.
Design-time client-side software
The following table summarizes the design-time client-side software for Designer Studio and the corresponding Pega 7 Platform roadmap.
| Software | Description | Pega 7 Platform roadmap |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Flash |
| Adobe continues to support Flash Player. |
| Microsoft ActiveX | ActiveX is not required at design time. | Not applicable. |
| Microsoft Silverlight | Use Microsoft Word to modify specifications in non-Chrome browsers. | All direct Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel interactions are handled by using an import and export model. |
| Microsoft Office | Microsoft Office is not required for any design-time functionality. |
|
Run-time client-side software
The following table summarizes the run-time client-side software for the end-user portal and the corresponding Pega 7 Platform roadmap.
| Software | Description | Pega 7 Platform roadmap |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Flash | Flash controls are not used in end-user applications. | None |
| Microsoft ActiveX |
| Using ActiveX in end-user applications is optional. |
| 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 Designer Studio for the Referencing Rules viewer and the Declarative Network Analyzer (DNA) tool.
To open the Referencing Rules viewer, from any Designer Studio rule form, click . 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 . You also can access this tool by clicking .
Declarative Network landing page
The Declarative Network landing page provides a list of all declaratives that are defined in your application with a link to open the DNA tool for each instance. Click the network link to open the DNA viewer that is associated with the declarative.
Microsoft ActiveX
Microsoft ActiveX controls (with Internet Explorer) provide optional integrations to the Windows desktop. Using these controls is not required with Pega 7 Platform development.
In Pega 7.2.1, ActiveX controls support the following features:
Screen captures
A screen capture ActiveX control is used in the optional Pushpin feedback feature and for taking a screen capture and attaching it to a case. If you have a business requirement to attach screen captures to cases but do not want to use the screen capture ActiveX control, you can use third-party software to take the screen capture and attach the image file to your case.
PegaOutlook
The PegaOutlook control allows Pega 7 Platform applications to interact with an operator’s Microsoft Outlook calendar. The control is loaded only if the GetAppointmentList or SendMeetingRequest flow actions are referenced in a case.
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 refers to the ability to generate 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.
Direct editing of specifications with Microsoft Word
In browsers other than Google Chrome, you can open Microsoft Word to create or modify application specifications during the DCO process by using the View/Edit in Microsoft Word option. Chrome users can upload specification attachments directly without the use of Silverlight.
Document scanning
You can use TWAIN-compliant document scanners to scan and attach documents to cases to satisfy business requirements. The control is loaded only if the pyLaunchScannerConfiguration or pyCreateScannedDocument local actions are referenced from a case.
For more information about configuring the Document Scanning control, see Installing Pega Document Scanning software.
Image viewing
You can view digital images that are attached to cases directly in the Pega 7 Platform without requiring additional image software.
For more information about configuring the Image Viewing control, see Pega Content Management (Capture, Store and View Content).