Pega Study Tutorial&Interview Questions

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PEGA STUDY MATERIAL & Interview QUESTION S

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BPM (Business Processes Management) BPM is a Management Philosophy. It focuses on Business Processes and Sub-Processes of an Industry with the behavior of Systems and Individuals within it. It models the processes and subprocesses visually and uses advanced Information Technologies to solve the business problems. It strives for better performance, easy to change and quality software. Built for Change Time to Market BPM is about people and the way they work together (their business process) and their performance objectives.

Benefits of BPM 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Best suited for Workflows kind of software. Increase ROI. Robust and Quality Software Agility and Facilitates quick change Highly Iterative Speed To Market End To End Process and Performance Monitoring.

Important Blocks in BPM (Pega) BRE, BAM, Integration Engine, Interfaces for Development and Maintenance. 0

Difference between Pega BPM Suite and other BPM Suites is Business Rules Engine and Business Activity Monitoring (BAM)

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Many Process Commander applications provide business process management and automation through six functional capabilities, informally known as the Six R's:

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Receiving — Accepting and capturing the essential data describing work from multiple sources in multiple media and formats, from keyboards, scanners, and external systems.

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Routing — using characteristics of the work and knowledge about the workforce to make intelligent matches and assignments.

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Reporting — providing real-time visibility of work in progress, work completed productivity, bottlenecks, and quality.

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Responding — Communicating status, requests for information, and progress to the work originator and to other people involved in the work, by email, fax, written mail, and other means.

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Researching — Accessing external systems and databases through connectors to support analysis and decision making.

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Resolving — through automated processing and automated support of users, completing the work and updating downstream systems promptly. 1

www.svpegatraining.com Business Rules Business rules whether stated implicitly or explicitly contains all your organization business knowledge. A collection of your organization business policies, constraints, Computations, reasoning capabilities etc.

Business Rules Engine A business rules engine is a software component that allows business rules to be recorded in a non-procedural, non-programming form, and uses advanced software techniques to compute the consequences and results of rules. The PegaRULES component of PegaRULES Process Commander provides a powerful rules engine supporting business process management, and other applications through services. Developed in Java, highly scalable and reliable, PegaRULES supports declarative rules, multithreaded execution and a large number of industry interfacing and standards. The business rules engine can be embedded or called from another system using Service JSR94 rules.

PegaRULES database The rules, transactions, and other data supporting a Process Commander system are stored in one or more Oracle, IBM DB2 or Microsoft SQL Server databases. (Consult the Platform Support Guide for an exact current list of supported vendors and products.) The database that contains the rules — all the instances of concrete classes derived from the Rulebase class — is known as the PegaRULES database. This database is also sometimes identified as the rulebase, but it contains more than rules. Classes that are mapped to the PegaRULES database are known as internal classes. Concrete classes that correspond to rows of an external database are known as external classes. Application Lists Rule-Sets and Access Group lists Application. We can have more than one Access Group for a particular Operator ID. These Access Group can have different Applications/WorkPools with them. Therefore with one Operator, we can switch workpools as well as Applications.

RULESET: A RuleSet name is an instance of the Rule-RuleSet-Name rule type. Each RuleSet defines a major subset of rules in the PegaRULES database, because every instance of every rule type references or "belongs to" a RuleSet. A RuleSet name is a major aspect in: 2

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Access control

Operator ID: 5889

Grouping interrelated rules

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Managing the rules

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Rule resolution and versioning

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Moving applications — sets of rules — from one Process Commander system to

another. On rule forms, the RuleSet name appears at the upper right.

www.svpegatraining.com The term RuleSet sometimes refers to the name instance and sometimes informally refers to the contents of that RuleSet — all the instances of Rule- classes associated with that RuleSet. The Rule-.pyRuleSet property, present in every rule instance, records the RuleSet name to which the instance belongs. Process Commander itself consists of several standard RuleSets RuleSet Name rules are part of the SysAdmin category. A RuleSet rule is an instance of the RuleRuleSet-Name class.

Creating Rule-Set, Organization and Division. 23 Go to PegaSample -> New -> Organization -> Organization. Give name and save 24 PegaSample -> New -> Organization -> Division, Organizational unit. Give name and save 25 Rule-set : - PegaSample -> New -> SysAdmin -> RuleSet. Give name, version and save. We can give pre-requisite ruleset there (PegaProcom)

Creating Application, Access group, OperatorID. Application: PegaSample -> Application Design -> Application. Give first version as 01.01.01 Built-in application = PEGARules. Application RuleSets = :01-01 (major and minor version)

Access group: PegaSample -> New -> Security -> Access Group. Access group name = : Developer or : manager Define roles, Default portal layout, work pool (default workpool is PegaSample) (PegaRULES: SysArch4 in roles for developer) PegaSample -> New -> Organization -> Operator ID. Operator ID can be [email protected] Provide the access group to it. Also under tab Work settings, change the Organizational unit. Under advanced tab, you can change password.

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www.svpegatraining.com Base classes. Organization -> DataDivision -> DataUnit -> DataRuleset -> (Rule-) Advantage of ruleset 5888

Access control

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Migration

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Rule resolution

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rule version

Ruleset is derived from Pega Procom

derived from

PegaRules

Access Group - Data-Admin-Operator-AccessGroup Operator Id - Data-Admin-OperatorID

Pattern Inheritance Process Commander provides two kinds of class inheritance, known as directed inheritance and pattern inheritance. During rule resolution, pattern inheritance causes a class to inherit rules first from classes that match a prefix of the class name.

About Classes 0

Instances of concrete classes derived from the Assign- base class and the Work- base class

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When any object is held in memory, it has an XML (extensible Markup Language) format visible on your clipboard as pages and property name-value pairs. When stored into the PegaRULES database, the persistent object instance becomes a row in a SQL-based relational database table.

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Always the class group has direct inheritance with work- class Class group and work classes (class type) are always concrete. Class type or work class had direct inheritance with work-objectThe Class group becomes the workpool (in Access group) Every class has to be with direct inheritance with some class. Pattern inheritance is optional. If a class is not given a direct inheritance, then it will have the direct inheritance with the pattern inheritance class.

Access Group --- has Application name in it. Application Name -> RuleSet in it. Operator ID - has access groups and Organizational unit in them. 4

www.svpegatraining.com Each sub-class of class group is associated with its parent class via a key, which is stored in property inside the classes. The primary key for the work object is defined in class group (work-pool). Eg: pyID

Class Group: This is the first concrete class in the class structure. It supports the creation of work objects. The work classes are concrete classes inherit from it. It normally groups the classes to be stored in a single Database table, with a unique ID which is normally pyID. It also serves as the role of workpool.

Creating Class PegaSample -> New -> SysAdmin -> Class. Give the class name. Rule-set and save. Give info in History. Version, rule-set etc. save it. 0If Class is class group, select it and give its parent class as Work1If Class is class type, select it and give its parent class as Work-ObjectNow, select the workpool in access group as the class group

Mapping pc_work table with class group (Work pool) The class group created is default mapped with pr_other table in database (where PegaRules are present). We manually map the class group with pc_work table. e.g : More-retail-purchase-work (class group) -> new -> sysAdmin -> Database Table. Give class name as: More-Retail-Purchase-Work and save. In the form:

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www.svpegatraining.com Defining work pool in Access Group Define the work pool in Access group -> the class group

Creating Data classes: Data-

(Direct inheritance with @baseclass)

More-Data- (Pattern inheritance with More- class)

More-Data-Items (Concrete class and doesn’t belong to class group) Click right on More- -> new -> sysAdmin classes. First create abstract class More-Data-, give parent class as DataSave it. Then create class More-Data-Items Similar as above. See the below pic.

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Creating Properties: For common properties, like here in more departmental store, we have customer name, contact and email-id as common for all departments and hence we will create these properties at MoreRight click more-> new -> Data model -> Property.

Then save it

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Example of CITI Bank Cards dispute dept @baseclass Properties DATA-

CITI-

(Org)

- Name

Work-

- AcNo CITI- DATA-

CITI - Finance(Divisn)

CITI-DATA- Items

CITI - Finance-Cards - (Unit) Properties

- TransactionID

CITI - Finance Cards- (Class Work group)

CITI - Finance- Cards –Work-CardDispute (Class type)

Parent Classes for different classes Organization

---

Data-Admin-Organization

Division

---

Data-Admin-OrgDivision

Organizational Unit

---

Data-Admin-OrgUnit

AccessGroup

---

Data-Admin-Operator-AccessGroup

OperatorID

---

Data-Admin-Operator-ID

Class Group

---

Data-Admin-DB-ClassGroup

Database table

---

Data-Admin-DB-Table

RuleSet

---

Rule-Ruleset-Name

Work-Object-

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www.svpegatraining.com Application

---

Rule-Application

Class

---

Rule-Obj-Class

Harness

---

Rule-HTML-Harness

Section

---

Rule-HTML-Section

Flow

---

Rule-Obj-Flow

Property

---

Rule-Obj-Property

When

---

Rule-Obj-When

Map

---

Rule-Obj-MapValue

Decision Tree

---

Rule-Declare-Decision Tree

Decision Table

---

Rule-Declare-Decision Table

WorkpyStatusWork -> Property To Track Work Object Status. New -> The Activity that creates a new Work Object. NewDefaults/NewInternalDefaults -> The Placeholder Activities that is called when a new work object is created.

They are blank activities.

Default -> Default SLA in WorkObject. It defines 2 days and 5 days as goal and deadline time. No escalation Activity.

pyDefault -> Models .

pyWor : the property in W.O that stores the WorkParty for the W.O. It.s a page group type.

Show-Harness: Activity that shows harness for display w.o forms. .pyRuleSet: Property inside each rule describing which rule-set it belongs. .pySLAName: Property to define a W.O SLA. Set through model

GenerateID: Activity that generates work id prefix for W.O

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Concrete Classes mapped with pegaRules database are internal classes.

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Concrete Classes mapped with external database are external classes.

A decision table/tree can be referenced in flows/activities/declare expressions. In declare expressions we can call D.trees/D.table/Map.

www.svpegatraining.com A worklist appears in My Work in Progress Area. 9

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Inheritance in Pega 23 Class Inheritance. 24 Ruleset inheritance 25 RuleSet Version Inheritance.

Creating Flow, Harness etc. 1) Flow Select class explorer. From it select Work-. Click on Work-, then select Flow sample. Click save as with Applies to as : . And Flow Type:

2) Harness Select class explorer. From it select Work-. Click on Work-, and then select Harness. Click New (in the grid)

Click as save as -> Applies to ->

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3) Section Two sections will be made. 5888 The common customer info. This will come under a section which will be made under workpool. Right-Click on work-pool -> new User Interface

Section.

The fields from More- Should be dragged and dropped in the lebels.

2) Now for repeating data. We need to create a pageList (Which holds the other property) in Class type. Right Click on work type -> new -> User interface -> property. Give property name in the form. Before saving. Property mode

Page list

Page class The name of class from where it will take the properties. Here we have More-DataItems

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Now create a section to hold multiple data. In the class type -> new user interface -> Section. Click on Layout and drag it to the page.

Select repeating. Add columns as required. Change the property of the grid.

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www.svpegatraining.com Format – Standard List/Group – It’ll be same as the PageList we created. i.e Items Then as usual, drag and drop the properties in the columns.

4) Adding Sections in Harness Open the harness by clicking it.

Now click on the symbol

and select new container. A

new container will be selected inside harness. Now drag and drop your section in the container.

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www.svpegatraining.com 5) Adding Harness in Flow:

Click on the flow (here purchase Flow). Click on process tab. Under this change: Create new work object:

tick it.

Harness :

New (The name of harness)

Now run from the above symbol.

6) Creating drop down for set of values. Select to create a new property. Under this modify the following. HTML Property = PromptSelect Table type = Local List Put values inside the table type.

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7) Creating decision table. We create a decision table on ItemName present in pageList Items under MoreData-. Right click on Items -> new -> Decision -> Decision table.

Then provide the details.

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Click under Conditions and ->

7.1) Creating PromptList

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www.svpegatraining.com 8) Creating expressions

9) Creating Calculated Value:

23 Steps to be followed for calculated value. 23 Harness: Tick Enable Expression Calculation

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www.svpegatraining.com 2) Create HTML Properties as Calculated value.

3) Section: in the properties of each of the calculated columns. Do -> Display as: Calculated Value.

Creating Flow Action, Flow, Sub-Flow, Decision Tree and Assignment Properties 1) Creating Flow Action Here there are 3 sections. CustomerInfo, PurchaseInfo and Confirmation. Confirmation is same as PurchaseInfo but read only. We use button dynamically.

to disable it from adding/deleting a new row

Hence for 3 sections, we create 3 flow actions. 5888 Create a new Flow action -> CutomerInfo. Drag and drop the section customerInfo there. Under HTML Tab, enable Expression calculation

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www.svpegatraining.com 2) Similarly create flow action for PurchaseInfo and Confirmation.

2) Creating Flow and Sub-Flow For creating sub-flow, select “Flow” from the drag and drop in the main flow. Select the diagram and in the properties box, give name and flow rule. (Flow rule will b the name of sub-flow)

Note here Flow rule = CollectInfo. Now press the edit button next to it. It will open the new sub-flow dialog. Provide the details in the dialog.

Note: Give Template Name as: ScreenFlowStandardTabbed. Now edit the sub-flow We have created the sub-flow as below.

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Select each of Assignment diagrams like Customer Info, Purchase Info and Confirmation and edit the properties. E.g – The Customer Info. See diagram in next page.

Give the name and Flow Name = Flow action created before. Do similar to all cases. Save it. Now in the main flow the control will go to manager for approval. We have created a rule here that, if Grand Total >= 10000 then approval will go to manager else operator. Note: we have 2 operator IDs here. [email protected] and [email protected]

So we need to create a Decision tree for that.

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www.svpegatraining.com 3) Creating Decision tree Click on class group -> new decision -> decision tree. Give the expression like below.

4)

Creating Routing

Here we are introducing a routing assignment (named as Manager). The routing is based on DecisionTree that we have created above. So select the routing assignment -> “Manager” and edit the parameters as in screen-shot. Router -> ToDecisionTree Now click on the play symbol and edit other fields. DecisionTree -> Name of Decision tree (Routing here) INPUT -> It tells on which property Decision will be taken. Here it’s .GrandTotal Service -> Blank

Now we provide two utility in the flow -> Approved and Rejected. Select each utility and edit the properties. Rule -> UpdatedStatus Staus -> Resolved-Completed 21

www.svpegatraining.com Application -> Application name Similarly for Rejected, do the same and in status give -> Resolved-Rejected

Now select the connector from manager assignment to utility and edit the properties. Application name, Flow -> Here out-of box flow will be given. Like Approve and reject respectively. WorkType -> name of workType (Class type) Likelihood -> anything between 0-100 Apply and save.

In the Application -> Details tab. Edit Work Types . 22

www.svpegatraining.com Name as Purchase, Implementation class as worktype Work ID Prefix as “p-“

9.5) Creating User who can create work object Create a new access group for user. Role : PegaRULE:User1 and Default portal : User. Similarly create a operator ID for user.

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Creating ONCLICK event.

Here we have a check-box -> isShipping Details. If we click on check-box, a new section will come to collect the address.

While in draft open the properties of check-box “isShippingDetails”. And edit Display as -> CheckBox Behaviour -> ONCLICK. Click its properties. A new window will open 23

www.svpegatraining.com Then edit. Active Input -> check Event -> On Click Action -> Refresh this section.

The complete Shipping Details section appears on mouse click on is shipping details. Hence select the whole section/container of Shipping Details . Edit the properties as Format = Standard. Visible when -> .isShippingDone==’true’

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Main Flow

Sub –flow:

Overriding Default rule -> Approve In the main flow, in the Approve, 60% connector, we have mentioned an Action flow = Approve, which is out of box rule in Pega. So this rule provides a basic UI for approval by manager. We can override it to add few information like 25

www.svpegatraining.com The list of things purchased (here we have a section called confirmation for that). Hence Click on Work- and select flow action. Select Approve rule and do a Save as. Give the details like Applies to -> Workpool/worktype name. And save it. We can drag and drop the section -> confirmation under it. So in manager portal, while approving the workobject, this additional info will be shown.

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SCREEN-SHOT of Sample Application More.

Screen-1

Screen -2

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www.svpegatraining.com Screen -3

Screen -4

WORK OBJECT: A work object is the primary unit of work completion in an application, and the primary collection of data that a flow operates on. As an application is used, work objects are created, updated, and eventually closed (resolved). Every work object has a unique ID (property pyID), an urgency value, and a status (property pyStatusWork). In some organizations, a work object is known by the older term work item.

RuleSet RuleSet is the major sub-set of rules in PegaRules Database. It is the instance of Rule-RuleSet-Name. It has a name and can have multiple versions associated with it. The purpose of RuleSet is mainly for.

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Rule Resolution Rules Versioning Migration Access Control 27

www.svpegatraining.com Operator Id: It’s a combination of username/password, a access group associated with it and it’s a part of an organization/div/unit. It mainly used for authentication purpose for a requestor. There is a role and portal associated with the Operator ID trough the access group. Instance of Rule Data-AdminOperator-ID

Access Group: Instance of Data-Admin-Operator-AccessGroup. This is mainly to control access. It makes a set of RuleSet Versions available to requestors. The Operators in PRPC are associated with an access group. It affects the accessibility of users in following way. 0

Contains the work pool.

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Contains the Application, indirectly the RuleSets available to users.

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Defines the role of the particular user

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Defines the portal for the user

Work group A work group defines a supervisor (manager), with set of workers and workbasket that report to him.

Class A class is instance of Rule-Obj-Class. It defines capabilities such as other rules (UI Forms, properties, decisions, declarations, flows etc).

