Published Release Notes

Support for multiple custom mobile apps for a Pega Platform application

To enhance the user experience and provide support for native mobile components, you can create multiple custom mobile apps for a Pega Platform™ application. For each custom mobile app, you must create a different mobile channel interface. In addition, you can configure each custom mobile app to run only in a specific portal for an application. The custom mobile app uses this portal regardless of which default portal is defined for the access group.

For more information, see Selecting a portal for a custom mobile app.

Changes in large data page support in offline-enabled custom mobile apps

You can now create offline-enabled custom mobile apps that store reference data in large data pages that are sourced from report definitions, even if these report definitions return no records. Synchronization of these custom mobile apps does not fail. Also, you can now use page type properties as large data page properties.

For more information, see Creating and sourcing large data pages to store large reference data in offline-enabled applications and Custom populator JavaScript functions for large data pages.

Troubleshooting offline-enabled applications in a browser

You can now troubleshoot offline-enabled applications by using the Tracer tool and developer tools that are available in a web browser. You can troubleshoot scripts that are running when the application is running, without having to use additional debugging tools.

For more information, see Application debugging using the Tracer tool, Troubleshooting offline-enabled applications with the Tracer tool in a browser, and Offline capability.

Support for native search in custom mobile apps

To improve the overall user experience in a custom mobile app, you can configure native search in the user interface of the application. To use the search capability, first configure the pySearchConfiguration rule. This rule allows you to optionally define a set of search categories as a local data source. You then configure the mobile search action for any user interface control, for example, a button in a section. Users can tap the search field to see the most recent search results, including results that are grouped by categories, as they enter search text.

For more information, see Native search capability in custom mobile apps and Configuring search in custom mobile apps.

Enhanced Pulse performance and layout on mobile devices

Pulse performance is now faster on mobile devices. The user interface has been enhanced to enable better collaboration among users. The new Pulse mobile layout provides a better user experience for posting messages, adding attachments, bookmarking content, and so on.

For more information about Pulse, see:

• App Studio – Communicating with users by using Pulse
• Dev Studio – Communicating with users by using Pulse

Support for when rule in offline-enabled applications

You can use when rules in offline-enabled applications without creating custom JavaScript code. Using when rules reduces the offline-enabled application implementation time by further automating case processing in offline mode and deriving the logic directly from the model. No additional configuration is required to use when rules in offline mode.

For more information, see When rule support in offline mode.

Configuring geolocation tracking at the case level

You can now enable geolocation tracking at a case level to track users of an offline-enabled custom mobile app. By tracking users who are working on a case, you can monitor or supervise them while they are using the custom mobile app and when the app is running in the background. You can also track users when the device is not connected to the server. Recorded locations are synchronized with the server and stored in a database that is available through a data page. When Pega Platform™ receives location data, the new Map control can display multiple user tracks and markers that represent other data, for example, job locations that are assigned to users.

For more information, see Tracking mobile end users with the Map control and Adding the map control.

External login with OpenID Connect or SAML protocol for custom mobile apps

Custom mobile apps can now use single sign-on (SSO) with OpenID Connect or SAML to authenticate by using identity providers such as Google, Auth0, Okta, or Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). External login provides a convenient and secure way to access your application. Users' credentials are never shared with the custom mobile app.

For more information, see Configuring a custom mobile app to use external login with OpenID Connect or SAML protocol.

Protect a custom mobile app with a device lock

Custom mobile applications that use an external identity provider (IdP) that is compatible with OpenID Connect or SAML for login are now protected with the device's personal identification number (PIN) or biometric lock. The app user does not have to set up an additional application-specific password and can unlock the app quickly and easily. You can configure the behavior of the locking method and implement custom locking methods by using a custom native module implementation.

For more information, see Protecting your custom mobile app with a device lock.

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.