Published Release Notes

Child case queries performance can be slow

Some customers have reported that performance is slow when they execute queries on child cases. This issue is often indicated by PEGA0005 (query time exceeded limit) alerts that can be correlated to these queries in the logs. To resolve the issue, add a database index to each of your work tables by using a multicolumn index on the pxCoverInsKey, pxObjClass, and pyStatusWork columns.

See Performance improvements for child case queries.

Updates to the Data Page rule form

You can use the enhanced Data Page rule form to specify the name of a source system in the System name field in the Data sources section. This field represents the name of the system that is associated with a data source. For example, if your data source is a REST connector that connects to an external weather service such as Google Weather API, you can enter Google Weather in the System name field for the data source. The system name is used to display the source systems for a data type on the External Data Entities landing page.

For more information, see Viewing external data entities.

Verify ML Readiness error: Upgrades from Pega 7.1.0 through 7.1.8 do not replace nonversioned rules

Upgrading from any Pega 7 Platform version between Pega 7.1 and Pega 7.1.8 to Pega 7.2 does not automatically replace nonversioned rules. If you revalidated and saved a Pega 7.1.x rule after the timestamp on the Pega 7.2 version of the rule, upgrading to Pega 7.2 does not overwrite the saved rule. You might see either of the following behaviors:

• The upgrade fails with the following error message:
  Verify ML Readiness
• The upgrade succeeds, but you might be unable to open changed rule forms.

If the upgrade fails, see the Pega 7 Platform Upgrade Guide to force the upgrade.

This known issue does not affect Pega 7.1.9. After the upgrade has finished, apply Hotfix 27288. For information about obtaining and applying hotfixes, see Hotfix Manager.

Unused agents run in background

The Update PegaRULES database table statistics agent and the Collect PegaRULES database blob size statistics agent have been added to support future development. These agents run in the background, but they do not do anything. You can, but do not need to, disable them from the Edit Agent Schedule landing page.

For more information, see Agent Schedule form - Completing the Schedule tab.

Support for sending emails by using Microsoft Graph

Email integration with Microsoft Office 365 now supports sending emails by using Microsoft Graph. With this enhancement, you can send email with a more secure protocol that complies with your organization’s security policy.

For more information, see Creating an email account.

App Studio enhancements further support Pega Express methodology

App Studio now includes improvements that you can use to plan your Microjourney™ in a more convenient way. The Overview workspace now includes a button to edit application details, such as name, description, and business objectives, without having to switch to Dev Studio. You can also access relevant information faster, because Case Designer displays additional details about channels, data objects, and attachments associated with a case type directly in a properties pane. For improved management of your features, feature categories are now available in the application inventory so that you can clearly communicate to your development team what type of features need implementation.

For more information, see:

• Editing application details in App Studio 
• Associating personas with channels 
• Adding features to application inventory 
• Creating a Microjourney for customer success

Conversation flow and smart shapes for the Digital Messaging chatbots

When creating Pega Intelligent Virtual Assistant™ (IVA) for Digital Messaging, chatbot developers can now use new conversation smart shapes in a dedicated flow, making the design process simpler, more robust, and intuitive. With the new smart shapes, the chatbot displays text messages or asks questions to users in one of several ways. In addition, developers do not have to create additional rules, switch tabs, or perform manual validation. You can associate the conversation flow that you create for your IVA with a business case, use the flow on its own, or reuse it in another conversation flow, improving the overall chatbot design process.

For more information, see Adding a stand-alone conversation process for a conversational channel, Adding a case type conversation process for a conversational channel, Editing the conversation smart shapes and Flow shapes.

Support for REST connectors to route network traffic via proxy

To easily route network traffic, you can now configure proxy details for individual REST connectors. This enhancement allows you to manage your proxy settings so that you can securely access online resources that lie beyond your proxy servers.

For more information, see Configuring a REST connector.

Connect-HTTP support discontinued

Pega Platform™ no longer supports Connect-HTTP rules. HTTP connectors were used to start HTTP request/response interactions between Pega Platform and external systems identified by a Connect HTTP rule (Rule-Connect-HTTP rule type).

After an upgrade to Pega Platform 8.6 and later, you can still use and modify existing HTTP connectors, but you cannot create new ones. As a best practice, use REST connectors instead, which offer more capabilities and have better support from development teams.

For more information, see Connect REST rules.

Data import wizard compatibility with Cosmos applications

The data import wizard is now Cosmos-compliant. When you launch the data import wizard as a page, you can leverage the new features provided by Theme-Cosmos, such as adding custom buttons and functionality to your Cosmos applications.