Abstract Class They end with a “-“. The don’t have any instances or are not stored in DB. They cannot create a W.O. The out of box rules present in Work- won’t be available to them. They don’t belong to workpool. Hence cannot run the flow.

Internal Classes The concrete classes whose instances are stored in PegaRules Data base are Internal classes.

External classes The concrete classes whose instances are stored in External Databases are external classes.

Basic Activities in Flow (OutOfBox and Interactive) 1) Assignments Activities 1

Work-.WorkList — Causes the assignment to be placed on the worklist of the current operator (or of another operator identified by a Router shape). Creates an instance of the AssignWorklist class. 28

www.svpegatraining.com 0 Work-.WorkBasket — Causes the assignment to be placed in a workbasket, determined by an associated Router shape. Creates an instance of the Assign-Workbasket class. 1 Work-.External — Starts the directed Web access feature, sending a temporary assignment by e-mail to a party identified in the work object who is not an interactive Process Commander user. Creates an instance of the Assign-External class. 2 Work-.Agent — Sends the assignment to a background process rather than to a person (rarely used, similar to WorkBasket ).

2) Router Activities

0 NOTIFY Activities

1 Utility Activity CorrNew or CorrCreate UpdateStatus (It’ll ask the parameter Status Work). ConvertAttachmentToPDF.

5) Connector Flow Action cancelAssignment Notify sendCorrespondence resolve reject ConvertAttachmentToPDF. 29

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6) Local Flow Action addAttachment addFlow addCovered addToCover addParty AttachAfile/URL/Note

7) SLA Standard Escalation Activity AdvanceFlow Default NotifyAssignee NotifyManager TransferToManager NotifyAndTransferToManager TransferToWorkBasket

ScreenFlow have standard Harnessess like Work-.PerformScreenFlow, Work.TabbedScreenFlow etc. 23 Operator’s Work Settings Tab.

Collections Create a collection rule to identify other rules in your application that can execute in sequence, under a set of conditions evaluated for each rule in the sequence. You can include both procedural rules and Declare Expression rules in the sequence. By referencing a list view rule, you can retrieve at runtime a dynamic list of qualifying rules to be executed. Typically, all rules in the collection update a common page.

Where referenced Collection rules are referenced by the Collect instruction in an activity. In addition, one collection rule can reference another collection rule.

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Collection Tab

PreCondition Type: Decision Tree/Table, Map, When, None. This Collection rule is called in Activity method: Collect

Rule Delegation A delegated rule is one that appears for a specific group of users so that they may manage these rules outside the development environment. Delegated rules appear on the My Rules gadget for a single user or for all the users who are associated with a specific access group. We normally delegate the few rules to Business Managers, so that they can modify the rules as changing business needs, without going to developer portal. We normally put those rule for delegation which change frequently, have less impact on business etc.

Delegating a rule To mark a rule as delegated, click the Favorites toolbar button ( Rules dialog box. 31

) and complete the Delegated

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Opening a delegated rule: To open a rule delegated to you: 5888

From the WorkManager portal, open the Dashboard workspace, locate the My

Business Rules area, and click the link that labels the delegated rule. 5889

5889

From the Developer portal, select View > My Rules > label.

What design considerations should be done while using Commit method in an activity. Ans –

We should use the Commit method judiciously. Flow processing performs commits automatically when the flow ends and when an assignment is created or completed. To avoid interference with this approach, do not use Commit in the flow-related activities in your application. When you include the Commit method in an activity, design the processing so that the Commit method occurs only after errors are intercepted, checked, and corrected. If a Commit method fails, it is unlikely that processing can continue in any reasonable way, so it is important to include a transition in the Commit step that checks the status. Even when processing can continue after Commit failure, design your activity (after debugging and fixing the cause of the failure) to collect any required user input that corrects the problems, and re-perform any Obj-Save methods that preceded the Commit call.

Smart Layout Introduced in V5.5, a Smart Layout is a grid (corresponding to an HTML element) of paired cells on a harness, section, or flow action form that has columns of uniform width, uniform styles, and uniform characteristics. Each pair of cells holds one label and one property value or other form control.

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www.svpegatraining.com Using Smart Layouts rather than "freeform" table layouts produces attractive work object forms with less developer effort. Smart Layouts are recommended for new applications. . A primary benefit of Smart Layouts it to force vertical alignment even when layouts are nested. When a section using Smart Layouts is nested within another section, all labels and fields are given consistent widths. Process Commander adjusts padding and cell widths to seek attractive spacing and presentation. Select Template with row and column count, from layout. Don’t select free form.

Basic UI Flow Actions A flow action is a choice available to users as an interim or final disposition of an assignment they process. Each flow action is defined by an instance of the Rule-Obj-FlowAction rule type. Flow actions are of two types: Connector flow actions appear as lines on Visio presentation in the Diagram tab of a flow rule. A line exits from an assignment shape and ends at the next task in the flow. At runtime, users choose a connector flow action, complete the assignment, and advances the work object along the connector to the next task. A local flow action, when selected at runtime, causes the assignment to remain open and on the current user's worklist. Local flow actions are recorded in the Assignment Properties panel and are not visible on the Visio flow diagram. At runtime, users can select local flow actions to update assignment or work object properties, change the assignee, and so on but do not complete the assignment. We can provide our own local flow action, but there are few pre-defined flow actions.

AddFlow, AttachAFile, AttachANote, AttachAScreenShot, AttachAURL etc.

In the Action tab of a Flow Action, we provide INDICATOR : Used as -> Local Flow Action, Connector Flow Action, Local and Connector. While running the flow, both Local and Connector flow actions are visible under “Take Action” panel.

Action Tab in Flow Action The Action tab under Flow Action contains few important things like. 33

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1.) Run an Activity before this Flow Action is called. 2.) Run an Activity after this Flow Action is called. 3.) Validate rule. 4.) INDICATOR that this is : Local Flow Action/Connector Flow Action/Both Local and Connector.

HTML Tab

HTML GENERATION :->

It can refer a HTML Fragment (Rule-Obj-HTML), a section or can define its own form.

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www.svpegatraining.com Enable Client Side Validation. -> Select to cause your application to immediately validate the format of user input to dates, integers, and other fields within the browser window when focus leaves the form field, before a user submits the form. For example, you can't enter a letter into a numeric field. You can't enter 02/31/2007 into a date field. Error notification occurs immediately when you tab out of the input field or change focus to another field.

Enable Expression Calcualtion. -> Causes to evaluate the expressions by forward chaining.

SECTIONS A section rule defines the appearance and contents of one horizontal portion of a form. A section is a portion or area of a standard work object form that is incorporated on a harness form. Sections may contain other sections, informally called subsections. The appearance, behavior, and contents of a section are defined by a section rule (Rule-HTMLSection rule type). Section rules are referenced in: Harness rules Other section rules Flow action rules Paragraph rules with SmartInfo pop-ups Process Commander contains dozens of standard harness and section rules. You can copy and tailor these standard forms to meet your application needs. Controls Layout

Accordian

Column Repeat

Row Repeat

Tabbed SECTIONS.

Repeat

Basic

Advanced

AutoComplete

Dynamic Selct

Charts Paragraph

List View

HTML Tab.

Auto Generate HTML Only. We uncheck this box and can provide our own HTML/JSP in the below space. 35

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HARNESS A harness rule — an instance of the Rule-HTML-Harness rule type — defines a runtime form. Use harness rules to define the appearance and processing of work object forms used in your application to create work objects and process assignments. Like section rules, HTML rules, property rules, and others, harness rules define the structure, appearance, and behavior of the forms used in applications to create and update work objects and assignments. Process Commander includes more than a dozen standard harness forms for entering, reviewing, updating, and processing work objects and assignments. Your application can override the standard rules to extend and tailor them to specific needs. Each harness rule defines the appearance and behavior of a form. Harness rules produce three types of forms:

Work object forms — For reviewing, entering, and updating work objects in a Process Commander application

Composite portals — User portals that support application users with Firefox browsers as well as Rule forms — Forms that appear in the Developer portal that developers and administrators use to review, enter, or update rules or selected data objects. (This capability is reserved.)

There are various types of Harnesses. New, Perform, Confirm, Review. When we start a flow, the new Harness is created. In the Process Tab of the flow, we can check: Create New Work Object - then only the process button appears on the screen. Skip creates new Harness - This will skip the new harness screen while we run the flow. 61456

Perform Harness: This harness will appear when any flow action is called within an

assignment. Any flow action will have the GUI, is painted on Perform Harness.

61457

Review Harness: Display the W.O in display only mode, with no fields changeable. To

review the assignments and w.o without any update.

61458 Confirm Harness: Accepts a text note confirming the user’s response. This harness is called at the end when the processing of the Work Object is finished. Presents a read-only confirmation display of the work object, acknowledging user completion of an assignment. Contains the Get Most Urgent button. This button is by default linked to the standard activity Work-.GetNextWork. Your application can override that activity.

Reopen:

Allows a user to reopen a resolved work object.

PrintReview:

Supports printing of all the fields.

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Controls.

Layout

Accordian

Row

Column Repeat

Tabbed Repeat

Repeat

SECTIONS.

Basic

Advanced

AutoComplete

Dynamic Selct

Charts Paragraph

List View

Scripts and Styles Tab.

Script File: It accepts a Javascript/VBscript file name. Style Sheets: The CSS Style sheets.

HTML Tabs

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www.svpegatraining.com Making Section Visible/Invisible.

Click on the magnifier of the Section. Make it Visible When (can refer a when condition).

Making Property Visible/Invisible.

Provide the Visibility condition as above.

Note: The Section and Property will be visibility/Invisibility will be triggered by some event.

E.g:- Click on Behavior Magnifier. So OnClick of this HTML Property, The Section will refresh.

You can even call an Activity. 38

www.svpegatraining.com Containers: A container is a structural element of a work object form, defined through a harness rule. Not every work object forms include a container. The container may correspond to a visually distinct rectangle on the form, marked by a colorful border.

We can drag a section here. Only Harness rules contain Containers.

Panel Sets A panel set is a configuration of sections in a harness rule that support a composite portal. On the Layout tab of the Harness rule form, use the Panel set control ( ) to select among the available panel sets. Each panel set has one or more panels, each identified by position as Top, Left, Right, Bottom, or Center.

This panel set is only available in Harness and we can put sections in it. 0

Accordions and Tab are present in Harness and Sections only.

Validation in Pega. 1) Using Validate Rules (Rule-Obj-Validate) Create a validate rule. Go under process

Validate.

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Validate Each -> Give Aggregated property name. Call and Call for Each -> Give a clip-board page. This validate rule can be used under Flow Action -> Action tab.

This rule is used in Flow Action for validating the properties and parameters. It’s also used under Activity under methods Obj-Validate. Obj-Validate validates only selected properties on the page, but Page-Validate validate all the properties in a page. There is another method called Property-Validate, it validates the selected properties, using the edit validate rule (mentioned in the property it-self) (custom java).

Note: Flow Action, Action tab has 4 major things. 0 Run Activity before Action 1 Run Activity after Action 2 Validation Rule 3 Indicator (for local flow action/connector flow action).

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www.svpegatraining.com 2) Using Rule-Edit-Validate

Difference between Validate rule and Rule-Edit-Validate 1.) Rule-Edit-Validate: It requires Custom Java code to validate the property. But Validate rule doesn’t require java code, but we give expressions to validate the property. 2.) Rule-Edit-Validate: It is implemented on property as a whole (In advanced tab of the property form). It is fired automatically whenever the property is referred. But Validate rule is implemented at screen level (at Flow-action action tab) or called by Activity (Obj-Validate and Page-Validate methods).

Using Constraints. (Rule-Declare-Constraint) This normally generates a client-side validation code. And it is used to put validation/restriction on the property in relation to other properties (expression) .It also fires automatically, as it is under declaration rules. See the Declaration section for more info.

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www.svpegatraining.com Activities Basics: (We have a separate activities section)

Here we have written an activity with 2 steps. In first step, it sets the property values. The values for Name and RollNo is being supplied as parameter (from where this activity is called, like from a Flow Action).

In Step-2, we have called another activity and supplied a parameter to it. (this will be output parameter in calling activity.) The value of output parameter is supplied from the calling activity. The parameters tab of calling activity:

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www.svpegatraining.com Types of Activities:

While calling an activity from Utility shape, change the Activity type under security tab as Utility.

Creation of Flow While creating a Flow we have to edit a check-box in its process tab.

Flow: A flow is a fundamental representation of a business process in PRPC. It’s an instance of RuleObj-Flow rule type, which defines the sequence of processing that your application applies to work objects. They are represented through Visio diagrams.

Types of Flow There are basically 4 types of flow. 1.) Starter Flow: A flow that creates a new work object is called a starter flow. 2.) Straight-Through Flow: A flow rule that contains no assignments, and so can execute from start to end without human input, is known as a straight-through flow. 3.) Sub Flow: A flow that is called by another flow is known as a subflow; the calling flow is called parent flow. Processing of a subflow is synchronous, meaning that the calling flow execution 43

www.svpegatraining.com pauses for the duration of the subflow. When the subflow execution reaches a Flow End shape, the calling flow can continue. A Sub flow can create a work object. 4.) Screen Flow: This flow cannot create a work object. This is special kind of sub flow where we give the flow action inside the assignment itself, not in the connectors. While creating this Screen Flow, we have to do few modifications.

In the sub-flow properties panel Flow Type: Screen Flow. And while creating the Screen Flow,

Template: Screen Flow Standard Tabbed, Screen Flow Standard Classic etc.

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www.svpegatraining.com UTILITIES: These are used to call an activity from a flow (Activity type = utility). Here we are calling a pre-defined activity to update the status of work object. There are pre-defined Activities which we can reference in this utility like: UpdateStatus of work object.

Also we can provide our own Activity under Rule: The Activity must be of type Utility.

Assignments Important Properties of assignments are: Rule (Worklist, Workbasket), Instruction, Work Status, Status Assigned, Confirmation Note, Notify, Route, SLA, Local Action. Etc.

Spin-Off: A Spin-off task

causes the second flow (sub flow) to start. The main flow and the second

flow executes asynchronously. The user can choose, which flow (Main Flow or Sub-flow) to run first. While we reach the Spin-off shape, we can choose: View ->My Recent Work -> The recent work to see the process list. Now we can choose from the process list, which flow to run first. In it’s properties panel, we provide the Rule: Flow name.

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The Process List for main flow and sub flow to choose between

Note: Except Screen-Flow, other flows can create a new work object. Hence we can say that in spin-off, the sub-flow can create flow to work on same work object (screen-flow) or can create a new work object (a sub-flow or other main flow).

Split-Joint: Use the Split-Join shape to require that multiple subflows of your flow be completed before the current flow continues execution. This allows subflows to execute asynchronously, in parallel. Put multiple sub-flows inside it. While we run the flow, we can use view-> My Recent Work to see the Process list containing all the sub-flows. The parent flow will run at last.

There is option here that, to run parent flow when all sub-flows are completed or any one sub-flow is completed. 46

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We describe the Split-ForEach after the PageList Concept.

PageList: For creating pageList, we have to first create a Data- derived class to contain the properties that we want to include in pageList. e.g : Class DLF-RealState-Structure derived from Data- class. Create properties in it like: EmpId, EmpName, Salary. Now in the Work type, create a property of type pageList. In the form, it’ll ask for the Class name containing the properties. Provide the data class name.

The pageList property will appear like below.

Now we create a Flow Action for PageList. We’ll create a repeating layout in the Flow Action/Section.

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Now click on the magnifier button on the layout, and edit the general tab.

Give the PageList/Group as the pageList property we created. Now the Class will be the containing class of the properties in the Page List.Now drag and drop each element under each of the 2nd column of the layout. This will create a aggregate layout flow action/section.

Creating Data Tables. Go to Application -> Data Table.

Click On “Add” new data table.

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Give Class name: The Data- derived class which will contain these properties. Description: Description of data. Create properties it’ll contain, with one column as primary key. Now generate. It’ll create a Database class containing these properties. By default, instances of classes created through this facility are stored in the PegaRULES database table named pr_other and are limited to 1,000 rows.

Editing Data Tables If we create a data table using the above methods, it’ll also create few things under technical category like.

in the Data- derived class. Click on EditList and modify the things.

Save the modifications. Now can check the Data tables, the modification will reflect there.

Split-For Each It is used to process an aggregated property (PageList/PageGroup) and executes a sub-flow for each page. 49

www.svpegatraining.com E.g.: if a PageList contains 4 individual pages (4 rows in repeating layout), then for each node (page) the sub-flow will run.

Note, here we provide values. Page Property as : the PageList that we want to process. Class: Containing the Properties of the PageList. Flow Rule: The sub flow name.

Note: The Sub flow mentioned here must be under the Data- derived class because it’ll process the properties of Data- Class. Also the flow actions mentioned inside this sub-flow must be defined under the Data- derived class.

When we’ll run the flow, process list will appear equal to the no. of pages in the PageList. We can choose any of the process list to run the sub-flow. Normally we can think this thing in this way. We have an employee list, with EmpNo, Name and Salary. We want to Calculate DA and HRA for each employee, the calculation goes inside the sub-flow.

SKIMMING: The Skim facility causes a resetting of the RuleSet version values in the highest version of existing rules. For each rule instance in a specified RuleSet or version, the system identifies the highest numbered version and creates a still higher copy. 1

For a major skim, the system adds one to the major part of the version, and sets the minor and patch values both to "01."

1

For a minor skim, the system preserves the major version, and sets the minor and patch version values to the version you specify.

