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.

Automatic retries for the SAVE operation on records

Batch and real-time data flow runs now automatically retry the SAVE operation on records when an error occurs because of resource unavailability. This functionality ensures that the records are eventually saved if the target data set is only temporarily unavailable, for example, because of load or network issues.

You can configure the default number of retries for the entire system in a dynamic system setting. To adjust the setting to different resource allocations and operating environments, you can update that number for each data flow run.

For more information, see Changing the number of retries for SAVE operations, Creating a batch run for data flows, and Creating a real-time run for data flows.

Cassandra 3.11.3 support for Pega Platform

Increase your system's reliability and reduce its memory footprint by upgrading the internal Cassandra database to version 3.11.3.

For on-premises Pega Platform™ users, after you upgrade to Pega 8.3, it is recommended that you manually upgrade to Cassandra 3.11.3. You can upgrade to Cassandra 3.11.3 on all operating systems except IBM AIX. If you do not want to upgrade to Cassandra 3.11.3, you can continue to use Cassandra 2.1.20, which is still supported.

For Pega Cloud Services 2.13 and later versions, Cassandra automatically upgrades to version 3.11.3 after your environment is upgraded to Pega Platform 8.3.

For information on how to manually upgrade to Cassandra 3.11.3, see the Pega Platform 8.3 Upgrade Guide for your server and database at Deploy Pega Platform.

Upgrade impact

After an on-premises Pega Platform upgrade, you still have the older version of Cassandra and must manually upgrade.

What steps are required to update the application to be compatible with this change?

To upgrade Cassandra, you must create a prconfig setting or a dynamic system setting with the new Cassandra version and then do a rolling restart of all the Decision Data Store nodes to upgrade them to the latest version of Cassandra.

REST API for monitoring DSM services

Decision Strategy Manager (DSM) now provides a REST API that you can use to monitor DSM services without having to access Pega Platform™. By integrating your daily monitoring tools with the management REST API, you can retrieve a list of DSM nodes, check the status of these nodes, and view details of a service from all nodes in the cluster.

For more information, see Getting started with Pega API for Pega Platform.

Create custom criteria for proposition filters by using the condition builder

Proposition filters now use the condition builder to define the criteria that a proposition or group of propositions must match in order to be offered to a customer. The condition builder provides a simple, flexible tool for selecting and grouping the entry criteria.

For more information, see Create custom criteria for Proposition Filter rules with the condition builder (8.3).

Fast-track change requests for high-priority business needs

Perform urgent rule updates through fast-track change requests. The new type of change requests supports addressing high-priority business needs and deploying them immediately, without the need to disrupt an ongoing revision.

For more information, see Release urgent business rule updates through fast track change requests (8.3) and Creating application overlays.