Update activity for button and link formats
Valid from Pega Version 7.3.1
To update existing Button controls or Link controls to current, simplified formats (Strong, Standard, and Simple), use the pzUpdateButtonLinkFormats activity. Using the report definition and other parameters that you specify, the system retrieves the sections to be converted, loops through each section rule to find Button controls and Link controls, and updates their formats.
For more information, see Updated button and link formats and Update-Button-Link-Formats.
Support for application-specific REST API calls
Valid from Pega Version 8.5
You can now call an authenticated REST API in the context of any application that is listed on an operator record by using the application alias URL. With the application alias URL, you can also develop REST services without changing the access group in the service package. REST services run in the context of the access group that points to the provided application, instead of the access group that is specified in the service package.
For more information, see Invoking a REST service rule.
Tamper-proof Pega Web Mashup loading
Valid from Pega Version 8.5
To protect your application from hackers, Pega Web Mashup is now loaded in a more secure way. The system generates a channel ID in the mashup code for validation on the server, before passing the mashup request.
For more information, see Creating a mashup.
Upgrade impact
After an upgrade to Pega Platform 8.5, existing mashups, which do not have the channel ID parameter in their code, cannot load and users see the access control warning.
What steps are required to update the application to be compatible with this change?
If you need to maintain full availability of the mashup during the upgrade of the production environment, perform the steps in Migrating existing mashups.
New formats for styling report data grids
Valid from Pega Version 7.2.2
When you view a report, the data grid that is displayed is now styled by using either the List report format or the Summarized report format, depending on the report type. With this enhancement, you can display report data differently, and perhaps more effectively, than other grids in your portal. In the skin of your application, these new formats will be added and upgraded automatically by copying the Default format for the Trees & grids layout type, which was previously used to style reports.
For more information, see Modifying data grid formats for reports.
Interact with cases from external applications
Valid from Pega Version 7.2
You can now achieve API case integration by using the Integration case-wide property to generate code that allows you to interact with cases from external applications. The Generate create case microservice code option for microservice APIs automatically generates code that is specific to your case type. This option complements the Generate mashup code option, which generates code that you can use to embed Pega 7 Platform content in another application's web page.
Automatic separation of date input
Valid from Pega Version 8.5
Date fields in Date Time controls now automatically divide strings of input into days, months, and years. In single fields, the system adds slashes (/) as the user types the value. For example, an input string of 10102020 becomes 10/10/2020. In separate day/month/year fields, the system automatically switches from one field to the next as the user types the value. This enhancement improves the user experience by helping to users provide input in a more convenient and time-efficient manner.
For more information, see Configuring a Date Time control.
Portals can refresh a single page in a dynamic container
Valid from Pega Version 7.3
You can use a single-document dynamic container in a portal that allows you to refresh a single page in the container without reloading the entire portal, which improves performance and security. From the Properties panel, you can configure an existing dynamic container for this purpose by setting the mode to Single Document and selecting Render as a single page.
For more information, see Dynamic container settings.
Custom activities protection
Valid from Pega Version 8.4
Unauthorized users can no longer access or use custom activities. This enhancement improves system security and makes application maintenance more intuitive.
Browser unresponsive when logging in to Designer Studio
Valid from Pega Version 7.4
The What's new in 7.4 widget on the Designer Studio home page uses WebGL to render its background animation. If your browser is running on a virtual machine without hardware acceleration, your browser might become unresponsive because of this widget. Click the Hide this until next release button to remove the widget. At your next login, the widget will not be displayed.
Support for picklists with parameterized data pages in App Studio in Cosmos React UI
Valid from Pega Version 8.6
You can now use data pages with parameters to populate a property of the picklist type with filtered results in App Studio. For example, in a survey case type, you can use a parameterized data page to configure cascading drop-down controls in which the values in a secondary drop-down list are based on the value that the user selects in the primary drop-down list. With dynamically-sourced picklists, you get greater flexibility in configuring picklists, and users see more accurate values.
For more information, see link Dropdown control Properties — General tab.