Starting a Skim operation From the Developer portal, select Tools > Rule Management >Skim a RuleSet to begin the skim operation. 50

www.svpegatraining.com Results: Skimming simplifies the topmost rule versions in a RuleSet after multiple iterative development cycles. For example, if the highest version was previously 02-21-06: 1

After a major skim, the skimmed version number is 03-01-01.

1

After a minor skim, the skimmed version number is 02-22-01.

Rules in lower versions such as 02-21-05, 02-18-53, or 01-88-15 of the same rule are not copied by the skim operation. The skim automatically creates the new RuleSet version instance corresponding to the major, minor or patch version above the current version. It then copies rules from the current version (selecting only those in the highest-numbered version) into the new major or minor version. Rules with available of Blocked in the source RuleSet versions are not copied.

Decision Tables: Sample Decision Table. Below is the Results Tab. We can provide allowed results for return. Preset properties and Options. Note that, I haven’t found any option for calling other decision rules under it. Wait Now I found out.

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We can call other Decision table using call.

Decision Trees: We may provide the input values (property to evaluate) at input tab.

This is the Results Tab.

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This is the Decision Tab.

Map

We need to provide the Input values for Row and Columns, Then can provide a matrix structure between 2 values.

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www.svpegatraining.com Decision Tree/Table/Map in Flow

Connector Properties

Status compares the return values of Decision rules used above.

DECLARATIONS 1) DeclareOnChange A Declare OnChange rule automatically executes an activity, or suspends the current work object, when the value of a specified property changes. There can be more than one property that we can include in Declare OnChange rule to watch. If any of them changes, we can fire 2 activities. One when a “When” condition returns true, and another when it returns false. Note: The called activity must be of Activity Type = Onchange (in security tab)

See next page for Fig. 54

www.svpegatraining.com Declare OnChange can also be used to validate properties. We can suspend work object, if the value of the property is modified meeting some criteria.

Note: Choose Action is Suspend Work Object (Not call activity as before) Policy Override Flow to Run, we can include any other flow to continue running if the Roll No changes and when condition is met. Here we can see, we have given the same flow name at “Policy Override Flow To Run” so that work object stalls and asks the user to change the property value.

Declarations (Rule-Declare-) Declarative rules offer the ability to perform processing whenever the value of a specified property changes, or on other conditions. We can say that Declarative rules simplifies the applications and reduces the no of activities we create. They are fired automatically whenever the value of any property changes and on other criteria. Declarative rules follow forward chaining as well as backward chaining.

Forward Chaining: It is the process by which, the target property changes/adjusts its value depending upon change in the source properties. E.g: A = B + C. If values of either B or C changes, The value of A is automatically adjusted.

Backward Chaining: Unlike forward chaining, whenever the target property is used or referred, its value is calculated at that point by seeking the values of its source properties in the dependency network.

E.g: A = B + C. B can be = D + E and Similarly C = F + G.

Note: Only Declare expressions use backward chaining. Rest all Declaratives use Forward chaining only.

So the dependency network is built in this way. 55

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They are of 6 types. 0

Declare Expression

1

Constraints

2

Declare OnChange

3

Declare Trigger: Declare Trigger rules perform an activity any time data of a specific type is changed in the application. For example, a declare trigger could be defined to flag a customer's account for review any time their address changed.

4

Declared Index: Indexing can improve performance and facilitate reporting. Create a Declare Index rule to define criteria under which Process Commander automatically maintains index instances for faster access. An index can improve search and reporting access for properties that cannot be exposed as database columns because they are embedded within an aggregate property.

5

Declared Pages: A declarative page is a clipboard page created by execution of a declare pages rule (Rule-Declare-Pages rule type).The name of a declarative page starts with the prefix Declare_. Such pages are created and updated only through operation of activities identified in a Declare Pages rule. The contents of these pages are visible but read-only to requestors.

1 Declarative Expressions: Declare expressions establish functional relationships between properties, and compute the result any time one of the Inputs is changed. Declare expressions ensure that any time an input is changed by any source, the result is always Up-to-date. Ways to create: New -> Declaratives -> Declare Expressions

We can provide Page Context, if we want to calculate values from a pageList/pageGroup.

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The Change Tracking Tab. 1st option is Forward changing. Rest 4 options are Backward changing.

In the UI Part

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www.svpegatraining.com We can change the behavior of properties A1 and A2 as Event = On Change, Action = Refresh This Section. Note: We can call An activity also when the input changes.

0 Declarative Constraints: 0

Constraints rules provide data validation for properties after they are already inside your application. Any time the specified property changes, the constraints rule checks to confirm that the value still falls within the expected range.

1

Normally Constraints are used to define validation on one property based on criteria on another property. Eg: If a = 10 and b = 20 then c must be 30.

3) Declare On Change: Declare OnChange rules run an activity any time that the value of a specified property changes.

Note: The activity referred must be of type OnChange in security tab. We can also Choose Action = Suspend Work Object and can assign to start a new flow.

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So, when condition is true, it Suspends Work Object and Calls another Flow : “Screen Flow”.

0 Declarative Pages: Given in diff section. 1 Declarative Trigger: Create Declare Trigger rules to cause an activity to run when instances of a specific class are created, updated, or deleted in the database. This implements a form of forward chaining. For each Declare Trigger rule, Process Commander monitors database operations for objects of the Applies To class (and concrete classes derived from that class). During database commit processing, forward chaining processing may trigger — start execution of — the activity identified in this rule.

Trigger when an instance is

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If we choose Save and ….. Then we have to provide some properties that will be watched. ...ONE OF THESE PROPERTIES WAS MODIFIED

Provide the property name that will be watched, so that trigger will fire the activity (of type trigger).

Copy Value To (optional): Provide another property name that will hold the original value of the property modified.

When: Provide a when condition that will be evaluated. If true then only Activity will be fired.

Trigger Activity: Name of the trigger activity that will be fired. This Activity should be of type trigger.

6) Declarative Index: Indexing can improve performance and facilitate reporting. Create a Declare Index rule to define criteria under which Process Commander automatically maintains index instances for faster access. An index can improve search and reporting access for properties that cannot be exposed as database columns because they are embedded within an aggregate property. Index instances are sometimes called alternate keys or secondary keys. The system saves indexes as instances of concrete classes derived from the Index- base class. By default, Process Commander stores properties that are embedded in a Page, Page List, or Page Group property in a BLOB column in the database. In order to make these properties available for reports, and to optimize them for processing in other operations, the Property Optimization tool "exposes" the values of an embedded property by creating a concrete Index- class, properties for the new class, and a Declare Index rule that allow Process Commander faster access to the property values.

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www.svpegatraining.com Source Page Context: Name of the PageList. Source Page Context Class: The class name which holds the actual properties (Not which holds the PageList Property) Index Class to Write: A concrete class derived from Index- Class, It will also contain the same properties as above class.

PROPERTIES FOR INDEXING AND MAPPING Map the properties from Page Context Class to index Class.

ACTIVITIES Activities automate processing. Activity rules contain a sequence of structured steps. Each step calls a method rule or contains a control instruction such as Call or Branch. 0

contain a sequence of procedural, atomic steps that are by default executed top down

1

reference a specific instruction (known as a method) in each step

2

can perform calculations

3

can retrieve, update and save data

4

can call other activities

5

can contain loops or iterations

Note: We cannot create our own methods and we have to use the given set of methods only. 0

Page-New and Show-Page: Creates a new page in Clipboard and Show-Page shows the page in XML Format. Show-page is normally used during debugging, because it blocks the flow. We should remove the Created page by using Page-Remove method if it’s not used further. This keeps the performance good.

In Pages & Classes: give page name: SamplePage page class : The class name where the properties mentioned are defined. Here, we have created a new page called SamplePage and called a decision table, which returns a value. We capture the returned value in SamplePage.RollNo. Show –page displays the output as below. 61

www.svpegatraining.com OutPut:

Note: If we have used a model for a class, then if we declare a page and class in pages and classes tab, then the model will also b called when the page is created.

Model: Represents the model of the class for which we create the page. It’ll initialize all the properties of the class in the page.

PageList: To save the name of the new page as the final element in a list, identify a Value List property (not a PageList property). Use the notation pagename.propertyname. The system appends the name of the new page as the value of the last element of the Value List property.

NewClass: Optional. Identify a class — in most cases concrete class — for the new page. Enter the keyword $NONE to create a classless page. If left blank, the system creates the new page using the class of the page specified in the Step Page column of the activity step being executed. (It retrieves the class of this page from the array entered in the Pages & Classes tab of the Activity form.) If the Step Page field is also blank, the system creates the new page of the class that is the first key part of the current activity.

0

Page-Clear-Message: Clears all the messages in the page. Normally validation/error messages.

1

Page-Unlock:

Use this method to unlock a page in the unusual situation that the page was locked during the Obj-Open operation but the ReleaseOnCommit parameter was not selected. Typically, when the Obj-Open method opens and locks an object from the database, the ReleaseOnCommit parameter is selected. When a later Commit method executes, the system automatically releases the lock.

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www.svpegatraining.com However, when the ReleaseOnCommit parameter is not selected, the Commit operation has no effect on the lock, which remains in force. This capability facilitates multiple Commit operations on one page without the need to re-acquire the lock. You can also use this method to release a lock that is no longer needed, regardless of the ReleaseOnCommit parameter value.

4) Page-Validate Use the Page-Validate method to force validation (or revalidation) of the value of all properties on the step page. The system adds a message to each clipboard property that fails validation against the restrictions in its property rule. If the page has hundreds or thousands of properties, this method can be expensive in terms of system resources. The properties on the page already set (through the Property-Set method or similar methods) may already be validated. This method validates them again, and also validates any property values not changed since the page was opened. Unless the content of the page was altered by Java code or by unorthodox means, the PageValidate method is not necessary. 0

It actually refers the Rule-Edit-Validate and Rule-Declare-Constraints to validate the properties on the Page.

Use the Obj-Validate method, not the Page-Validate method, to validate specific properties identified in a Rule-Obj-Validate rule. -A Page-Clear-Messages method applied later to the page removes the messages set by this method.

4.3) Property-Validate

Uses Rule-Edit-Validate. Continue -> Continue if error found else stop. Default -> Set a value if null. Required -> Value is required else set an error message “value not present”.

4.5) Obj-Validate: Use this method to apply a validate rule (Rule-Obj-Validate rule type) for the object identified on the primary page or step page. This is different from Page-Validate in one case. It only validates the selected property not all the property. But Page-Validate validate all the properties.

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www.svpegatraining.com Validate: The Rule-Obj-Validate rule OverrideClass: The class name from which the search for the above rule will start.

5) Property-Set-HTML Use this method to save the contents of an HTML stream as the value of a Single Value property. The property value can then be mapped as output for transmission to an external system.

Parameter

Description

PropertyName Enter a Single Value target property reference. Identify the property that to receive its value from stream processing.

Typically, choose a property that has a Text type. HTMLStream

Enter the Stream Name key part of an HTML rule (Rule-Obj-HTML rule type) to be processed to produce the value of the property.

6) Show-HTML Use the Show-HTML method to cause the activity to process an HTML rule and send the resulting HTML to a user for display by Internet Explorer. Known as stream processing. this may involve the interpretation of JSP tags (or the older directives), which can access the clipboard to obtain property values, or can insert other HTML rules, and so on.

Parameter Description HTMLStream

Identify the Stream Name key part of an HTML rule (Rule-Obj-HTML rule type) to be processed. The system uses the class of the step page as the Applies To key part of the HTML rule.

7) Show-Stream Use the Show-Stream method to apply stream processing to an HTML rule, correspondence rule, or XML Stream rule, and send the results to a browser-based requestor session.

Parameter Description StreamClass

Optional. Identify the class of a rule type derived from the Rule-Stream class. such as:



Rule-Obj-Corr



Rule-Obj-HTML



Rule-Obj-XML

If blank, the default value is Rule-Obj-HTML. Do not use this method with list view or summary view rules. StreamName

StreamType

Enter the second key part of the rule to be processed. To locate the rule using rule resolution, the system uses the class of the of the step page as the Applies To class of the rule. Optional. If you selected Rule-Obj-Corr or Rule-Obj-XML as the StreamClass value, enter here the third key part of the rule (the Correspondence Type or XML Type).

8) History Add We can append the history details of a work object.

Database related methods 9) Obj-Open: Use the Obj-Open method to open an instance stored in the PegaRULES database or in an external database linked to an external class, and save it as a clipboard page. 64

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OpenClass: This is the Data table class, whose instance we want to open. Here it’s DLF-REALSTATE-MATERIALS-WorkLock: Lock this instance, if we want to update/save/delete. So that it cannot be accessed

requestor.

ReleaseOnCommit :

Property Name: properties too.

Use this LockInfoPage: Use this page if acquiring of lock fails. In that case, this page is created in clipboard and shows the details. Enter the property that would appear in where

The above method fires a

Select * from DLF-

where EmpId = 23

10) Obj-Open-By-Handle : This is another way to open the database instance by using handle. Handle is a key column (pzInsKey) which is a combination of data class + primary key. So for the above example, the

-----

handle for EmpId = 23 and data class DLFDLF-REALSTATE-MATERIALS-WORK-EMPLOYEE 23

We can put PropertyName = pzInsKey and value as DLF-REALSTATE-MATERIALS-WORKEMPLOYEE 23

11) Obj-List : This retrieve data from a data table to the clipboard as an array of embedded pages. This method is deprecated, as it returns the value of all the columns, hence kills the performance. Use ObjBrowse and Obj-List-View followed by Obj-Filter Instead .

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Page Name: Name of the page from pages and classes that will hold the record of the returned values. In pages and classes, we put the value as: pages : MyResult. Classes : code-pega-list (Normally it should be this class only to hold the retrieved records in embedded pages.

ObjClass:

Name of the data table class whose instance needs to be searched.

RuleObjList: Optional. Identify the second key part — List Name — name of a list rule that specifies which properties are to be retrieved.

SelectionProperty: The property specified here will take part in where clause of the query. If left blank, all the records will come.

The query here will be: select * from where EmpId is between 1 and 25.

13)

Obj-Browse : This queries the Database with only selected properties. Only

properties exposed as columns can be used as selection criteria. However, values of properties that are not exposed as columns, including embedded properties, can be returned.

Page Name: Name of the page from pages and classes that will hold the record of the returned values. In pages and classes, we put the value as: pages : MyResult. Classes : code-pega-list (Normally it should be this class only to hold the retrieved records in embedded pages. 66

www.svpegatraining.com ObjClass:

Name of the data table class whose instance needs to be searched.

GetRowKey: Include the primary key in the result-set. Logic : Below logic, there are steps label (A and B). We give logic for or, and conditions. Like (A AND B) , (A OR B), (A OR (B AND C) ). Select: If select this check-box, only those properties will be retrieved in result-set. If check none, all properties will be retrieved. Field: Only exposed properties can be there in Field value. It will be used for selection criteria. Condition: We can give a number of conditions and the property to be part of where clause must be exposed property. Sort: Can short ascending and descending.

13) Obj-Filter : Use the Obj-Filter method to filter the embedded pages of a results page (such as a Code-Pega-List page produced by the Obj-List, RDB-List, Obj-List-View or Obj-Browse methods) based on one or more when condition rules.

We have used here Obj-Browse then Obj-Filter to filter the resultset.

List page: The page (code-pega-list) used above in Obj-browse to hold the result set as embedded page.

ResultClass: The data table class. When: Provide a when condition to filter the data. (Here when is .Empld < 100). 14) Obj-List-View : Use the Obj-List-View method to execute the retrieval and sorting operations, but not the formatting and display processing, of a list view rule. The system uses rule resolution to find the list view rule and executes it, but does not produce any HTML output display. The selection criteria of the list view rule and the sorting requirements (recorded on the Content tab) are converted to an SQL query that is sent to the PegaRULES database. The database results are organized into a results page of class Code-Pega-List. The name of this page is determined by the Content Page Name field on the Content tab of the List View form, (The Step Page field on the step is ignored.)

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Parameters Specify all three key parts of a list view rule. Parameter ObjClass

Description The Data table class

ListView

The List-View Rule of the Data table class

Owner

Owner of the List-View rule

15) Obj-Save Use this method to request that the system save a clipboard page to the PegaRULES database or (if the page belongs to an external class) an external database. The Obj -Save method uses properties on the page to derive the internal key under which it will be saved. This method can create a new database instance or overwrite a previous instance with that key. An object that is stored in the PegaRULES database is persistent. The object is available to other users, and remains after the requestor session that created it ends. This method does not always cause the object to be written immediately to the database. Often, developers use this method perform a "deferred write" operation. In such cases, later execution of the Commit method, in the same Thread, completes the database update. Select the WriteNow parameter to force this page (and only this page) to be written to the database as part of the Obj-Save method. Unlike the Commit method, the Obj-Save method does not operate on all previously marked-for-commit objects, only on the current page, and does not release locks. You can reverse the effect of an Obj-Save method — if it has not yet been committed — with the Obj-Save-Cancel or the Rollback method.

Cautions 0

1

In all but rare situations, do not save a page that contains messages and so is marked as invalid.

Obj-Save-Cancel

Use this method to cancel the most recent uncommitted Obj-Save method, so that the instance is not written as part of a later Commit operation. You can also use this method to undo an Obj-Delete that has not yet been committed. Use the similar Rollback method to cancel all uncommitted Obj-Save and Obj-Delete operations, not only the most recent one.

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www.svpegatraining.com 17) Rollback Use this method to cancel or withdraw any previous uncommitted changes to the PegaRULES database (and to external databases accessed from an external class) from the current Thread. All pending Obj-Save and Obj-Delete methods are cancelled.

18) Obj-Sort Use this method to sort the clipboard pages that are the values of a property of mode Page List. You can specify one or more properties to sort on, and whether the sort sequence is ascending or descending for each sort level.

