Published Release Notes

Discontinued support for multithreaded requestors

Multithreaded requestors are no longer supported in the Pega 7 Platform. Multithreading was previously specified by the prconfig setting initialization/allowMultiplePRThreads. If this setting is set to true when you upgrade to Pega 7.2.1, errors occur during the quiesce process.

New ClientStore JavaScript API for offline-enabled applications

For offline-enabled applications built using Pega Infinity Mobile Client™, you can now take advantage of a new window.pms.plugins.clientstore JavaScript API. The improved API is based on promises and events instead of callbacks and listeners, and replaces the previously available window.launchbox.PRPC.ClientStore JavaScript API which is now deprecated.

Support for custom database tables in external Cassandra clusters

Pega Platform™ now supports a connection to external Cassandra clusters through a dedicated Database Table data set, which reduces the need for data ingestion and export. You can use custom tables that you store in your external Cassandra cluster in data flows for accessing and saving data. You can access your custom data model by mapping the model to a Pega Platform class.

For more information, see Connecting to an external Cassandra database through a Database Table data set.

Text analytics models migration

Pega Platform™ now supports the exporting and importing of text analytics models. For example, you can export a model to a production system so that it can gather feedback data. You can then update the model with the collected feedback data to increase the model's accuracy.

Upgrade impact

In versions of Pega Platform earlier than 8.3, the training data for text models was stored in the database. In Pega Platform version 8.3 and later, the training data for text models is stored in Pega Repository. You cannot build new models without setting the repository. After the repository is set, all text models are automatically upgraded and will work normally.

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

After a successful upgrade, set the repository in Prediction Studio before building or updating any Natural Language Processing (NLP) models.  In Prediction Studio, click Settings > Text Model Data Repository.

For more information, see:

• Increase the accuracy of text analytics models by adding feedback data (8.3)
• Exporting text analytics models
• Importing text analytics models

Push notification delivery to multiple devices

Push notifications sent from the Pega 7 Platform are now delivered to all devices on which a user is logged in to your custom mobile app, regardless of the device platform. You can either send push notifications from the Push Console to all users who have your application installed on their devices, or configure your application to send push notifications to indicate that an action might be required, a status update is available, or a case was approved.

Upgrade/update fails if PostGIS is applied to PegaRULES or PegaDATA schema

If you use the PostGIS extension to a PostgreSQL database, upgrading or updating the Pega 7 Platform fails if the extension has been applied to either the PegaRULES or PegaDATA schema. PostGIS can be applied to any other schema.

Ability to import and export Intelligent Virtual Assistant or Email Bot training data

You can now copy Pega Intelligent Virtual Assistant™ (IVA) or Pega Email Bot™ training data between Pega Platform™ application environments by performing an export and import action. Importing and exporting training data between Pega Platform application environments results in greater accuracy of entity detection. Entities are detected by the system in a chat conversation, including attachments, to help respond to the user correctly, and consist of proper nouns that fall into a commonly understood category such as a person, organization, or a ZIP code. The ability to copy training data also makes it easier to maintain IVA or Email Bot, and build its artificial intelligence.

For more information, see Copying training data to another environment and Copy training data and model to another IVA or Email Bot environment.

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.

Support for machine learning as a service models

In Pega Platform™, you can now run advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence models that you develop in third-party tools. By configuring a connection with an external machine learning as a service provider, such as Google AI Platform, you can use the predictive power of your custom models to improve the predictions in your customer strategies.

For more information, see Connecting to a Machine Learning as a Service model and Configuring a machine learning service connection.

Support for multiple work queues in the Email Manager portal

Pega Email Bot™ now provides multiple work queues in the Email Manager portal. With this functionality, operators, such as customer service representatives, can now triage cases more efficiently by selecting different work queues. Operators have access to work queues only for the current Pega Platform™ application.

For more information, see Email Manager portal.