Published Release Notes

Improvements for the PMML models

The Pega 7 Platform extends support for the PMML models to include PMML 4.2 features and validations. Additionally, the PMML files that contain custom functions can be imported into the Pega 7 Platform and used in strategies.

For more information, see Predictive Model rule form.

Improvements to the adaptive models management

There are several improvements for managing large sets of adaptive models that make model management faster and easier. In the Adaptive Models Management landing page, you can clear and delete models in bulk. In the Predictors tab of the Adaptive Model rule, you can add multiple predictors. In the Memory estimation tab of the Adaptive Model rule, you can estimate the memory that the Adaptive Decision Manager (ADM) system needs to accommodate the models that use the adaptive model configuration.

For more information, see:

• Adaptive Models Management landing page
• Adaptive model form - Completing the Predictors tab
• Adaptive model form - Complating the Memory estimation tab

Improvements to the HBase data set, HFDS data set, and Hadoop host configuration

The Pega 7 Platform features maintenance improvements to the Hadoop host configuration, HBase data set, and Apache Hadoop File System (HDFS) data set. System architects can more easily make HDFS and HBase storage available to business scientists for exploratory analysis and predictive model building.

For more information, see Big data functionality enhancements.

Data Flow rule enhancements

The enhancements to the Data Flow rule facilitate decision execution in real time, batch, and Pega 7 Platform applications. The DataFlow-Execute method in activities can be used to execute and monitor batch runs and real time data flows. In addition, you can configure pre- and post-activities that are executed before and after data flow execution.

For more information, see the following Pega 7 Platform help topics:

• About data flow rules
• DataFlow-Execute method
• Pre- and post-processing of data flows

Strategy canvas enhancements

The Strategy canvas in Decision Management has been enhanced to let you to create, edit, and display your strategy more easily. You can keep your strategy in order using the Smart Mini Map, improved selection capability, and the new Align and Distribute options. Additionally, you can perform the most common operations using keyboard shortcuts and accelerators.

For more information, see Strategy rule enhancements.

Support for predictive models in PMML version 4.4

Pega Platform™ now supports the import of predictive models in Predictive Model Markup Language (PMML) version 4.4. With this feature, you can import PMML models that use the anomaly detection algorithm.

For a list of all supported PMML models, see Supported models for import. 

Consistent search experience in App Studio

Pega Platform™ now supports a unified search mechanism in App Studio. Instead of manually locating a single item, such as a case type, a channel, or a data object, you can simply use the Search option in the navigation pane. You can also use Search in case types and personas landing pages, to conveniently access the information that you need, for example channels and case types associated with a persona.  

For more information, see Plan your Microjourneys more conveniently in an improved Case Designer (8.5), Creating a Microjourney for customer success.

Automated project estimation in App Studio

App Studio now supports estimating projects in an intuitive and automated way, so that you can plan your work with greater efficiency and accuracy. Estimations include the number of hours that you will need to deliver an application, based on multiple factors such as the delivery methodology, the number and complexity of features to implement, and the number of teams involved. After you provide the required data, the project estimator calculates the expected duration of application development. To share your project estimates outside Pega Platform™, for example with your stakeholders, you can also export estimates to an .xlsx file.

For more information, see Estimate projects automatically in App Studio (8.5), Estimating application development.

Enhanced application inventory to support features

Now the application inventory in App Studio also includes features that represent elements of your application to implement, such as language packs, along with personas and data objects. The inventory provides the option to add new features or reuse existing features from built-on applications. With the enhanced inventory, application development planning and tracking is faster and more intuitive because you can now easily check the features that your development team needs to implement. For greater clarity, the inventory supports different methods of grouping features, for example, by release or complexity.     

For more information, see Managing application inventory.

Enhanced Case Designer in App Studio

For greater clarity when visualizing your business processes, App Studio now has an improved Case Designer. In Pega Platform™ 8.5, every persona displays a list of associated channels, and every data object lists associated systems, instead of showing multiple entities for different channels or systems. Additionally, for better distinction every channel and system displays a unique icon. To fully convey your business process using just one screen, Case Designer now also supports visualizing attachments required for your microjourney, as well as creating draft associations between personas and channels.

For more information, see Plan your Microjourneys more conveniently in an improved Case Designer (8.5), Creating a Microjourney for customer success.