Parameters This method has two base parameters and an array of two parameters per row: Parameter

Description

PageListProperty Class

Enter a property reference that identifies a target property of mode Page List to be sorted. Identify the class of the pages within the Page List property.

SortProperty

Enter the property based on which we’ll sort the pages.

Descending

Select to cause the method to sort in descending order for the property. Clear the box to sort in ascending order.

19) Obj-Delete Use the Obj-Delete method to delete a database instance corresponding to a clipboard page and optionally to delete the clipboard page too. You can cause the deletion to occur immediately, or (more commonly) defer deletion until a later execution of a Commit method. This method can operate on objects of both internal classes (corresponding to rows in a table in the PegaRULES database) and external classes (corresponding to rows in an external relational database). The Obj-Delete method uses the class of the page to obtain the appropriate Rule-Obj-Class instance. It uses the table name, key fields, and other aspects of the class rule to mark the instance for deletion. Unless you check the Immediate check box on the activity form, the database deletion does not occur until the system next processes the Commit method. You can reverse or cancel a previously executed Obj-Delete method by using the Obj-Save- Cancel method (like the method Obj-Save can be reversed), unless the Immediate box is selected or the Commit method has already occurred.

Parameters This method has two parameters:

Parameter Description Remove

Immediate

If selected, the system deletes the page identified in the Step Page column of this step from your clipboard and marks the corresponding persistent instance for deletion. If selected, the system deletes the database instance immediately (commits this deletion). To delete the database instance immediately from the database, select this box. If this box is cleared, the database instance is deleted by the next Commit operation.

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www.svpegatraining.com Results The system finds the clipboard page identified in the Step Page column of the current step and checks whether it the current requestor holds a lock on the corresponding object. If the object is not locked (and the class rule allows locking), the method fails and no clipboard or database changes occur. If the page is locked and the Remove parameter is selected, the system deletes the page. It marks the persistent object in the database for deletion, or deletes it immediately, depending on the Immediate parameter. The system automatically performs index processing for an immediate delete, or later when a Commit method follows the Obj-Delete method.

Fail and Warn conditions These situations cause the method status to be Fail or Warn. You cannot delete an instance without locking it first (usually with the Obj-Open method). You cannot delete an instance while it is locked by another requestor.

20) Obj-Delete-by-Handle : Delete an instance by handle. 20.5) Commit: Use this method to commit all uncommitted database changes. This method writes all the instances specified by one or more earlier Obj-Save methods to the PegaRULES database (for internal classes) and to external databases (for external classes).

Decision Methods (Property-Set-Decision-) 21) Property-Map-DecisionTable Use the Property-Map-DecisionTable method to evaluate a decision table rule and save the result as the value of a property.

PropertyName: Property to receive the return value of Decision Table.

22) Property-Map-DecisionTree Use the Property-Map-DecisionTree method in to evaluate a decision tree rule (Rule-DeclareDecisionTree rule type) and store the result as the value of a property.

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PropertyName: Property to receive the return value of Decision Table. Input: Optional. Enter a literal value or property reference that is the source value for the decision tree evaluation. When provided, this value is used for comparisons in the top-level structure of the true, for evaluations with no left-hand value, such as: if > "Hello" When you leave this blank, the system uses the value of the Property field on the Input tab of the Decision Tree form for the rule.

23) Property-Map-Value The Property-Map-Value method evaluates a one-dimensional map value (Rule-Obj-MapValue rule type) defined in the parameter. The method sets the result as a value for a Single Value property.

24) Property-Map-Value-Pair The Property-Map-ValuePair method evaluates a two -dimensional map value rule identified in the parameters. It sets the value that results into a specified property.

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www.svpegatraining.com 25) Property-Seek-Value: Use this method to initiate backward chaining computations for the value of a property, based on Declare Expression rules.

26) Property-Set-Messages Use this method to associate a text message with a property or a step page. The system reads the appropriate property and adds the message to the page. You can provide the entire literal text of the message, or reference a message rule key that in turn contains message text.

Message: This field can contained a pre-defined message or a Field Value.

27) Property-Set-Special : Used to set special properties like py properties. But deprecated now.

We

can use the Proprty-Set method only.

28) Call Use the Call instruction to cause the current activity find another specified activity and execute it. When that activity completes, control returns to the calling activity.

Pass current parameter page?

Select to cause the calling activity's parameter page to be passed to (shared with) the called activity, which can alter its contents in any way. Clear to use the array that appears below the check box to pass parameters to the called activity. If you select this box, the parameter page remains available to the calling activity after the return. This capability is

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sometimes known as call-by-reference. If you select this box, make sure that input parameter values needed by the called activity are present on the parameter page before calling the activity.

Or pass the parameters required by the called activity. Here we pass two input parameter (A and B) and one output parameter i.e C.

29) Branch : Similar to call but. Use the Branch instruction to cause the current activity to find another specified activity and branch to it without a return. When the system executes a Branch step, control transfers to another activity found through rule resolution. Execution of the original activity pauses. When the branched activity ends, processing of the current activity ends also; no steps after the Branch step are executed. You can pass parameters to the target activity, or you can share the current activity parameter page with the target activity.

RDB Methods The four RDB Methods RDB-Open, RDB-Delete, RDB-Save, RDB-Browse are not used individually. But they are used in conjunction with Connect SQL rules. (New -> Integration-Connectors -> Connect SQL).

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30) The RDB-Open -> will use the SQL query written in the Open Tab of Connect SQL tab. Use this method to retrieve a single row (record) of data from an external relational database and add the retrieved data into a specified clipboard page as property names and values. Use this method in conjunction with a Connect SQL rule that contains SQL SELECT or EXECUTE statements in the Open tab. Define the SQL statements so that the database returns exactly one row.

OpenClass -> The data class name, whose instance we want to open. RequestType -> 3rd Key Part of the Connect SQL rule (See in previous page) Access-> MSSQL, ORACLE, SYBASE, DB2 etc.

31) The RDB-Delete -> will use the SQL query written in the Delete Tab of Connect SQL tab. It has the same parameters as above. Use this method to delete a row or rows from an external relational database using SQL. This method operates in conjunction with an SQL statement in the Delete tab of a Connect SQL rule (RuleConnect-SQL rule type) that contains the DELETE, TRUNCATE or DROP SQL statement.

32) The RDB-Save -> will use the SQL query written in the Save Tab of Connect SQL tab. It has the same parameters as above. 74

Use this method to save the contents of a clipboard page into a row of a relational database. The system saves the properties on the specified step page to the specified table in the database. This method operates in conjunction with a Connect SQL rule that contains SQL statements such as INSERT, UPDATE, and CREATE statements on the Save tab.

33) The RDB-List -> will use the SQL query written in the Browse Tab of Connect SQL tab. Use this method to retrieve rows from an external relational database and place the results as embedded pages in a specified step page of class Code-Pega-List. This method references a Connect SQL rule instance, and executes SQL statements stored in the Browse tab of that rule instance. The search can do anything you can specify in a SQL statement, such as a SELECT WHERE statement. Any constraints on the returned data are in the SQL.

ClassName

Enter a class name, the Applies To key part of a Rule-Connect-SQL rule. Identify the exact class of the rule. The system does not use class inheritance to find the Rule-Connect-SQL rule instance. This is also the class of the pxResults embedded pages which hold the search results. It can be a class that you created to hold the results. This class is distinct from the class which the RDB-List method searches, which you identify in the SQL code in the Rule-Connect-SQL rule.

MaxRecords BrowsePage

Optional. Enter a positive integer that is the maximum number of rows to return in the search results. Optional. Identify the top-level page into which the search results are to be returned. The pxResults pages are embedded in this page. If left blank, the system uses the step page you specified for the RDB-List method in the activity step. If you select this option, do not select the RunInParallel option. Parallel operations cannot update the single top-level browse page.

ApplyDeclaratives

Select to cause change tracking for Declare Expression and Declare Constraint rules

processin to be applied to the properties returned by this method. You cannot select this box if the RunInParallel box is selected.

Complex and Dynamic SQL Statements in Connect SQL. In Connect SQL Rule, in browse tab, we can include lots of complex queries. Note the results can be either a record or sets of record. Hence include a page/page-list accordingly in the browsePage of RDB-Browse method. 75

0 1 2 3

Select MarketPrice as ".MarketPriceprop" : To include column name that includes lowercase letters, include as. WHERE zipcode={myPage.zipcode Integer} : Integer is the database specific data type. References to elements of Page List and Value List properties must contain integer constant index values such as 7 or 23 or keywords such as or . You cannot use the Param keyword in these property references.

Table or Class name Literals. the Class keyword is similar to the Table keyword. With Class keywords, use the format: {class:ClassName} for a direct reference to a fixed, known class. or: {class: {page.property} for an indirect reference that at runtime becomes the class. For example, {class:Data-Customer-Address-Details}

Table keyword To use Table keywords, follow the format: {Table:TableName} for a direct, static reference to one Database Table instance, or: {Table: {page.property}} for an indirect reference to a property that, at runtime, contains in its value a Database Table name. For example, {Table: {CustomerMaster.OracleAddressTable}}. Use this syntax when entering a SELECT statement: SELECT columnname AS ".propertyname" or "page.propertyname". to select all the columns in the table. Use it to replace a SELECT * from ... statement. For example: SELECT {all} from {class: Data-Customer-Summary}

Calling a stored procedure

{call procedure({resultset})}

we use resultset keyword.

To create multiple resultsets in one procedure, place a {resultset} marker for each parameter for each example that returns a resultset. For example: { {resultset} = call testFunc( {dataPage.OutProperty1 out}, {dataPage.inkey1}, {resultset}, {dataPage.inkey2}, {dataPage.OutProperty2 out}, {dataPage.inkey3}, {resultset})

}

Capturing SQL statements and status responses To include SQL debugging and return status information from the database software, enter a line at the top of your SQL code in the format: {SQLPage:mySQLPage}

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Enter the name of page on which the system records the error messages. The page can have a class or be a classless page. When the Connect SQL rule executes, the system creates a page with this name and adds two properties: 0

pxSQLStatementPre — The SQL you entered in the Connect SQL form.

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pxSQLStatementPost — The SQL you entered in the Connect SQL form tab with the references resolved to show their values, so you can verify the references.

If errors occur, additional properties appear on this page: 0

pxRDBError — An error message from Process Commander.

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pxRDBSQLCode — A result code from the database access driver.

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pxRDBSQLVendorError1 — An error code from the database vendor.

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pxRDBSQLVendorError2 — An error code from the database vendor.

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pxRDBSQLVendorMessage1 — An error message from the database vendor software.

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pxRDBSQVendorMessage2 — An error message from the database vendor software.

To Map to external DB. We can create a instance of Data-Admin-DB-Name. New -> SysAdmin -> Database.

Use configuration in preferences -> configuration in prConfig.xml Use JDBC URL : Provide JDBC URL, Username and Password. Use JDBC Connection pool : Use JNDI Resource pool. In Advanced Tab, we have connection pool size, and Fail-over Data base. 77

To return Multiple ResultSet Use keyword Mutiset.

The resulsets will be stored inside the browsePage which must be of code-pega-list. But only in SQL Server and Sybase.

ASIS KEYWORD Used for dynamic SQLs. Store the dynamic part of SQL statements in a property in clipboard. For example, you can create a text property named DynamicWhere and use a Property-Set method to store the value: "pyLabel like 'Mexico%'" Then, in a Connect SQL rule, you can use this as a WHERE clause, using the syntax: where {ASIS: pyWorkPage.DynamicWhere} The ASIS keyword is essential, so that Process Commander does not place spaces or double quotes around the value.

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Java: Used to write custom java code.

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Connect SOAP:

This is used to connect to the SOAP services method. This method is used by the

connector Activity to connect to a SOAP services. See Integration section for more details. Similarly Other connect methods also are used to connect to the respective services.

Iteration in Activities. Iteration in activities can be done using for loop, for each page, for each embedded page etc. Giving 3 ways to iterate in activities. 0

Using This tag holds the current index of iteration. It is updated automatically in each iteration. Note in the below screen-shot. We are iterating on the pagelist EmpPageList (This is created in the clipboard, if we use this pagelist in repeating layout in a flow-action to collect values).

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Iterate on .EmpPageList. Under iteration, we have several sub-steps (1.1 to 1.4) 0 Create a new page (for data class ) 1 Set Properties in the page that we want to save in data-base. 2 Primary page refers to pyWorPage here. EmpPageList ().EmpId = EmpPageList (1).EmpId in first iteration, EmpPageList (2).EmpId in second iteration etc. 3 Save the page in data-base. So in each itration, we are collecting values for a single page or single record of repeating layout and saving in data base. The iteration will perform 3 cycles here, as we have 3 records.

2.) Using parameter pyForEachCount This is a parameter passed automatically to the activity by PRPC Application only when the activity uses looping. To access it, we just need to add this parameter as input, in the parameters tab in the activity.

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Similar to above, Param.pyForEachCount holds the index of current iteration. The same concept as above.

3.) Using local variable. In parameter page, we have entry for local variable. Update a local variable there.

Now in the activity, initialize this variable to 1. Use this variable as index, and in each sub-step, increment it manually.

Get values from Data Tables and display in flow action.

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In Pages and classes, use these values.

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Obj-Browse method used to get the records from the Data table. Iterate on the resul-set (returned by Ob-Browse method as pageList DataPage.pxResults. Copy each page from pageList to our pyWorkPage.EmpPageList (PageList declared in our class). All the values of the pageList will be available in the Clip-board. If we use the pagelist properties in a repating layout, the results can be shown.

Creating WorkBasket New-> Organization -> WorkBasket

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Give the name of WorkGroup it contains. Similarly create a Workgroup. New -> Organization -> WorkGroup. Give the name of WorkBasket in the WorkGroup.

Now in the OperatorID provide the WorkGroup and WorkBasket name under work-Setting tab

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Sending Work object to Worklist/Workbasket An assigment is a state of a Work Object which requires some action by a user. Usually, the business process will require that particular Work Objects be performed by specialized users. PRPC handles this situation using Worklists. A Worklist is, as its name indicates, a list containing the Work assignments that are assigned to a specific operator. Within a flow, a Work Object assignment is sent to a specific user through the use of a Router Shape. In the configuration section for the router, the developer shall specify "ToWorkList" on the "Rule" field and then, as "Parameter", the Operator ID to whom he wants to send the Work Object assignment.

Figure 4. Properties of a router shape using ToWorklist routing rule in PRPC 5.5 The assignment properties will need to be configured according to the rule used to route the Work Object:

Figure 5. Setting the routing type on the properties of an assigmnet shape in PRPC 5.5 As shown in Figure 4, the ToWorklist routing rule takes as parameter a user ID, to know to the worklist the assignment must be sent. There is an adittional option to check, before routing the object, the availability of the selected operator. When a Work Object assignment is routed to an operator different than the one who is working on it, PRPC shows a Review Harness as depicted in the image below:

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Figure 5. Work Object has been routed to a different operator in PRPC 5.5

Work Basket A Workbasket is a queue of Work Object assignments that are not directly linked to an operator, so a group of operators can work on the assignments contained in it. Workbaskets are related to an organization unit, a workgroup and a calendar, and within a flow, work objects are sent to them through the use of a Router Shape. In a similar way as with WorkLists, the router shape must be configured using the rule "ToWorkbasket", setting as parameter the name of the selected workbasket. Do not forget to set the routing type to "Workbasket" on the assignment's properties.

Figure 6. Properties of a router shape using ToWorkbasket routing rule in PRPC 5.5

In a similar way as when routing to Worklists, PRPC notifies the operator that the current Work Object has been routed to a work list through a review screen: Workbasket routing can also improved upon when used in conjunction with Skills. A specific User can have different skills in different levels, and Work Objects assignments can be sent to an skilled workbasket allowing only the users with a certain skill at a certain level to work on them. Again, this configuration is made through the Router Shape, configuring it to use the rule ToSkilledWorkbasket, which parameters are the required skills and levels and, of course, the selected workbasket.

Skilled Workbaskets¶ Also a workbasket can be used in a way that only allows a subset of users to access certain work object assignments, even if there are more users that have access to that specific workbasket. This kind of filtering can be accomplished using skills.

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Figure 8: displays how different skills with different ratings can be defined for an operator. Skills are instances of Rule-Admin-Skill. PRPC provides standard skills (English, French, Java, HTML...).

In order to use a skilled workbasket, the router shape will have to be configured. The following image displays the required rule and its parameters:

Figure 9. Properties of a router shape used for Skilled Routing in PRPC 5.5 In this case, the Router must be configured to use the rule "ToSkilledWorkbasket". As parameters, this activity takes the destination workbasket and also the required skills and its levels. Create the skill and it will be available for selection here. Skills can be set as "required", by checking the Required checkbox or as "desired", without checking it. 85

Dynamic select When we want to populate data from Database, to be filled in a dynamic select (drop-down) we need this concept. It always retrieves unique values in the field. Duplicate values are not shown. Ways to do it. 1) Create an activity (to fetch data from DB)

This Activity browses a Data Table and fetches the records from it and places it in Step-page. Now we call show page, so that it’ll provide the data in XML format, which will be used by the dynamic select Property to parse and display the data. Note: The data class is DLF-REALSTATE-MATERIALS-Work-Employee Now, we need to modify the property in the UI.

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We want to make Name as dynamic select. So click on the Display As Give “DynamicSelect”. Now click the magnifier symbol Fill the details.

Options In Dynamic Select

If we select List View: Then Provide : 0 Class name where the List View is present. 1 Name of the List View. If we select Activity

0Class Name of Activity 1Activity Name 2Class whose properties will be returned. 87

button of Name field. And in the again near it. It opens a parameter page.

