Published Release Notes

Configuration required for data operations on external schema when using a Postgres database

When you use the API for data operations on external schema in the Postgres database, you must update the prconfig.xml file. No other platform requires a prconfig.xml update.

To update the prconfig.xml file:

1. Stop the server and add the following entry to the prconfig.xml file:
   env name="database/databases/postgres_ext/defaultSchema"
   value="externalschema"
   where postgres_ext is the external database that uses the external schema “externalschema”.
2. Restart the server.

Internet Application Composer (IAC) renamed to Pega Web Mashup

The name of Internet Application Composer (IAC) has changed to Pega Web Mashup.

For more information, see Pega web mashups for embedding Pega Platform UI in external web pages.

FTP server records enhanced for SSH FTP

When using SSH FTP (SFTP) in an FTP Server record, you can securely transfer files by using SSH keys. You can enable and configure SFTP by opening the FTP server record and completing the fields in the Protocol section.

For more information, see SSH FTP for FTP server records.

New field types in Form Builder

You can create forms in Form Builder that include the following field types:

• Data reference – Prompts users with a list of data records or instances of a specific data type.
• User reference – Prompts users to select or search for an existing user in the application.

For more information, see Data references in Form Builder and User references in Form Builder.

Reusable components in Form Builder

You can reuse an existing form or data reference when creating a form. By referencing the existing fields in your application, you save time and build forms that are easier to maintain. Refer to the Reuse fields panel in Form Builder to view all of the fields, forms, and data references in your application.

For more information, see Reuse fields panel in Form Builder.

Search field type is deprecated

The search field type in Form Builder is deprecated. Use a data reference or user reference instead, both of which prompt users with an autocomplete field at run time.

For the full list of supported field types in Form Builder, see Supported display modes by field type.

Support for enterprise and express applications

When you run the New Application wizard, you can create two types of applications:

• Enterprise – A full-scale application that has access to all the capabilities in the Pega 7 Platform.
  
  By default, enterprise applications are developed in Designer Studio, but users have access to express mode.
• Express – A small-scale application that has access to a subset of the capabilities in the Pega 7 Platform.
  
  Express applications are developed in express mode, and are ideal for new users or for quickly testing functionality.

For more information, see Express applications.

Case Manager option for searching only attachments

Case Manager search now has an option to search only case attachments. When you search attachments, a new column in the search results displays a paperclip icon with the number of attachments that match the search string. You can click the number to display a list of matching attachments for the selected case.

IMAGE data type replaced by varbinary(max) in SQLServer

Because Microsoft is discontinuing support for the IMAGE data type, the Pega 7 Platform now supports the varbinary(max) data type, which will replace the IMAGE data type. All new columns in existing tables and all new tables will use the varbinary(max) data type instead of the IMAGE data type, and IMAGE columns will be automatically converted to varbinary(max).

WriteHistory parameter has been removed from Link-Objects method

The WriteHistory check box has been removed as a parameter to the Link-Objects method on the Activity form. Users who are upgrading from versions prior to Pega 7.2 do not have to take any action because history details rely on the "linked from" object and this option stored results in the "linked to" object.

To correctly capture a link event in the history of an object, call the History-Add method.