Published Release Notes

Custom database (DB) triggers are dropped during upgrade

The latest version of Pega 7 improves performance by no longer using database triggers to assist with System Pulse and Data-Rule-Summary processing, which is now done within the Pega 7 engine. As a result, DB triggers are no longer installed on either the pr_sys_updatescache or pr4_rule_vw tables.

When upgrading to the latest version of Pega 7, if you had previously implemented a custom database (DB) trigger on these tables, or a custom DB trigger that refers to these tables, it is removed during the upgrade process. No custom triggers are removed unless they reference these tables.

If you have custom DB triggers that reference the pr_sys_updatescache or pr4_rule_vw tables and perform other processing, those triggers must be reimplemented. When doing so, you must be careful to not modify the pr_sys_updatescache or pr4_rule_vw tables.

For more information, see Startup check removes custom DB triggers.

Identify, install, and manage hotfixes with the Hotfix Manager

Hotfixes are packages of files that address issues in Pega 7 and in participating Industry Applications. With Hotfix Manager, you can:

• Scan your system for installed and missing critical hotfixes and create a report that you can provide to Pegasystems Support for diagnostic purposes.
• Review the descriptions and contents of hotfixes.
• Install, rollback, and commit hotfixes.
• Manage hotfixes that include schema changes or require other special handling.

The Hotfix Manager replaces the Update Manager Hotfix Installer and System Scanner, both of which are deprecated. For more information, see Hotfix Manager identifies, installs, and manages hotfixes to Pega 7 and participating Industry Applications.

Enhanced product rule form for easy application packaging

The enhanced product rule form allows you to add applications in Delta mode, which includes only the patch version of the rulesets that comprise the application rule. You can also use Global exclusions to exclude one or more rules that are not associated with a ruleset version.

These enhancements allow easy packaging of non-versioned rules that are often deployed separately and reduce the need to manually add them later.

For more information, see Product rules - Completing the Contents tab.

Delegate rules and data types

You can delegate business-facing application assets, such as paragraphs, decision tables, and data types, to your business line by using a new delegation process. Delegated records are displayed in the new Configuration dashboard on the Case Manager portal.

Enhanced text-editing experience

The enhanced text editor simplifies your text-editing tasks inside Designer Studio. It includes support for:

• Color coding and syntax highlighting
• Tag and bracket matching
• Auto-indent
• Search

You can use the new editor to edit a variety of rules, including basic text files and utility functions.

New context menu in the ruleform header

A new context menu has been added to the Applies To class in the ruleform header. This menu provides the following links that are related to the current rule:

• Show in App Explorer – switches the Application Explorer to the Applies To class of the current rule.
• Open in class record – opens the Applies To class definition.
• View in data designer – opens the Data Designer for the Applies To class.
• View inheritance – opens the inheritance display for the Applies To class.

Merge multiple branches at the same time

Enhancements to the Merge Branches wizard provide support for the merging of multiple branches at the same time. Additionally, the Merge Branches wizard now uses the latest user interface design.

Enhanced Expression Builder

Several enhancements have been made to the Expression Builder. The Expression Builder is displayed in multiple locations and guides you when creating construct arithmetic and logical expressions in your application.

Enhancements to the Expression Builder include:

• An updated text editor
• A navigational pane that displays functions in available libraries and properties within a selected page
• The ability to drag functions and properties into the text editor
• The ability to search for properties and non-internal functions
• The ability to select properties and functions from prompts in the text editor
• Automatic bracket-matching
• Syntax highlighting

Data page automated unit testing

Automated unit testing for data pages now provides a guided way to create and modify automated unit test cases for data pages. Test cases are created by running the data page and converting to a test. Unit tests compare the expected value of a property with the property’s actual value on the data page.

Landing page for data page automated unit test

A new landing page lists all test cases that are associated with the data pages in an application. The landing page includes the data page that corresponds to the test, the data type, and the results of the most recent test case run. A new test case can be created and added from the landing page. Existing test cases can also be run either individually or in batches from the landing page.