Select ID: We can give a unique ID to this Dynamic Select Property, so that it can be referred in other Dynamic Select. Default Caption: The default first selected name in the drop down. Like States… Property for Option Display: The property from the returned result -set whose value would be shown. Property for Option Value: The name of source property that will capture the values of above property. Normally it’s same as the “Property for Option Display” FILTERS Param Name: Name of the Parameter that the above List View or Activity will receive. Select ID: Name of the Select ID (of a different Dynamic Select which will affect our value).

If you choose Advanced. Next Page.

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Select ID: We can give a unique ID to this Dynamic Select Property, so that It can be referred in other Dynamic Select. Source: Enter the query string form of the activity to call, including values for parameters. Click the magnifying class button ( ) to open an Activity Picker window for guidance on entering input parameter values. Use URL encoding (commonly called percent-encoding) for blanks and other special characters. Use this syntax: pyActivity=myClass.myActivity¶m=value....

Default Caption: The default first selected name in the drop down. Like States… Value: Enter a semicolon-delimited string of property names that form the values of the HTML Option elements in the format:

propertyName1; propertyName2;... For example, the following string sets the values of a Dynamic Select to the class names in a list: pyClassName.

ParentID : Optional. Enter the ID of another element that, when changed, triggers a refresh of this control.

TargetID: Optional. Complete this field when the results of another Dynamic Select control on the same harness, section, or HTML form depends on the results selected by users for this Dynamic Select control. This technique is known as cascading.

Enter one or more semicolon-delimited text value to identify the ID(s) of the other Dynamic Select controls whose values depend on the value selected in this Dynamic Select control. When a user selects a value in this Dynamic Select control, the system appends the value to the Source of the target Dynamic Select control. The activity of the latter control is then executed to populate it. The Source of the target control must end with the following syntax: parameterName=.

The value of the selected option in the first Dynamic Select then becomes the value of the parameter in the activity of the target Dynamic Select. 89

Output:

Auto Complete This is the feature similar to that we see in Google. The concept is similar as above. We need to create an activity to browse the values from a data table. Now we want to make Name as AutoComplete. So click on the Display As Give “AutoComplete”. Now click the magnifier symbol the details.

See next page

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button of Name field. And in the

again near it. It opens a parameter page. Fill

Activity Applies To: Name of the class which contains the activity. Activity Name: Name of the activity. Search Property Applies To: The data table name which will provide the data for the AutoComplete. Display Field : Name of the property in data table. Minimum search Characters : No. of characters after the AutoComplete will work.

If we choose Clipboard Page.

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Clipboard Page Name, Class Name, Property Name..(Provide these Details)

Declared Pages (Rule-Declare-Pages) Declare pages are read -only clipboard pages that can be available to multiple users on the system (node level) or just one user (thread level).

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Note: The properties in the declare pages can only be modified by the Activity defined in the declare page Load Activity. This activity is of type : Load Declarative Page. For the page to refresh, we need 2 conditions. 1) The Refresh timings declared must be expired. 2) The when condition must return false. 0

Declare pages are not subject to Rule Resolution

Note That, If above conditions meet also, it’s not necessary that the Declarative page will be calling the activity and refreshing at the background. If we reference the properties in the Declare Pages, in our flow, activities, Decision rules etc, then the Declare page refreshes and calls the Load Activity (Provided above 2 conditions satisfy). Load Activity used in Declare Pages.

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Circumstance A circumstance is an optional qualification available for all rules. Using a circumstance allows your application to support multiple variants of a rule. They allow you to specify that different rules should be used for different situations. For example, we have a property called customerType. If “Gold” -> 10 % discount. If “Silver” -> 5 % discount. If “Platinum” -> 15 % discount. So we create Circumstances for same rule (activities, Flow actions etc) based on this property.

Types of Circumstance 0 Single Property value Circumstance. 1 Single Property and Date Property Circumstance. 2 Multiproperty/Mutivariant Circumstance. 3 Date Range Circumstance. 1) Single Property value Circumstance. We create a base rule. Then use the save-as button to create a circumstance, the save-as form will provide the circumstance options and date range options.

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2) Single Property and Date Property Circumstance. Here we provide the circumstance based on single property as well as date property.

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3) Date Range Circumstance. Here we provide the date range along with the property, the circumstance will be valid.

4) Multiproperty/Mutivariant Circumstance. For multi property/Multivariant circumstance, we need to create 2 things. 0 Circumstance Template 1 Circumstance Defination

Circumstance Teemplate. New-> Technical -> Circumstance Template. Provide the properties that you need for circumstance.

Circumstance Defination New-> Technical -> Circumstance Definition Provide the properties values that you need for circumstance in the definition. We can create more than one definations.

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Note: Here two definitions we have created, one with RollNo = 1, Name= “Abhi”, Gender = Male./ RollNo=2, Name= “Kabhi”, Gender = Female. And RollNo = 3, Name= “Raj”, Gender = Male./ RollNo=4, Name= “Aaj”, Gender = Female. Now Save-as your base rule and in the form provide the value of Template and Definitions. Use -> Template instead of property.

Ruleset Versioning While moving/migrating the application into another system, we need to lock our original ruleset (version) and proceed with migration.

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View -> sysAdmin -> Ruleset version. Lock the version for Unlocking/add-update this version.

Create a new version. New -> sysAdmin-> Ruleset version. Or you can save-as the existing ruleset version and change the patch. If we create a new version, the while creating any rules further, we will have the option to select between the rulesets versions.

To Migrate to another system New -> sysAdmin -> Product.

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See next page.

Provide the details of 0Application, 1 rule-sets, 2 classes (only data classes. Normal classes come along with rulesets). Now click on “create a zip file”. Save the file.

Migration Migration is a process to export the application from one System to another. For E.g the developers develop the application in development server. After development is completed, we need to migrate the application to Quality Assurance server (QA server) for the testers to test it. Then finally to the production server. Process Commander provides several tools to archive rules, data instances, and work objects into ZIP files and move them from one Process Commander System to another. We’ll use the product rule here to create a zip file of our application that can be migrated to another PRPC server. New -> sysAdmin -> product. Give product name and version. 99

Note: Lock your rule-set and create another higher version rule-set. Now migrate the lower version locked rule-set.

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Provide Application Name and Version. Provide RuleSet Name and Version. (Work related classes are included in this) Provide Classes (Derived from Data-) Create a ZIP file and save it.

Reports: Reporting is the process to represent data in a particular format which would be beneficial for decision making. Accurate, flexible, dynamic reporting lets stakeholders know what is going on and makes good decision-making possible. A report is a way to answer a question about your application, your team, your sales, or some other measurable assembly of data. Reports can answer questions like o

"How long does it take for us to resolve an order we receive?"

o

"Are there seasonal trends in sales that we should adjust our inventory plans for?"

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"Which teams are processing works well, and which are having trouble meeting their deadlines?"

Process Commander Reports assemble the data you specify and display it in customizable tables and charts. In Process Commander, you can: 0

incorporate reports into manager and user portals

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share reports between managers

2

export reports as spreadsheets or PDF documents

3

drill down into reports that summarize data and see the actual data that lies behind the summary

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add charts to summary reports, simplifying data analysis 100

List View: Displays information in a spreadsheet format about work objects of a particular class where each row represents data about a single work object and each column presents the data held in a database field associated with the work objects. We can also create List View to represent data from, Data tables, External Data base etc.

Summary View: Displays summarized or aggregated information (grouped by subtotals, averages, dates, or other factors) for work items or class instances. We can also incorporate Pie-Charts, Bars, Curves, data grams, diagrams etc in the Summary view. These reports can further drill down to produce more grandeur level information.

Important Terminology Dashboard: A dashboard is an assembly of charts based on reports that is designed to provide a manager or stakeholder with a quick view of the current status of the work the reports cover. Viewers can normally drill down (see below) into the charts to see more details about the information they depict.

Drill down: In summary reports, and in charts associated with them, users can generally click on an entry in the report or a section of the chart to 'drill down' into the report and see in more detail the data supporting the top-level display.

Report Browser: The composite Manager portal includes a report browser that lets a manager create new reports, modify existing reports, and share reports with other managers.

Report Viewer: The composite Manager portal includes a report viewer that lets a manager review, modify (including adding charts to summary-type reports), and export reports.

Trend report: A trend report organizes data along a time line or other progress indicator. Managers use trend reports to understand their business processes: for instance, a manager may want to see a report of the number of sales made per month over the past year.

Relational database: A relational database stores information in multiple tables, and then assembles information related to a particular data object based on relationships between the various tables. For instance, in a system managing employees, the table holding the basic employee record might hold the person's first and last name, a code for the person's department that refers to an entry in the "Dept" table, a code for the person's job title that refers to an entry in the "Positions" table, and so on. Process Commander Uses SQL commands (see below) to tell the database what data to retrieve.

SQL: Process Commander uses Structured Query Language (SQL) to query the database for the information the report needs. SQL is a language designed for managing data in relational database management systems. The Report Viewer simplifies selection and assembly of SQL statements: creating Process Commander Reports requires no extensive knowledge of SQL.

Report definition rules, introduced in PRPC V6, simplify creating, adapting, and sharing reports. Both managers and developers can create and manage reports using report definition rules. 101

List View Report List View reports can be created in two ways. First from the developer portal by using New -> Reports -> List View. And other from Managers Portal, using the report wizard. New -> Reports -> List View.

Applies To : Name of the class whose properties will be used/displayed. Give work type (class) name when you want to create report on work object. Give data class name if you want to represent data from a different table/external database.

View Purpose: Just a name to describe the report Owner: Owner of the report. Write ALL if you wish to share this report to all. Display Field Tab

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Category: To assign a category to this report, select from the Smart Prompt list. Choose one of seven standard categories to cause this report to be listed in a corresponding group on the Monitor Activity workspace (present in manager portal), (and so available to those users who can access this workspace.) For example, choose Work Analysis to list this report in the Analyze Quality area. Embedded: Select if the output display of this list view is to appear within the runtime presentation of another rule, such as a section rule or flow action. Fixed Header: Optional. Select to indicate that the header area is to be excluded from the scrollable area. This causes the headers to remain fixed, where as the rows are scrolled. Enable Sorting/Filtering: Self explanatory. SHOW THESE FIELDS: Use to name the properties to be displayed in the report. You can use properties from another table/data class also. You need to declare the page and class name under pages and classes.

Here I am using the EmpID property of data class employee. Hence use pageName.Property. Note that in order to use the properties of different class, we need to JOIN it with our current class. JOIN is described later in this section. Content Tab

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Criteria: We can provide criteria on properties. These criteria will come as where clause in the SQL query. We can also provide values for criteria at run-time using page.propertyName or by using parameters param.value (need to be declared in parameters tab).

Edit Input: Provide a Edit Input rule, if you want to change the format of the field. Ignore Case and Use Null is self explanatory.

Prompt Settings: These are used to prompt to user (while running the report) a criteria value to provide at run time.

Get These Fields: Include the properties that you want to be present in result-set. Only properties from this list mentioned in Display fields tab will be visible in the report. We use this in cases, when we want some properties to be present in result-set, but not shown in the Report, because they may be used for calculation purpose etc.

Content Page Name: The page name in clipboard that will hold the records. This page will have a pageList pxResults to hold the records. Normally we give the page which represents the class Code-PegaList (Mentioned in pages and classes tab).

Activity Name: By default getContent Activity (pre-defined) which queries the database to fetch result. Mostly this is not customized.

Selectable Tab This tab enables selection of rows. Either single selection (radio button will appear before rows) or multiple selection (check box).

Organize Tab

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Provides options for paging. Means if the report is very large, then it will come in pages like 1 2 3 4 … etc.

Also provides options for the buttons that will appear in the Report. Like Export to PDF, Export to Excel etc. Format Tab.

Describes the HTML/CSS Formatting styles for report/rows/alternate rows etc. Also describes event handling. It can call Activity on single click or double click on rows. Parameters Tab Used to describe parameters. Input parameters can be used to receive values at run time. Pages and Classes tab

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JOIN Tab

Provide the data table name here, that you want to use in JOIN conditions in SQL query. Here we tried to Join Employee and Steel classes (Tables). Prefix: This value will be used to create a Page for the particular class in Pages and Classes tab. Here B is prefix for Employee class, hence we can access the properties of Employee class by B.propertyName (used in Display Field Tab). Edit Conditions: Used to provide JOIN Conditions. Normally a equi-join. See in next page.

B.Name = Primary.Name. It means (Employee class/table).Name = (Steel Class).Name. 106

Declarative Index Join: Indexes created by Rule-Declare-Index rules can be specified here to reference embedded properties for both display and criteria from the Applies To class. This facilitates using Rule-Declare-Index rules for performance by avoiding retrieving properties from the BLOB (Storage Stream) column. You can attach an alias to any declarative index that you have previously defined. Prefix

Index Name

Enter a text string to be used as an alias for the joined declarative index class and all its properties. The prefix is assigned to all the properties in the class and used to reference the properties from these fields for the Display Fields and Content tabs. Specify the Index- class created by the Declare Index rule.

Note: List View Reports can also be used to show data/records/tables in a section or flow actions. Drag and Drop the list view in the particular section/flow action. We can also pass run time values to the list view through properties and parameters. Use these parameters and properties in the Display Fields or Criteria values.

Summary View (Rule-Obj-SummaryView) A summary view rule defines a two-level report display, presenting summary counts, totals or averages to be displayed initially, and allowing users to click a row to drill down to supporting detail for that row. Summary view rules support interactive charts, trend reports, and the use of AJAX for pop-up Smart Info windows. We can create Summary View reports by Report Wizard and also by Summary View Form. New -> Reports -> Summary View

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Applies To : Name of the class whose properties will be used/displayed. Give work type (class) name when you want to create report on work object. Give data class name if you want to represent data from a different table/external database.

View Purpose: Just a name to describe the report

Content Tab

Category : To assign a category to this report, select from the SmartPrompt list. Choose one of seven standard categories to cause this report to be listed in a corresponding group on the Monitor Activity workspace (present in manager portal), (and so available to those users who can access this workspace.) For example, choose WorkAnalysis to list this report in the Analyze Quality area. Fixed Header: Optional. Select to indicate that the header area is to be excluded from the scrollable area. This causes the headers to remain fixed, where as the rows are scrolled. Move Group By Caption to header: Select to present the Caption value from the current Group By element in the display header.

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Criteria: We can provide criteria on properties. These criteria will come as where clause in the SQL query. We can also provide values for criteria at run-time using page.propertyName or by using parameters param.value (need to be declared in parameters tab). Edit Input : Provide a Edit Input rule, if you want to change the format of the field. Ignore Case and Use Null is self explanatory. Prompt Settings : These are used to prompt to user (while running the report) a criteria value to provide at run time. GROUP BY: Provide the properties that will be used in the Group By clause of the SQL queries required to retrieve the data.

FIELDS: We can provide the properties here to be used in an aggregate functions like count(), Sum(), Avg() etc.

TREND REPORTING

Click on the symbol

to open a window for Trend Reporting.

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Trend

Choose an interval, Range (buckets) or Expression. Choose: 1

Yearly, Quarterly, Monthly, Weekly, or Daily — For fixed intervals.

1

Range — You can determine the ending point of a series of past time intervals, in units of days, weeks, calendar months or calendar quarters.

1

Expression — Enter an expression to define break points. If the expression results in a boolean value, enter a comparison.

Select a Property

Select a DateTime property to be the basis of trend intervals.

THRESHOLDS

Define Select if you want to define one or colors to identify ranges on an interactive chart (as Thresholds backgrounds). Configure... If you selected the Define Thresholds box, click to enter threshold values and colors for each. Content Page Name: The page name in clipboard that will hold the records. This page will have a pageList pxResults to hold the records. Normally we give the page which represents the class CodePega-List (Mentioned in pages and classes tab). Activity Name: By default getContent Activity (pre-defined) which queries the databse to fetch result. Mostly this is not customized.

Drilled Down TAB

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DrillDown To: This option enables another layer of reporting. When the user viewing the summary report, when he clicks on the chart/bars, they open-up into another layer of report like List View, Summary View or Detailed View. 3 options --- List View, Summary View, Detailed View. In case of List View and Summary View we have to provide the pre-created List View and Summary View rules. We can also pass parameters to them. Detailed View Provide the properties to be shown in the detailed view report. Modify the fields. DATA SOURCE OF DRILL DOWN VIEW : Leave this field blank in most cases, to use instances of the Applies To key class of this rule as the source of drill-down information. You can choose a different concrete class that contains the properties to be displayed in the drilldown display, if: 1 1

All properties listed in the Criteria array (on the Content tab) are present in both the Applies To class and the class you enter in this field, and all are exposed as columns. The properties in the Group By array (on the Content tab) are present in both classes.

Organize Tab Provides options for the buttons that will appear in the Report. Like Export to PDF, Export to Excel etc.

Format Tab.

Describes the HTML/CSS Formatting styles for report/rows/alternate rows etc. Also describes event handling. It can call Activity on single click or double click on rows.

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Chart Tab Chart Output Type

Select: Image to develop a static chart and send to the browser as a PNG image. Complete the remaining details on this form. Interactive to develop an interactive chart as an Adobe Flash file. Complete the Select output layout field, but do not complete other fields on this tab. Then click Configure

Interactive Charts to specify parameters for this chart.

Now Press Configure Interactive Charts Button to open a dialog to configure the charts.

You can define Chart Type.

Provide Field and Name Field value, to be used in the charts. You can define different options in Options TAB That how the chart will appear, size, what buttons to appear in the chart etc. Color Tab to define colors.

