Published Release Notes

Pega Digital Experience API for creating consumer-grade interfaces

You can use front-end frameworks such as React and Angular to create a user interface that is backed by the powerful business logic of Pega Platform™. The updated Pega Digital Experience API leverages the OpenAPI Specification to enable Pega Platform to work with the front-end framework of your choice.

Click, record, and play UI scenario tests

You can now record, edit, and run scenario-based UI tests in end-user portals. By using scenario-based tests, developers focus on testing an application's ability to deliver real business value instead of writing code. Developers can test autogenerated and custom controls, actions, and navigation in a specific case or in an entire portal. Test recording is available on the run-time toolbar, and tests are available on a unified landing page that provides easy access to them. For more information, see Find and fix issues by using the Accessibility Inspector.

Support for inline helper text for editable form fields

You can now configure inline helper text for editable form fields. The helper text is always visible on the form, and you can style the text to override the helper-text CSS class in the Override CSS file in the skin.

Providing helper text in editable form fields helps users complete forms more quickly and efficiently.

For more information, see Adding a Text Input control.

Optimized dynamic layout for sections with no container format or header

You can set dynamic layouts to use the new optimized layout mode. When optimized, the dynamic layouts that do not include a container format or a header no longer generate extra container and body DIVs. The depth of the Document Object Model (DOM) is reduced, which makes the layouts easier to maintain. Selecting this option also enables automatic updates for new markup with each release, so that you stay current with improvements to dynamic layout markup.

You can use an Upgrade tool to convert sections that use the legacy dynamic layouts to use the new optimized dynamic layout.

For more information, see Upgrading legacy dynamic layouts to use the optimized dynamic layout.

Add and manage landing pages in App Studio application menus

When working in App Studio, you can now create landing pages that are not directly associated with a case flow to make your application more informative. The landing pages are a good place to display the resources that are related to a case, images as well as text. Configure them to provide an overview of the work, workers, teams, reports, or any information that is available.

For more information, see Creating a landing page. 

Mobile apps now use custom-generated skeletons for page transitions

Mobile harnesses are now configured with custom-generated skeletons. Used during page transitions, skeletons render a temporary placeholder UI that closely matches the actual UI while data is being loaded from the data store. The use of skeletons enhances the user experience by providing a smooth transition while data is being loaded.

Skeleton transitions work with both dynamic and Ajax containers on the mobile client but work only with the Ajax container on tablets and desktops.

For more information, see Transition effects on actions.
 

Revamped view authoring in Cosmos React

Applications that use Cosmos React now feature updated case and portal authoring tools, including more templates, improved view editing, and more intuitive management of UI components.

This change empowers citizen developers to build applications through configuration as opposed to customization, and reduces development time while also providing a prescriptive environment for creating optimal customer experience.

For more information, see Configuring forms and views.

Improved UI accessibility

Pega Platform™ now supports W3C Web Accessibility Initiative guidelines more fully, which creates a better user experience for people who rely on assistive technologies, such as screen readers.

The user interface now features the following enhancements:

• Improved keyboard navigation and updated ARIA attributes for layouts, including dynamic, repeating, and table layouts.
• Updated navigation for AJAX and dynamic containers.
• More precise keyboard navigation and focus control for pop-up components, such as SmartTips.
• Fixed accessibility gaps in out-of-the-box actionable controls and form components, such as buttons and text fields.
• More accessible error messages with improved color schemes and focus control. To meet the WCAG ARIA guidelines, the Show next Error bar has been retired and substituted with more accessible error symbols.
• Accessibility code included in the Pega Platform ruleset by default, without the need for additional configuration.

For more information, see Supported keyboard navigation.

Improved scroll functionality in vertical tabs

When you scroll content in an application that uses the Cosmos theme, the UI now remembers the scroll position even if you switch between vertical tabs, for example, in the case details section. Previously, the application reset the page to the topmost position every time you switched tabs. This update improves the user experience by reducing context switching.

Loading cues in Pega Platform

Pega Platform™ applications that rely on the Cosmos React framework now feature a visual placeholder for the page that is being loaded. The system displays an indicator when loading portals, cases, simple pages, and list pages. This update provides users with a visual cue that their request is being processed, which improves the user experience.