Improved case previews and case utility enhancements
Valid from Pega Version 8.6
The collapsible preview panel in Cosmos applications has been enhanced. The preview panel now helps users complete assignments in the previewed case directly from the panel, to save time. The preview also includes a clickable case stage link which displays an overlay with the case life cycle and all its steps for better context.
Additionally, to help save screen space when a case is fully opened, the collapsed or expanded state of the utility panel now persists for all cases that you open in the same browser tab.
For more information, see Enhance the case processing experience in Cosmos Rules applications (8.6).
Multiple sessions in separate browser tabs or windows
Valid from Pega Version 8.6
Theme Cosmos applications introduce an enhancement to the existing ability to work on multiple cases simultaneously in separate browser tabs or windows. You can now open an entire application in, for example, two separate browser tabs, without one session refreshing and overriding the other. As a result, users gain more flexibility and freedom in how they work.
For more information, see Adding a dynamic container to a portal.
Improved tabbed layout group
Valid from Pega Version 8.6
Tabbed layout groups now generate semantic markup, which helps conform to accessibility standards. As a result, the tabs in the preview panel support numbers, for example, for items that might require attention, and a horizontal scroll bar if the number of tabs does not fit the display.
For more information, see Enhance the case processing experience in Theme Cosmos applications (8.6).
Improved search results and screen space economy
Valid from Pega Version 8.6
Theme Cosmos applications now display search results in a new tab with a variety of filters. Consequently, users do not lose their content when they raise a search query, and can adjust their results by selecting from out-of-the-box filters, such as status or type.
The summary panel now also gives users more freedom in managing screen space by being collapsible. The collapsed panel moves to the top of the page and aligns the summary tabs horizontally, so that users can conveniently interact with complex lists.
For more information, see Enhance the case processing experience in Cosmos Rules applications (8.6).
Tabbed templates in portal authoring
Valid from Pega Version 8.6
Portal authoring in Pega Platform™ now includes tabbed templates that provide you with the tools to build complex user interfaces with less effort. The new templates help you save screen space and display the contents of your application in smaller, meaningful chunks.
For more information, see Configuring a tab-based landing page.
Support for calling a data transform from a case life cycle in App Studio and initializing data at case creation
Valid from Pega Version 8.6
You can now call a data transform from a case life cycle in a low-code way in App Studio. For example, when a customer wants to order the same product again, your application can reuse the shipping information from their previous order. Additionally, by configuring data initialization for a case type, you can prepopulate fields at case creation. For example, an application for a delivery service can apply the customer's preferred delivery options when a new case starts. These enhancements save time for developers because the system can initialize data and prepopulate fields in a case by reusing existing logic, and for customers, who do not need to manually enter their details every time.
For more information, see Calling a data transform from a case and Initializing data at case creation.
Data propagation for questionnaires in case types
Valid from Pega Version 8.6
Pega Platform™ now provides a tool to prepopulate answers in a questionnaire that runs in a case by propagating data from a parent case. At run time, specified questions in a questionnaire that users complete as part of case processing, can display answers by using information that users already provided in the parent case. As a result, you speed up the development of your application and help users process cases and complete questionnaires faster.
For more information, see:
- Deliver user-friendly questionnaires by prepopulating answers (8.6)
- Running a questionnaire in a case
Upgrading to Hazelcast 4.x requires downtime during upgrades to Pega Infinity 8.6
Valid from Pega Version 8.6
Upgrade impact statement
On-premises upgrades of Pega Infinity release 8.4.2 and later to version 8.5.1 or later on Tomcat and PostgreSQL are completed with near-zero downtime. However, upgrading to Hazelcast 4.x requires that you shut down and restart your application server.
What is required to update the application to be compatible with this change?
Hazelcast 3.x is enabled by default. For near-zero downtime upgrades, you do not need to perform any action.
For instructions about upgrading to Hazelcast 4.x, see one of the following topics:
- For near-zero downtime upgrades from Pega Infinity release 8.4.2 or later on Tomcat and PostgreSQL, see "Optional: upgrading to Pega Platform version 8.6: Upgrading to Hazelcast 4.x" in Near-zero downtime Upgrade Guide for Pega Platform version 8.4.2 and later for Tomcat and PostgreSQL.
- For all other upgrades, see "Optional: upgrading to Hazelcast 4.x" in the appropriate upgrade guide.
Case outcome predictions in case types
Valid from Pega Version 8.6
Pega Platform™ introduces the use of machine learning and AI in Case Designer. You can now use predictions in case types, both in App Studio and Dev Studio. By using predictions, your application can predict various outcomes, such as the possibility of reaching a positive or negative case resolution, so that you can prioritize work, route cases according to risk, or optimize the case flow in other ways. You can use predictions when you create conditions in the condition builder, for example, when you define a business logic for routing assignments.
For more information, see:
- Prioritize and route case work by predicting case outcomes
- Predicting case outcome
- Creating predictions for case management
Virtual questions deprecated in 8.6
Valid from Pega Version 8.6
Following the improvements in Pega Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA), the creation of virtual questions is now deprecated and planned for removal. To avoid additional effort during updates to future releases, do not use deprecated features. For optimal application performance and efficient development of conversation processes, you now collect information from users by using the Ask a question smart shape.
For more information, see Adding a case type conversation process for a conversational channel and Asking a question in a case.