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Used to describe parameters. Input parameters can be used to receive values at run time. Pages

and Classes tab

JOIN Tab

Provide the data table name here, that you want to use in JOIN conditions in SQL query. Here we tried to Join Employee and Steel classes (Tables). Prefix: This value will be used to create a Page for the particular class in Pages and Classes tab. Here B is prefix for Employee class, hence we can access the properties of Employee class by B.propertyName (used in Display Field Tab). Edit Conditions: Used to provide JOIN Conditions. Normally a equi-join. See in next page.

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B.Name = Primary.Name. It means (Employee class/table).Name = (Steel Class).Name. Declarative Index Join: Indexes created by Rule-Declare-Index rules can be specified here to reference embedded properties for both display and criteria from the Applies To class. This facilitates using Rule-Declare-Index rules for performance by avoiding retrieving properties from the BLOB (Storage Stream) column. You can attach an alias to any declarative index that you have previously defined. Prefix

Index Name

Enter a text string to be used as an alias for the joined declarative index class and all its properties. The prefix is assigned to all the properties in the class and used to reference the properties from these fields for the Display Fields and Content tabs. Specify the Index- class created by the Declare Index rule.

Note: Summary View Reports can also be used to show data/records/tables in a section or flow actions. Drag and Drop the list view in the particular section/flow action. We can also pass run time values to the list view through properties and parameters. Use these parameters and properties in the Display Fields or Criteria values.

Tickets (Rule-Obj-Ticket) Tickets support business exception processing in a flow. It overrides the normal processing of a flow, when any exception or event occurs. To create a ticket New -> Process -> Tickets.

To call a ticket, we need an Activity to set tickets. Here we are calling the activity from the flow action.

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Calling TicketAct activity and passing the name of the ticket in the parameter (TicketCollectInfo). The activity is shown below. It sets the ticket conditionally. In the pre-condition we call a when to check if RollNo is less than 0 or negative, then it sets the ticket, otherwise removes the ticket.

Now, when the condition for Set ticket is met, the ticket is set and our flow returns back to the place where the ticket is set. It searches the ticket in main flow as well as sub flow. Occasionally, we can provide a HTML-Reference also to the flow action in order to set a note while ticket is set. In Flow action, we change the HTML tab as :

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This HTML Reference “ActionSetTicket” creates a form to receive some note, while setting the ticket. Output of the HTML-Reference.

Tickets (Rule-Obj-Ticket) Tickets support business exception processing in a flow. It causes the flow to move back to a specified place where the ticket is set. It overrides the normal processing of the flow. However, ticket rules are optional; a ticket rule defines only a name. Create a Ticket. New -> Technical -> Ticket

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How tickets are raised An activity can call the Obj-Set-Tickets method to set a ticket, and call the same method again to reset (turn off) the ticket.

Here the input parameter “Ticket” provides the name of the ticket. This parameter has to be passed at the place of calling the Activity. We can call the activity from flow action. This flow action calls activity TicketAct (described above). It passes parameter “Collect” to the activity. This “Collect” is the ticket name.

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When the flow reaches this flow action, the normal processing of the work object is stopped and the control goes back to the place where the ticket is placed. Normal practice is to keep this flow action (which raises ticket) as a local flow action, so that user has choice to raise ticket or move forward in the flow. Or keep the Activity that raises ticket to test a precondition, which when fails raises the ticket. Users can select the standard Work-.SetTicket or @baseclass.SetTicket flow actions when processing an assignment. These flow actions can be inherited (overridden) in our classes. They do the same thing as above. They call an activity called “ActionSetTicket” which raises the ticket. They also refer to an HTML Source (HTML tag in Flow action) “ActionSetTicket” which provides a UI in the flow, where we can select the Ticket manually and write a note.

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The Status-Resolved ticket When a work object becomes resolved (the status changes to a resolved status), Process Commander automatically turns on (or "raises") a ticket named Status-Resolved. Every flow execution in process for the work object that contains a ticket with this name is interrupted and control transfers to the ticket task in the flow.

Service Level Aggreement (SLA) (Rule-Obj-ServiceLevel) A service level rule is an instance of the Rule -Obj-ServiceLevel type. Each service level rule defines one to three time intervals, known as goals, deadlines, and late intervals, that indicate the expected or targeted turnaround time for the assignment, or time-to-resolve for the work object. These provide metrics or standards for the business process. A developer can associate service level rules with assignments in a flow and with the entire flow. The time interval starts when the assignment is created, not when a user begins processing the assignment. For assignments, the service level rule is referenced in the Assignment Properties panel of the assignment task. For the overall work object, the service level rule is identified in the standard property .pySLAName, typically set up through a model for the class. (The default value is the Default service level.) The Pega-ProCom agent detects service levels not achieved — unmet goals or deadlines — promptly. If an assignment is not completed before the time limit, the system can automatically notify one or more parties, escalate the assignment, cancel the entire flow, and so on.

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1) Create a SLA. New -> Process -> Service Level

The Escalation Activity is called, when the goal, deadline is passed. Note: The Pega-ProCom agent is responsible for detecting the service level and calling the appropriate activity. Hence we need to modify the Pega-ProCom agent (rather Pega-ProCom agent schedule) inorder to detect our SLA and call accordingly. The details to modify the Pega-ProCom agent are given in following pages.

2) For Assignment SLA Set the Assignment Properties for Service Level. Note: For Service level to start, we need to route the assignment to a worklist/workbasket .

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There are few predefined SLAs too.

3) For Work Object SLA. After a service level rule has been configured for a work type, whenever a work object from that class is created, a standard flow named Work-.Overall SLA starts running in the background. In its default state, the OverallSLA flow creates an assignment named SLAProcessing in the default workbasket for the operator's organization. This assignment stays open until the work object is resolved. The times specified in the work object's service level are tracked against the SLAProcessing assignment. Additionally, the OverallSLA flow appears in the clipboard as one of the executing flows on the pyWorkPage page:

Locate and open or create the pyDefault model rule for the work type of the work object for which you created the service level rule (Rules by Type explorer > Technical > Model). In the model rule, configure an entry for the pySLAName property that specifies the name of the service level you created. Save the Model . For example:

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Now when you create a work object of that work type, flow processing tracks the service level for the work object against the SLAProcessing assignment. Note that because you specify the service level in a model for the work class, the service level applies to all flows that create work objects of that class. Note: In order to make this Work Object SLA work properly, we need to define the Workbasket of the operator whom we route the work.

3) Configuring the Pega-ProCom Agent We need to configure the Pega-ProCom Agent Schedule in-order to make our SLA detectable. Open View->SysAdmin-> Agent Schedule. Open Pega-ProCom Agent.

The second No. Agent, i.e ServiceLevelEvents must be modified and enabled. It calls Activity ProcessEvent. In the security tab, add the Application Rule-Set.

AGENTS Agents are internal background processes operating on the server that run activities according to a schedule. Agents are autonomous and asynchronous. The activities they call run individually on their own schedules and one activity does not have to finish before another one runs. Agents route work according to the rules in your application; they also perform system tasks such as sending e-mail notifications about assignments and outgoing correspondence.

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Every Process Commander system includes three standard agents named Pega-ProCom, PegaIntSvcs, and Pega-RULES. Agents are implemented through two Process Commander Objects: Agent queue rules – instances of Rule-Agent-Queue. These rules specify the activities the agent runs and the interval, in seconds, at which it runs them. There can be no more than one agent queue rule in a RuleSet. Agent schedule data objects – instances of Data-Agent-Queue. Process Commander generates these schedules for each node in the system, based on the settings in the agent queue rule. For each agent queue rule, one agent schedule is generated for each node in the system.

An agents rule provides a template that specifies the global settings for that agent on all nodes. To modify the configuration settings for an agent, open the generated agent schedule object for a specific node and modify the settings in the agent schedule. The Agent Manager is a master agent that gathers and caches the agent configuration information set for your system when Process Commander starts. Then, at a regularly scheduled interval, it determines whether any new agents rules were created during the last period. If there are new agents rules, the Agent Manager adds them to its list of agents and generates agent schedule data instances for them for each node. The Agent Manager also notices when updates are made to existing agents rules or agent schedules.

MASTER AGENTS The PegaRULES engine runs two master agents:

Agent Manager: This master agent gathers and caches the agent configuration information set for your system when Process Commander starts up. Then, at a regularly scheduled interval, it checks whether any new agent queue rules have been defined. If they have, the Agent Manager adds them to its list of agents and generates schedules (data objects) for them for each node.

Requestor Manager: At a regularly scheduled interval, this master agent examines the state of all the requestors in the system to see if any have timed out. If a requestor has timed out, the Requestor Manager terminates it.

The master agents’ behavior is determined by settings in the prconfig.xml file, which is described later in this section.

STANDARD AGENTS By default, Process Commander relies on two standard agents: Pega-ProCom and Pega-RULES. If your system is using the PegaDISTRIBUTION Manager application, Process Commander also uses the Pega-IntSvcs agent. The Pega-ProCom agent queue rule is configured to run two activities by default and two additional activities if you enable them: ■ ProcessServiceLevelEvents – compares the current time to the times specified as the goals, deadlines, and late times of the current assignments. This activity is enabled by default and it runs every 30 seconds. For more information, see “Configuring the SLA Agent” on page 7-17. 123

SendCorr – sends notify messages to users about assignments and outgoing correspondence to work parties. This activity is enabled by default and runs every 30 seconds. Email_CheckIncoming – checks the inboxes of any incoming e-mail accounts that have been configured and if it finds messages, routes them according to the settings in the e-mail account. When enabled, it runs once every 30 seconds. GetConvertedPDFsFromPDM – checks the PDM Requests table to see if any Word documents have been converted to PDF files. You enable this activity only if you are using PegaDISTRIBUTION Manager and you want to use it to convert Word files attached to work objects into PDF files. For information about this product, see the PegaDISTRIBUTION Manager for Process Commander Installation and Configuration, which is available on the Pega Developer Network (PDN). Figure 7-1 shows the Pega-ProCom agent queue rule.

Process to Create An Agent. New->sysAdmin -> Agent. (Note: We cannot create Agent Schedule, it’s created automatically for each node by the Agent Manager Master Agent). Give the rule-set Name in the form. It’s created with the same name as the rule-set. Note we can create only one Agent per rule-set. Now give the details.

In security tab, provide the Access Group name. 124

After this, the Agent scheduler is automatically created by Master Agent for this agent. And the activity runs in the timely manner. There are 2 Patterns here. Periodic: Means the activity will be called periodically at equal interval, say 30 secs. Recurring: Means we can specify other advanced Interval, when to call the activity. Eg:

Daily, weekly, monthly, everyday etc.

Modes of the Agents Legacy — Specifies that this is an agent that was created in a version prior to V5.4 and has not yet been updated. This option is not available for agents created in V5.4 or later. Standard — Specifies that this agent processes items from an agent queue and that it relies on the system to provide object locking and other transactional support. Advanced — Specifies that this agent uses custom queuing. See Pega Developer Network article PRKB-25045 Understanding agent queues. We have to use Queue-for-Agent method in an activity to enable the agent to process the specific objects from the System queue. This method stores a request for processing as a persistent object (entry) in the system queue. The method specifies: Which agent is to process the queue entry How many times the agent attempts to process the entry How long the entry is to remain in the queue before the agent can try to process it the first time.

We can see the details in System Management Application under tools.

To check schedule agents (data agents) go to Nodes tab and check there. Click on the node.

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In the security tab, provide the details of Access group and Tick on Bypass Activity Authentication.

SYSTEM MANAGEMENT APPLICATION The System Management application (SMA) is a Web application that developers can use to monitor and control caches, agents, and listeners, Requestors, Tracing and Logging. They can also see the contents of Memory, prconfig.xml file etc. and other processing in your Process Commander system. The URL name is prsysmgmt.

Capabilities Using the System Management application, you can: Review the memory used by the Java Virtual Machine on the server. Review the most recent ServletRequest and HTTPRequest details. Display the prconfig.xml file. Access any requestor and view the clipboard, start the Tracer, examine performance statistics, and terminate requestor processing. View executing threads and their characteristics. View, stop, cycle, or restart agents and listeners. View open JDBC database connections. View rule cache statistics, and empty the cache. Force extraction and recompilation of the functions in a library. Extract and compile one activity rule or model rule. Start or stop remote logging. Observe the utilization of requestor pools supporting stateless services. Review the status of the Java class loader. 126

Tracing the Agent Activity In SMA, we have Agent Management. We can click on Agents. We have options of

Select the Agents that we want to trace. Then Click on Delay Button. (It delays the Agents activity for 60 secs to connect to a Tracer). Now go to Requestor Management.

Select the Requestor having a message in “Last Input Tab” : Waiting for 60 Secs for Tracer connection. Now Click on Tracer. It will start tracing the Agent.

Logging Each node on a Process Commander system produces two logs: The Pega Log — also known as the console log or system log — contains messages created since the server was most recently started. The log file is usually named PegaRULES-YYYY-MMM-DD.log, where the date portion of the name indicates the date the application server was recently started (on the current node). The Alert log contains only alerts and supports performance-related monitoring.

Viewing or downloading the Pega log Select Tools > Log Files to view or download the current Pega log from the server to your workstation.

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Listeners operate as Java threads rather than as full requestors, and so cannot be accessed with the Tracer. Accordingly, use logs to debug listeners.

Follow the steps in the following procedures to configure a listener or service requestor to send log messages to your workstation. Then, using a modified version of the LogFactor5 log analysis module, you can review detailed or filtered messages. (LogFactor5 was an open source project of the Apache Software Foundation.)

Install the log4j Remote Logging package To install remote logging client software on your workstation: Select Tools > System Management Application to start the System Management application. On the System Management application window, select a node. Select the Logging and Tracing > Remote Logging menu item. Click the link "here" in the sentence "To download log4j socket server click here." This download contains a licensed redistribution from the Apache Software Foundation. Save the file to a local drive and extract its contents. Note the directory that you extracted it to so you know where to locate the startSocketServer.cmd file. This file starts the LogFactor5 window that displays the contents of the log. Review Internet Explorer settings to confirm that your workstation has a Java 1.4.1 or later JVM installed and enabled. Create a Windows shortcut for the startSocketServer.cmd file and then place it on your desktop. You then can start LogFactor5 with a mouse click.

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CACHE Process Commander maintains a memory cache of recently found (and non-found) rules to improve the performance of the engine, especially during rule resolution searches. This rule cache (also called the rule instance cache ) operates invisibly and automatically. The system adds to the cache any rule that is read three or more times (for some rule types, a higher limit applies). Caching provides a substantial performance and response time improvement for all users. Operation of your Process Commander system benefits from several caches, provided by various software facilities.

All caches Rule cache — Per node. Reduces PegaRULES database traffic, contains copies of rules recently accessed or recently updated by developers. Occupies virtual memory. The PegaRULES agent, during the periodic system pulse, invalidates rules in the rule cache that were recently updated on another node. Rules Assembly cache — Per node. Tracks rules for which Java generation and compilation is complete. Formerly known as the FUA cache. Located in virtual memory; links to loaded Java classes. The Rules Assembly cache is an in-memory table that allows Process Commander to rapidly identify compiled Java CLASS files that correspond to compiled and assembled rules (such as activities, functions, and stream rules). Rule Resolution cache — Per node. Supports faster rule lookup; in virtual memory. Personal rules cache — Per node. Similar to the Rules Assembly cache, for rules checked out into private RuleSets by developers. PegaRULES database cache — System-wide. Provided by Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server or other database software, not by Process Commander software. This can be an important factor in performance, but managed independently of Process Commander server caches.

Rule Cache Management in SMA (Under Advanced Link) 129

Rule Assembly Cache in SMA (Under Advanced Link)

SMA LINKS

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AES: ATOMIC EVENT SERVICES AES is an independent, self-contained system that gathers, monitors, and analyzes performance and health indicators from multiple SmartBPM systems across the enterprise. AES combines server-level and BPM-level enterprise monitoring in a single web-based tool. AES can be quickly deployed on any SmartBPM enterprise configuration. The installation and configuration package contains all the necessary files needed to set up the AES server and configure the nodes for monitoring. The processes are straightforward and do not require deep technical expertise. The AES Enterprise Health console provides up-to-the-minute enterprise, cluster, and node level monitoring. The console tracks these key statistics and events: Number of active requestors Number of agents running Percentage of JVM memory being used Last time of system pulse Process CPU usage Number of database connections SQL exceptions Average HTTP (browser or portal requestor) response time Rule cache enabled Alerts and exceptions the require immediate attention

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WorkParties (Rule-Obj-WorkParties) A work party is a person, organization, or other actor identified in a work object, who can be the recipient of e-mail or other forms of correspondence. A work object may identify no work parties, one, or many work parties. The work party role associated with each work party identifies why a party is present, and may determine which properties are defined for that party. Five standard data classes derived from Data-Party are available for capturing information about work parties: Data-Party-Com — For business organizations Data-Party-Gov — For government organizations Data-Party-Operator— For Process Commander users (who each have a Data-Admin-Operator ID instance) Data-Party-Org — For nonprofit organizations Data-Party-Person — For people who may not be Process Commander users with Operator IDs Your application can include other classes derived from Data-Party or from one of the above concrete classes. Create a Work Party as below.

Party Label : Enter a unique label that is to appear on the work object entry form to identify this party role. For example, you can enter Lawyer or Design Manager .

Role: Enter a unique identifier for this role. This may be same as above party label. Party Class : Any of the above Data-party classes. 132

Party Prompt: Optional. Enter a short description of the Data-Party class. This short description appears at runtime, following the party label on the work object entry form. Model: This is optional. This initializes the common Work-Party properties. (If this is not used, we may have to give values to each Properties appearing at WorkParty section in New Harness). Some of the properties are. .pyCompany, .pyTitle, .pyFirstName, .pyLastName, .pyEmail1, .pyEmail2, .pyEmail1Type, .pyEmail2Type, .pyHomePhone .pyWorkPhone, .pyMobilePhone.

