Application tools

The standard application tools include tools for users and managers and for administrative and development activities.

In the Access Manager, the Tools tab is populated by the data transform rule pxPopulateTools. However, this rule can apply to another data transform rule, pyPopulateTools, which appends other tools that you define to the bottom of the Tools tab.

To add custom tools to the Access Manager, see the Pega Community article Adding custom tools to Access Manager.

The following table provides a list of standard application tools available in the system.

Tool category Tool name Description or Link
User & manager   Tools intended for end users. These tools do not affect rule definitions.
Dictionary Add words Add words to the spell checker dictionary. When authorized, an operator can right-click a word flagged by the spell checker and add it to the dictionary.

Enabling spell checking in user forms

Reports Provide criteria on reports Provide selection criteria on reports. When authorized, an operator can view the Available Values tab on the Pick Values pop-up window when customizing criteria for a report.

Report Definition Query tab

Administrative & development   Tools intended for system architects and developers. They can affect the run-time system display and behavior for end users.
Application distribution Download SQL during import View and download SQL during application import for database administration.

Viewing and applying schema changes

  Enable automatic schema changes Enable automatic schema changes during application import.

Viewing and applying schema changes

  Export applications Export applications.

Exporting an application, product rule, or ruleset to an archive or repository by using the Export wizard

  Lock and roll other applications Lock and roll other applications.

Other Applications tab

  Preassemble an application Run the static assembler on demand to preassemble an application.

Improving response time by caching rules with the Static Assembler

  Skim a ruleset Save the highest version of a rule into a new, higher ruleset version.

Skim to create a higher version

Clipboard Execute activity on page Execute an activity on a page on the clipboard.

Using the Clipboard tool

Feedback gadget Use the feedback gadget Use the feedback gadget.

Requesting feature enhancements

Message queue management Modify JMS queue View, add, and remove messages on a JMS queue.

Understanding agent queues

  View JMS queue View JMS message queue. For more information, see Admin Studio help.
  Modify MQ queue View, add, and remove messages on an MQ queue.

Understanding agent queues

  View MQ queue View MQ message queue. For more information, see Admin Studio Help.
Reports Optimize property Use the one-click property optimization wizard.

Exposing properties and populating database columns

  Optimize schema Use the schema optimization wizard.

Optimizing a schema

Rules & rulesets Private check-out Perform private checkout or check-in of rules.

Performing a private edit

Security Configure system security policy settings Adjust the security policy rules for all operator IDs and passwords, mitigate brute-force attack with CAPTCHAs and audit levels.

Managing security policies

  Rule security analyzer Use the rule security analyzer to search through non-autogenerated rules, to find specific coding patterns that may indicate a security vulnerability.

Searching for security vulnerabilities in rules

Tracer Advanced tracer options Use tracer breakpoints and watch variables.

Configuring trace conditions

  Basic tracer options Use settings, configure tracer output, use play and pause, and view details for any row.

Tracing and capturing events

  Use remote tracer Use remote tracer to connect to another requestor session.

Selecting a session to trace

User interface Toolbar: Preview button An authorized operator can click the Preview button in Dev Studio.

Previewing rules

  Toolbar: Run button An authorized operator can click the Run button in Dev Studio.

Unit testing individual rules

  Toolbar: Save As button An authorized operator can click the Save As button in Dev Studio.

Copying a rule or data instance

  Live UI tool An authorized operator can click the Live UI tool.

About the Live UI tool