Published Release Notes

Ability to view a PDF file while offline

Users of offline-enabled mobile apps can now tap a button to view a PDF file, regardless of whether the user is online or offline. The associated button, link, or icon must have a Run Script action defined that calls the pega.ui.pdf.view() function with two parameters: applicationName and pdfName. The PDF file itself must be uploaded to a Rule-File-Binary rule.

For more information, see How to set up viewing of PDF file while offline.

Attach Content control enhancements

You can now use the Attach Content control in Pega^® Platform to configure compression options that limit the size of files created on a mobile device. For example, you can choose from predefined settings to limit video duration or image size. These settings apply when the user records a new video or takes a new photo, but they do not apply to prerecorded media.

Also, when attaching content to a custom mobile app, users can now select any type of file from any source that is available in the device's native file picker component.

For more information, see Configuring file size options for the Attach content control.

Improved capability to attach content in offline-enabled applications

The feature for attaching content in applications while in offline mode has been enhanced. A list of attached content is displayed in the application while in offline mode. You can view or delete attachments if the application has not yet been synchronized with the server. You also can change the maximum size of a file that you can attach while working in offline mode. This option gives you the flexibility to select the right size of attachment for a specific application for performance, memory limitation, or security reasons.

For more information, see Attach content support in offline mode.

Support for large binary data item storage in Pega Mobile Client and offline case attachments in Pega Platform

Pega^® Mobile Client can now store and synchronize large binary data items and their corresponding actions from the action queue on Android and iOS devices. As a result, custom mobile app users can view, attach, and delete data files, whether the device is online or offline. For this function to work, you must enable offline case attachment support, which allows your custom mobile apps to synchronize case attachments between the Pega Platform and the mobile device.

For more information, see Enabling offline case attachments support and Client Store API.

File sharing improvements in custom mobile apps

Case management in custom mobile apps that are built for Android and iOS using Pega Infinity Mobile Client™ is now improved with the enhanced Attach content control. You can now attach files of any type from the device storage and from cloud services, for example, Google Drive or iCloud, or from other mobile apps that are installed on the device. Additionally, you can share any file attachments, except for signature files, in external mobile apps.

For more information, see Enabling attaching files to an application.

Web portal reuse removed from the mobile channel

The reuse of web portals for creating mobile apps with a single web view is no longer supported. You can conveniently update your existing channels that reuse web portals to take advantage of the multiple-views experience and native mobile capabilities, such as native mobile list views or floating action buttons.

Upgrade impact

The Reuse web portal option is removed from Pega Platform 8.5 and later.

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

App developers need to use the migration tool available on the mobile channel to move their apps to the recommended new navigation designer. When users open existing mobile channel with the Reuse web portal option configured, they are prompted to run through the wizard to upgrade the mobile channel to the latest Pega Mobile Client based configuration. When this is done, app developers should rebuild the app.

Improved user experience for Cosmos React mobile apps

Mobile apps that you build for Cosmos React applications now feature a highly performant and responsive user interface that improves the overall user experience.

Native case pages

Prescriptive mobile case pages are now faster and more reliable. Mobile case pages display views and widgets as cards and group the cards into user-friendly tabs. Users can navigate the tabs by swiping left or right. From the case page, users can also edit case page details by selecting the floating action button, or choose an optional action from the case header drop-down menu. 

To improve collaboration, prescriptive mobile case pages support the Pulse widget, as well as uploading, viewing, and downloading case attachments.

Improved case processing 

The case processing interface on mobile devices is now more reliable and ensures a smooth experience for case workers. After users complete an assignment, Cosmos React apps display the task that is next in the flow that you define for the case type. Optional actions open in an overlay drawer component that users can minimize when they need to multitask while processing cases.

Form validation in real time 

Validation of user input for mobile forms is now highly responsive thanks to real-time validation. To ensure that users enter data correctly, forms support validation expressions that you define in App Studio. Expressions are processed on the client side to further improve app performance.

Native Android and iOS controls

Cosmos React apps use a selection of native Android and iOS controls that make mobile apps faster and more intuitive to use. The native controls include map and location controls, date and time pickers, and controls for adding attachments.

In Pega Platform™ version 8.6, mobile features in Cosmos React applications are available only as a preview, with limited support for various interface elements and features, such as offline mode. The recommended production design system for Pega Mobile in Pega Platform 8.6 is Theme Cosmos.

Enhanced swipe support for case actions

UI authoring in the mobile channel now offers more case-wide actions that can be performed by swiping on list items. For example, you can add a swipe action to attach an invoice to your expense work item. This enhancement increases usability and work efficiency as it allows for fast, instinctive mobile interactions.

For more information, see Designing a new mobile list page.

More action types on the bottom bar

Pega Infinity Mobile Client™ now provides more flexible bottom bar configuration with a broader choice of actions, so that your apps can be more useful. For example, users can now create work items, open work items, or log out directly from the bottom bar of a mobile app.

For more information, see Configuring the bottom bar.

Swipe actions in repeating dynamic layouts in a mobile app

Lists that are based on repeating dynamic layouts now support swipe actions. The menu of available actions, such as Edit or Delete, does not obscure the view and is displayed only when a mobile app user swipes a row. Users benefit from easier navigation and they can do smaller tasks quickly, without leaving the main screen.

For more information, see Configuring swipe actions for a mobile app.