Attach a work party with the Flow/Work Object

Workparty Info at New/Perform Harness

CORRESPONDENCE 133

1) Correspondence is the Process Commander term for outgoing e-mail messages, printed Letters, or

facsimile transmissions produced by the system and its users. These are Typically associated with one work object or a cover or folder and may consist of text, Images or both. A correspondence rule is an instance of the Rule-Obj-Corr rule type. Correspondence rules are part of the Process category

Correspondence Types Four standard correspondence type rules are installed with your Process Commander system.

Fax : For outgoing letters to be sent by fax transmission through the Correspondence Output Server. Mail : For outgoing postal letters (handled by the Correspondence Output Server) to be printed. Stores the correspondence body as an instance of the Data-Corr-Letter class, and the address in the Data-AddressPostal class.

PhoneText : For short outgoing text messages to be sent to a beeper (pager) or digital cell phones that support the Short Message Service.

Email For outgoing e-mail messages, where the body of the message is stored in an instance of the DataCorr-Email class and the addresses are stored as instances of the Data-Address- Email class.

Where referenced Rules of three other rule types can reference correspondence rules: Flow rules, using Notify tasks Flow action rules, indirectly through activities identified on the Action tab Activities

Steps for configuring correspondence generation in flows : Configure an email account object (Data-EmailAccount) that holds information about the email server, Incoming and Outgoing mail configuration and user account flow processing should use to send outbound email. Create a correspondence rule (Rule-obj-corr) and/or correspondence fragments. Create the work parties rules that associate work party roles with your work classes. Create Models. These Models are important to set the properties of workparty. Create correspondence, correspondence fragment, and HTML stream rules. Configure your flows to call the standard correspondence activities and flow actions at the Appropriate places.

General Cofiguration Steps 134

Step1 : Configure an email account object (Data-EmailAccount). Input values for Outgoing and Incoming Mail.

Provide values for SMTP/POP3 Server, Email Address, Pasword, SSL etc. New -> sysAdmin -> Email Acount

Step 2: Create Correspondence rule. 135

We can create our own correspondence. For creating a correspondence, we can do it in two ways. Create correspondence rule (Rule-Obj-Corr) directly. Create a correspondence fragment (Rule-Corr-Fragment)

Correspondence rule (Rule-Obj-Corr) A correspondence rule is an instance of the Rule-Obj-Corr rule type. Instances of this rule type define templates, such as preconfigured form letters, that can draw on the values of properties in the database to produce specific letters or e-mail.

New -> Process -> Correspondence.

Note: We can include text, image, properties, sections, correspondence fragments, paragraph rules etc.

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Rules that can be included. All these rules, properties and fragments etc generate a JSP (uses pega custom tags). We can see that in Source mode. We can also use validation of properties used. We can give a validation rule (Rule-Obj-Validate) in prompts tab. Correspondence fragments (Rule-Corr-fragment) Similar to above, we can create a Correspondence fragment and use it in the Correspondence rule.

Step 3: Create WorkParties Rule: As done above.

Step 3 : Create a Model for each Role :

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1) Configuring flows that generate automatic notification messages: When you want to configure your flow to automatically send notification messages about assignments, connect a notify shape to the assignment. A notify shape identifies a notify activity.

Notify Activities These standard Work- activities have an Activity Type of Notify. They can be used in the Notify task, represented by the Notify shape ( ). 1) Notify 2) Notify All 3) NotifyAssignee 4) NotifyAllAssignees 5) NotifyParty 6) Each Assignee.

Steps: Drag the Notify flow shape from the shape panel onto your flow and connect it to the assignment.

In the Notify Properties pane in the left frame, enter a descriptive name for the task/shape. In the Rule field, enter or select the name of a notify activity. Provide values for the activity's input parameters. CorrName is always required because you have to specify what to send. Click Apply. Save the flow.

Rule: Any of the above options. The description is given below. Party Role: Provide the party role of the workparty. CorrName: 138

Here we can provide the correspondence rule that we have created. To create a correspondence rule: New-> Process -> Correspondence. Write the email.

7) Create a work object to test your configuration. When the work object reaches the assignment with the notify shape, click the attachments icon. In the History/Attachments window, expand the Attachments section and verify that the notify message was generated:

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 Flow With ‘Notify’ Activity (Single Party same as notifyParty)

Notify : Send an E-mail message as Correspondence to a Party identified through a Parameter.

Flow With ‘NotifyAll ‘ Activity (All the Workparties identified in the work object) Notify All : Send a Single e-mail message to each Work Party identified in the Work Object.

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Flow With ‘NotifyAssignee’ Activity NotifyAssignee : Send an e-mail message to the Process Commander user who received the assignment. If the assignment is in a workbasket rather than a worklist, an e-mail message goes to the first operator listed in the Contacts array of the Workbasket tab.

Create Operator Ids Create a WorkBasket

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Flow With ‘NotifyAllAssignees’Activity NotifyAllAssignees : Send an e-mail message to the Process Commander user who received the assignment. If the assignment is in a workbasket rather than a worklist, an e-mail message is sent to each operator listed in the Contacts array. Create Operator Id Create WorkBasket

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Flow With ‘NotifyParty’Activity NotifyParty : Send an e-mail message as correspondence to a party identified through a parameter, but only send when a threshold urgency level is reached or exceeded.

Flow With ‘EachAssignee’ Activity

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Configuring flows that automatically generate correspondence (Utility Task) Steps Drag the Utility shape onto your flow in the appropriate place and ensure that it is connected. In the Utility Properties panel in the left frame, enter a descriptive name for the task/shape. In the Rule field, select or enter CorrNew. Click Apply. Fields for the CorrNew activity's input parameters of appear in the Properties panel.

Enter values for CorrName and PartyRole (required). Click Apply. Save the flow. Create a work object to test your configuration.

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Configuring Flows (Flow action rules, indirectly through activities identified on the Action tab)

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Sending Correspondence Using “Send Correspondence” Flow

14 6

Configuring flows so users can add work parties to work objects Steps: In the Flow ,Select the Assignment and in the Assignment Properties pane in the LocalActions Section, Select AddParty. 2 ) Click Apply and Save the flow. Create a work object to test your configuration. When the work object reaches the assignment with the AddParty flow action, select the action and ensure that you can add a party.

Creation of work object to test our configuration.

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Integration with SOAP Most systems applications require access to data or computations that are provided by another system, or need to respond to requests from other systems for data or computations. For E.g: Our Application may require the latest currency exchange rates, hence we need to connect to some of the external systems providing these values. The external system exposes certain services to the outside world that can be used by the connector application, to get the data. E.g: The MakeMyTrip.com connects to several external systems (Like Air-India System, Jet Airways Systems, Indigo etc) to fetch Airline data. It sends parameter like No. of seats required, Date of travel, Source and destination Airport etc. And receives the values from them like, seats available, price, time of flight etc. The Airline Systems here are external systems which act as Server as they expose a service. MakeMyTrip.com uses connectors to connect and receive the service. Since, Service and connectors can be running in different Operating system, written in different language etc, hence we need a universal language to interact between the two. The common language is xml (developed by Microsoft). The data transfer occurs between them in form of xml. Connector capabilities, which allow your application (in the role of client), to request data or services from another system (in the role of server) Service capabilities, which allow your application (as a server) to respond to requests it receives from another system (a client).

SOAP: Simple Object Access Protocol It is a protocol that is used for the exchange of information in a decentralized, distributed environment. SOAP is an XML-based protocol with three components: An envelope for describing what is in a message and how to process it Encoding rules for expressing instances of application-defined data types A convention for remote procedure calls and responses Services implemented using SOAP are often called Web services. The SOAP standard is maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) at

www.w3c.org.

The web-services provides a WSDL file to connector systems which facilitates the data transfer between the web-services and connector systems. WSDL (Web Services Description Language) is an XML format defined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Each WSDL file describes network services as a set of endpoints operating on messages containing either document-oriented or procedure-oriented information. A WSDL file describes a SOAP service. It includes XML schema information that describes the input parameter values that need to be sent in a SOAP request message, and the output parameter values that can be extracted from a SOAP response message. It also specifies the delivery method (usually HTTP) and the URL of the Process Commander servlet that processes the SOAP requests. Software tools are available that generate WSDL files from other representations of the service. 149

Creating Service Package, Service, Connectors in PRPC Service Package: A service package is a name that groups one or more service rules that are designed to be developed, tested, and deployed together. For some service rule types, this corresponds to a package of Java classes. Use a Service Package data instance to define a package name, define access for listeners, and support deployment of services. To define a service package, create an instance of the Data-Admin-ServicePackage class. Then use this name as the first key part of the service rules. New -> Integration-Resource -> Service Package.

Service Access Group: Provide the access group.

Service Type: Give Rule-Service-SOAP. The Service Methods described in the screen-shot, will not appear now, as we have not created services and methods. Hence do not click on the button “Show Service Methods” now.

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Deployment Type: WSDL. Similarly, here, we have not created Service Class yet. Hence leave this blank. Don’t Click on Generate Deployment Files.

2) Service SOAP A SOAP service provides service method for an external application to use. Each method in the service package corresponds to a SOAP service rule that identifies an activity to run and maps the incoming and outgoing data. To call a Process Commander SOAP service, an external application collects data values, wraps them in an XML document envelope (SOAP envelope) that contains the name of the requested service, and posts the envelope to the URL of the Process Commander PRSOAPServlet servlet. The PRSOAPServlet servlet routes the request to the appropriate SOAP service package and rule. New -> Integration-Service -> Service SOAP.

Customer Package Name: Provide the value of previously created Service Package name Customer Class Name: Provide a Unique Service Class Name. Customer Method Name: Provide a unique Service Method name. 151

Page Class: The concrete class where my Service Activity will be present. Page Model: Model to initialize the properties of the class in the page created. Page Name: top-level clipboard page that Process Commander uses as the primary page by the activity being called through the SOAP service. The activity property values may be written to or read from this page.

Service Activity Name: Name of the Activity that the service will call to perform operation and return data to connectors. This is the main activity in Server, which does the actual processing. This activity is called by the Service system on request by the connector. It returns the data by output parameters to the connector.

Execution Mode

Select one of the following options: Execute synchronously — select this when you want the service to run the request immediately. Execute asynchronously — select this when you want the service to queue the request, return it after some time.

End requestor when done?

Select to have the system end this requestor session when the activity completes. This check box affects only stateful processing. This check box is ignored when the Processing Mode on the service package data instance is set to Stateless.

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My service receives one input parameter (EmpID). It serches the database and returns 2 output parameter to the connector (Name and Salary for EmpID) system. Mentione Request Parameter here.

Similarly we mention the response parameters here. Save the rule. It creates the following service rule inside the Service Soap Section of class group.

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3) Update Service Package. Create WSDL

Now again go to Service Package that we had created before. Click on the button Show Service Methods. It’ll register the Service class and methods. The message will come as in figure.

Now go to Deployment tab

Click on button Generate Deployment Files It’ll generate WSDL file (.xml) to be used by the connector system to connect the service. We can download the WSDL file and copy it in the local folder of connector system, or use the above URL to locate it. http://localhost:8888/prweb/PRServlet?pyActivity=Data-AdminServicePackage.ServeWSDL&pzAuth=guest&wsdlPath=SOAP/EmpDetailsPKG/EmpDetailsClass .wsdl

4) Connector (Connect SOAP) Use SOAP connector rules when your Process Commander applications need to call an external Web service. We’ll use the 5.2 connect wizard to create the connector. Note: The connector and services normally are in diferent systems. But we are creating this in same system. We can perform the same steps in different systems also.

IN PRPC 5.5 open the wizard by Tools -> Integration -> 5.2 connect wizard

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Source DataType: Web Service (SOAP) Base Class: Provide an abstract class here. The connector class with properties will be created as a child class of this. Connector Activity Class : The concrete class which will contain the connector Activity. Press NEXT.

Provide the WSDL URL: E.g :-

C:\PRPC\EmpDetailsWSDL.xml (if saved locally)

If not saved use the generated URL path. http://localhost:8888/prweb/PRServlet?pyActivity=Data-AdminServicePackage.ServeWSDL&pzAuth=guest&wsdlPath=SOAP/EmpDetailsPKG/EmpDetailsClass.wsd l Now one by one it’ll ask for Service Class, Port and Method. Select them.

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Click NEXT.

The following Class structure is created in my application. I had provided Base Class: DLF-REALSTATE-MATERIALS- (Abstract class) Hence it created Another connector class (abstract) DLF-REALSTATE-MATERIALSEmpDetailsClassService-

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Click on The Connect SOAP Method EmpDetailsMethod. It’s completed by the wizard automatically.

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The wizard also creates a Connector Activity with the same name as of the method in the class we mentioned in the wizard. Normally, this Activity is created with availability = No. So it’ll not open. Just right click on it and do a save-as with availability = Yes.

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Open this Connector Activity.

Parameter Tab.

Pages and Classes Tab.

This Activity just creates a new page (for the connector class). Connects the input parameter and output parameter with the properties of the connector class. 159

This Activity accepts one Input parameter (EmpID) and calls the Service Activity in the Server, sending the I/P parameter.

Service Activity The Activity in the server (mentioned in previous pages) takes EmpID as input and it does a Obj-Browse in the data-table to find a matching record. If record found, it returns the name and salary as output parameter to the connector Activity.

Pages and Classes tab.

Test Connector Activity Open the connector Activity and Click on the Button. 160

. Give the EmpID I/P Parameter.

Output

Explaining the Concepts

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Points to be Noted The Connector Activity calls Service Method and sends I/P parameter. It receives the O/P parameters, which is set in its class properties. (EmpDetails_Name, EmpDetails_Salary). The Service Class receives I/P parameter, which sets in it’s class properties. After the processing work, it sets the values in it’s own Class properties (Name and Salary) which are mapped with O/P Params. Hence we can say that the connector properties and service properties are connected via parameters.

Calling the connector Activity in Flow.

Rule:

The name of connector Activity. 162

EmpDetails_EmpID - This is parameter that we need to provide. We provide the value of property here i.e .EmpDetailsMethod_EmpID. (We set the value of this property in the above Flow Action FA1).

1) Tracer Use the Tracer tool to debug flows, activities, services, parse rules, and declarative rules. The Tracer tool provides full debugging facilities, including step-by-step execution, breakpoints, and watch variables. You can pause and resume processing, view or set the value of watch variables, and drill down to step-by-step details. You can view trace events for any requestor connected to your server node, not just your own session.

Setup

Use these controls to set up trace conditions. Click Play (

) to start the Tracer, or Pause (

) to stop tracing. Depending

on your access role, some Tracer capabilities may not be available to you.

Button

Connection

Function

Help

Choose a requestor session other than your own. Wait a Selecting a connection few seconds until the Tracer connects.

Select which RuleSets, rules, and events are to be traced. Setting Tracer options Options Set or change breakpoints.

Setting breakpoints

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Breakpoints Set or change watch variables

Setting watch variables

Watch

Save Abbreviate Events?

Save Tracer output on the workstation as an Excel CSV or XML file. After clicking Play ( ), select to reduce the amount of clipboard detail retained for each Tracer row.

Tips and notes

Operations After selecting the connection and setting other options: Minimize the Tracer window. Perform the work that you want to trace (or wait for it to be performed, when tracing a requestor session other than your own session). Restore the Tracer window to review its results. As the target session runs, the Tracer display lists the events of each type that you selected in the Trace Options dialog box. At any time tracing is paused, you can change any options using the buttons in the above table. After tracing begins, you can use these buttons:

Button

Function Erase the displayed events.

Clear Pause the session being traced at the next possible moment. Pause Resume processing after a Pause button click, or after a breakpoint event. Appears only after a pause. Continue Save the Tracer results in the current window into a text file in Comma-Separated-Values format or as a more detailed XML file, depending on prconfig.xml settings. See Tracer — Adjusting the buffer size. Save

You can open and print the saved CSV file with Microsoft Excel. (This operation is available only on user workstations that have installed the PegaClientSupport ActiveX control.)

2) Rules-Inspector Rules inspector is a tool used to identify few things inside UI. E.g : HTML Rules:- Harness, Sections, Flow Actions. Property Rules: Declarative Rules: Field Value Rules: Style Rules. It can be started as Run -> Rules Inspector. (Now check the above things which we need to identify). 164

3) Preflight The Application Preflight tool reports the results of several checks on the rules in the currently selected application. These checks encourage good design and implementation practice, as codified in the guardrails and elsewhere. A rule in your application may work correctly and save without errors, but still be marked with a warning (

). The

Application Preflight tool summarizes these warnings. For example, a decision table rule may contain two rows that conflict — give a different result for the same inputs. You can save the decision table rule and execute it within your application, because the uppermost row of the table is used at runtime, and other conflicting rows are ignored. However, the conflict may indicate that the rule was not entered correctly. You can perform the preflight check at any time during development. As a best practice, use the Application Preflight tool before you lock a RuleSet version. Research each warning message.

Warnings are instances of the Index-Warning class, which corresponds to the pr_index_warnings database table.

Application -> Preflight

Download High Priorities Warnings Performance and DataIntegrity warning types are considered to be high priority. They can degrade system reliability by slowing performance (for instance, a list view that retrieves embedded properties) or by violating data integrity (for example, an activity that uses the Commit method incorrectly). Eliminating high priority warning conditions before putting the rules into production is strongly recommended.

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The Download High Priority Warnings option enables you to: Create and download Excel spreadsheets containing all high priority warnings in the RuleSets comprising your current access group. Links within the spreadsheet enable you to open a PDN article relevant to each warning, and to open the rule form containing the warning.

Warnings by Rule Type chart This bar chart appears when you choose Application > Preflight. It displays the number of rule instances with warnings for each rule type for all available RuleSets in your application. You can change the rule type range in the display using the slider widget at the top of the chart.

Performance Warnings by Rule Type Displays a bar chart and summary report of rule instances that have performance-type warnings. The summary report and Criteria functionality are the same as described above for the All Warnings by Rule Type report.

Pie Chart of Warnings by Severity Displays a pie chart and summary report of total warnings by severity level (four levels). Level one signifies a warning that is most likely to compromise expected processing behavior.

Browser Compatibility Report 1

Work object forms and reports that are part of a Pega Composite application can be designed to operate with Firefox 2.0+ browsers as well as Internet Explorer.

1

This option displays a chart that assesses the user interface rules in your application for compatibility across these browser types. This report checks the value set in the Browser Support field (on the HTML tab) of all the harness, flow action, section, HTML, HTML property, and HTML fragment rules in your application.

Performance tool (PAL) Use the Performance tool to understand the system resources consumed by processing of a single requestor session, or the SQL statements sent to the PegaRULES database by the requestor session. Process Commander always accumulates cumulative resource statistics for the Performance tool. Use the tool to display these statistics, and to identify incremental resources (in the delta rows) consumed by your processing. Because this feature displays existing data, its use does not degrade processing. The Performance tool is sometimes known as PAL. Run > Performance

Monitoring SQL operations with DB Trace You can monitor the interactions between Process Commander's server engine and the PegaRULES database or other relational databases, and the operation of the rule cache. Familiarity with SQL is required to interpret the output. To use this facility: Open the Full details window. Click the DB Trace Options link to set up which database events are monitored. See Setting DB Trace options.

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Click the Start DB Trace link to turn on the facility and record SQL statements that Process Commander sends to the database software. Click Stop DB Trace to end data collection and access the trace results as a text file or with Microsoft Excel. See Interpreting DB Trace Results. Unlike the resource statistics feature, the DB Trace feature is normally off. Use the DB Trace feature only for a brief interval. When enabled, DB Trace processing can produce voluminous output and may adversely affect session performance. The DB Trace tool link is not displayed in a production system — a system with the Production Level on the System form set to 5. In addition, the DB Trace is available only to users who have the PegaRULES:SysAdm4 access role. These access roles provide access to the standard privilege named Code-Pega-.PerformanceTools. You can start and stop this tool from an activity, by calling the standard activity Code-PegaRequestor.SetRequestorLevelDBTrace to turn the DB Trace tool on and off. This activity sets the pxRequestor.pyDBTraceEnabled property; the tool closes the output text file when tracing is turned off.

System-wide database trace An alternative approach that provides comprehensive tracing of SQL statements sent to the PegaRULES database is the dumpStats parameter in the prconfig.xml file. To enable this feature: 1. Update the node of the prconfig.xml file to add this element: 2. Stop and restart the application server. This setting generates a system-wide database trace file in the ServiceExport directory that can become very large quickly, and can affect system performance. Use this setting only for brief periods, and when a single-requestor DB trace is not suitable.

DB Trace Dialog.

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1) We can provide Flow-Wise Local Action in Design Tab of the Flow.

This Local Flow action will be available in all the Assignments in the Flow.

2) List Rule A list rule is an instance of the Rule-Obj-List rule type. A list defines an ordered array of property names from the class. Lists are referenced only in activities, using the Obj-List method. A list rule determines which properties of a specified class are copied into embedded pages when the Obj-List method runs. When only a fraction of all the properties of an object are needed on the clipboard, using a list rule improves processing efficiency by reducing memory and disk demand. When we create a Data Table out of a Data Class, A List rule is created inside our Data Class (Normally with Name EditList). It Contains the List of properties in the Data Class.

3) Modifying a Data Table If we modify our Data Class by adding a new property, It’ll not reflect in the Data Table. We need to modify the List Rule (EditList) in our Data Class. Then Open the Data table with Data Table wizard, the new property will appear in the Data table.

4) Lock mechanism between cover and covered work objects. If the covered objects are locked, the Cover object is also locked. Locked means only one requestor can access it at a time. The Activity that maintains this lock is Determine Lock String in Work- class of Pega-Procom rule-set.

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5) How cover work object is resolved automatically. Few important things to note here. The covered work objects can be of different work classes (types), but Cover and Covered work objects should be a part of same workpool. Locking: By default, locking a covered work object also locks the cover work object. This is desirable because the cover work object may contain totals, balances, counts, or other derived values that require single-threaded access.

Page Names: By convention, a cover work object occupies a clipboard page named pyCoverPage; the covered work object is on a page named pyWorkPage. Many standard activities depend on these naming conventions.

Ticket: The standard ticket rule Work-Cover-.AllCoveredResolved alerts a cover flow that all the member work objects are resolved. If your application is to incorporate this constraint, include this ticket in the flow rule or rules for the cover work object.

Flow actions: The standard local flow actions Work-.AddToCover, Work-.AddCovered, and Work.RemoveFromCover allow user management of cover contents.

Harness rules: The Work-.NewCovered harness rule supports entry of a new cover and cover members.

Process Engine API: Activities Work-.AddCoveredWork, Work-.AddCovered, and others support operations with covers.

Folders: A work object folder is a work object in a concrete class that inherits from the Work-Folder- class. A folder object holds a collection of one or more other work objects (which themselves may be basic work objects, other folders, or covers) providing access for analysis and reporting. By convention, the work object ID of folders has the format F-99999. Covers and folders are two built-in facilities that allow your application to support collections of work objects. In contrast to covers: One work object may be associated with multiple folders, but only with one cover. Members of a folder can belong to different work types, which need not belong all in a single work pool. The relationships between folder work objects and their contents may be many-to-many These standard rules support folders: Work-.AddToFolder flow action — Add a work object to a folder Work-.RemoveFromFolder flow actions — Remove a work object from a folder Work-Folder-.Review harness — Show folder work object, includes the View Folder Contents button (

) to access contents

Work-Folder-.Perform harness — Update folder work object and contents 169

1

Work-Folder-.ReviewforExplore harness — Split-screen presentation

1

Work-Folder-.FolderContents section — Show folder contents

1

Work-Folder-.NewWork flow — Create a folder

Who decides the pyWorkPage as default page for new W.O ? Standard Activity: createWorkPage in Work- class of Pega-Procom rule-set.

On the Requestor page of the clipboard, the property pxRequestor.pxCurrentWorkPool holds the value of a user's current work pool.

SYSTEM PULSE The Pega-RULES agent performs periodic processing known as a system pulse. This processing synchronizes the contents of the in-memory rule cache on that node with rules stored in the PegaRULES database. The pulse helps each node coordinate processing and synchronize operations, including the contents of the rule cache. In a multinode clustered system, a rule updated by a user on node North is retained in the rule cache on node North, and also committed to the PegaRULES database. For a brief interval, users at another node in the cluster — for example South — may have a stale copy of that rule in the rule cache on the South server node. When pulse processing for South completes, the South rule cache has the current rule. Between pulses, updated rules are noted in the pr_sys_updatescache table, corresponding to the System-Updates-Cache class. The Agent Schedule data instance named Pega-RULES. defines the pulse interval. The default interval is 60 seconds.

REQUESTOR A requestor is the process and data associated with a user (guest or authenticated) of your Process Commander system, or the processing and data associated with a request into your system started by an outside system, such as a Web Applications Server or an Active Server Page on a Web site. Each HTTP response that presents the Process Commander log-in form results in the creation of a guest requestor, one that is authenticated and has only access to the RuleSets and Versions in the PegaRULES:Unauthenticated access group. To avoid tying up system resources, the default timeout period for idle guest requestors is a minute. Information about each type of requestors your system supports is defined in instances of the DataAdmin-Requestor class. Important facts about the context of each requestor are contained in the pxRequestor page of the clipboard for that (human or electronic) requestor.

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A requestor ID is a system-generated hash identifier that uniquely identifies a requestor session. This is sometimes called the connection ID. The first letter of the requestor ID identifies the requestor type: H — Interactive, browser-based requestor B — Background requestors, such as agents A — Listeners and services P — Portlet When installed, Process Commander contains four requestor types. Typically, these are all you need.

Name APP

Purpose For listeners and for access to Process Commander from an external client system, such as through a service request (other than JSR-168 requests using Rule-Service-Portlet rules). Requestor sessions using this requestor type instance have requestor IDs that start with the letter A.

BATCH

Background processing, such as performed by, listeners, services, agents, and daemons. Requestor sessions using this instance have a requestor ID that starts with the letter B. As initially installed, all BATCH requestors have access to the PegaRULES:Agents access group.

BROWSER

For HTTP or HTTPS access to the Process Commander portal using Microsoft's Internet Explorer Web browser on a Windows workstation, or from a browser presenting a Pega Composite Application. Requestor sessions using this instance have a requestor ID that starts with the letter H. As initially installed, all BROWSER requestors have access to the PegaRULES:Unauthenticated access group.

PORTAL

For HTTP access as a portlet in conjunction with Service Portlet rules. Requestor sessions using this instance have a requestor ID that starts with the letter P.

Agents can broadly be classified into 2 categories. Task Driven and Schedule Driven.

To avoid overwriting an existing page You may want the activity to check whether a page with a certain name exists before you open a new page.

In the activity step's precondition, enter the following: = @PageExists("myPage", tools)

where myPage is the name of the clipboard page.

$NONE AND OTHER CONCEPTS $NONE - While creating a new page using Page-New, we may sometimes give $NONE in NewClass. This creates a classless page. 171

$CLASS – While we create a pageList or pageGroup, we give a concrete class name. But we can also give two things there. A abstract class (But we need to provide the concrete class later in activity using this property) or $CLASS keyword, here also we have to give a concrete class later (but it can be any class). E.g Code-Pega-list.pxResults uses this keyword.

SHARING PAGES BETWEEN ACTIVITIES The calling activity can provide input parameters to the called activity, or it can share its own parameter page with the called activity, an approach known as call-by-reference. The preferred means for passing a single page from one activity to another is to identify the page in the Step Page field of the calling activity. The called activity receives this page as its primary page. If you need to pass more than one page, use the indirect page mechanism: In the called activity, identify an indirect page by the keyword prompt as the Mode field in the Pages & Classes tab.

In steps of the called activity, refer to these pages using the syntax promptpagename. No corresponding entry is required in the Parameters tab. In the calling activity, pass the additional pages as arguments to the Call instruction that invokes the second activity.

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The value supplied for the prompt page must not be blank and must evaluate to a clipboard page name (top-level or embedded). The keywords primary, top, local, and parent are not valid with prompt pages; the param keyword is valid. Indirect pages provide a generic way to pass pages not only between activities, but also to other rule types such as list view rules and summary view rules. Note: The clipboard page created will be only DataPage not promptDataPage.

Problem Flows and Connection Problem Flow Flow problems are error conditions that a flow execution encounter as it executes that prevents it from continuing. For example, the flow may reference a rule that is not found at runtime. This is considered a flow problems (or a problem flow), and can arise from many different sources. The system halts the progress of that flow execution and starts a flow named Work-.FlowProblems. This flow normally notifies a user named [email protected], where org.com is the organization of the user (requestor) who encountered the problem, and creates an assignment. Your application can override the standard activity Work-.ToProblemFlowOperator to designate a different operator as the recipient of these flow problems. If you can fix the problem through a change in the flow rule, by modifying a rule, or creating a new rule, the processing can resume. Your organization can copy and override the FlowProblems flow and the ToProblemFlowOperator routing activity to meet your needs. Through an Integrator task — represented by the shape in the Visio diagram of a flow rule — a flow execution can call an external system such as a relational database, Enterprise JavaBean, or Web service. The activity referenced in the Integrator shape references a connector rule (for example, a Connect SOAP rule) that controls the communication and data exchange with the external system.

For various reasons, a tested connector interface may fail or time out, causing work object processing in the flow rule to halt. To facilitate detection and analysis or repair of such events, you can designate in your application a flow rule for connector exceptions. Failure of an Integrator task causes the designated flow rule to start. The flow rule can send out e-mail correspondence, attempt retries, skip over the integrated step, or send an assignment to someone.

Development See Using Error Handler Flows for Connectors, a document on the Integration area of the Pega Developer Network, for detailed development instructions, summarized here. To use this facility, specify the second key part — Flow Type — of a flow rule in the Error Handler Flow field on a connector rule form. Process Commander uses the Applies To key part of the calling flow as the first key part when retrieving the exception flow rule. If you leave the Error Handler Flow field blank, a connector problem causes the flow execution to fail and is reported only as Java exceptions in the Pega log of type: com.pega.pegarules.pub.services.ConnectorException.

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The standard flow rule Work-.ConnectionProblem provides a default approach to exception handling. When you accept the default, a connector exception causes the following processing: The original flow execution is paused. The ConnectionProblem flow is called with seven parameters: 1

Operator ID of a user to notify (not used)

1

The Applies To and Flow Type key parts of the original flow execution

1

The name of the shape in which the problem arose

1

A ConnectorException type

1

An error message

1

An assignment type (Workbasket or Worklist), indicating where to place a resulting assignment.

For all the exception types other than ResourceUnavailable, processing continues in a FlowProblems flow. See Working with the Flows with Problems report. If the exception type is ResourceUnavailable, up to five retries are attempted, at intervals determined by a service level rule. A developer accessing the workbasket can cancel the assignment (ending both the ConnectionProblem flow and the original flow) or attempt to restart the original flow, perhaps after taking corrective action.

Logging: Each node on a Process Commander system produces two logs: The Pega Log — also known as the console log or system log — contains messages created since the server was most recently started. The log file is usually named PegaRULES-YYYYMMM-DD.log, where the date portion of the name indicates the date the application server was recently started (on the current node). The Alert log contains only alerts and supports performance-related monitoring.

Viewing or downloading the Pega log Select Tools > Log Files to view or download the current Pega log from the server to your workstation.

Listeners operate as Java threads rather than as full requestors, and so cannot be accessed with the Tracer. Accordingly, use logs to debug listeners. Follow the steps in the following procedures to configure a listener or service requestor to send log messages to your workstation. Then, using a modified version of the LogFactor5 log analysis module, you can review detailed or filtered messages. (LogFactor5 was an open source project of the Apache Software Foundation.)

Install the log4j Remote Logging package To install remote logging client software on your workstation: Select Tools > System Management Application to start the System Management application. On the System Management application window, select a node. Select the Logging and Tracing > Remote Logging menu item. 174

Click the link "here" in the sentence "To download log4j socket server click here." This download contains a licensed redistribution from the Apache Software Foundation. Save the file to a local drive and extract its contents. Note the directory that you extracted it to so you know where to locate the startSocketServer.cmd file. This file starts the LogFactor5 window that displays the contents of the log. Review Internet Explorer settings to confirm that your workstation has a Java 1.4.1 or later JVM installed and enabled. Create a Windows shortcut for the startSocketServer.cmd file and then place it on your desktop. You then can start LogFactor5 with a mouse click.

1)Adding Headers and Footers in a List View/Summary View Under Format Tab of the reports. We define two sections for Header and Footer.

2)List-to-List Summary A List to List control on a work object form allows a user to make multiple selections from one list of candidates. In this example flow action from an auto insurance application,, a user selects safety equipment from the left list, each identified by name, and clicks an arrow to add the selection to the right list. The right list identifies chosen safety equipment options; the left list contains all of the available options.

Additional controls (unless disabled when the rule is configured) allow the user to sort either list, to remove previous selections, to copy all or remove all selections. The user can make further changes until the user submits the flow action form.

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The List to List control is supported by two Page List properties, one providing the list of source values and one providing the list of destination values. As a result, the output of a List to List operation is not an array of text values (such as can be stored in a Value List property), but an array of embedded pages, identified by one visible text property such as a name. This article presents a step-by-step procedure for adding a List to List control to a harness, section, or flow action form. For full details on all options, consult the Help system topic.

Suggested Approach Preparations Identify or create these parts of the List-to-List control: The source property, a Page List property of class Code-Pega-List. An activity or other processing to populate the source property. A Single Value property within each embedded page that identifies the page, for display The target property, also a Page List property, typically part of the work object. (The embedded pages of the target property are often of the same class as the embedded pages of the source property, but this is not a requirement.) Properties that are needed in the target embedded pages. The source property structure matches those produced by the Obj-Browse, Obj-List-View, and RDBList methods, but your application can create the source property by any means. Unlike the Dynamic Select control and AutoComplete control, the List to List control requires the source property to be populated before the user sees the form containing the control.

Adding the control To add a List to List control to a flow action, harness, or section rule: Open the rule form. Select List to List from the Advanced control group. Drag the List to List icon to a cell on the form, and drop it. The cell may change size to accommodate the large control; you can adjust the size later. Click the magnifying glass icon at the upper right of the cell to open the Cell Properties panel. No changes are needed on the Field tab of the Cell Properties panel. On the Presentation tab, confirm that the Format is ListToList. Click the magnifying glass to the right of the Format field to open the Params pop-up window. 6. Complete the Params window. Identify the source property, the target property, and the text property to appear in the source lists. Include double-quotes around property references if they contain a period character. Optionally, enter two captions, to appear above the two lists. 176

Select Copy all properties if, when a user selects an item, the system is to copy all properties on the embedded source page, creating a page with identical properties on a new embedded page with the target property. Alternatively, you can define a from-to mapping and control which properties are copied.

By default, the left list displays at most 200 values, even if the source property contains more than 200 embedded pages. By default, there is no limit on the number of pages that a user can add to the target property. You can change either limit through parameter settings. Click Save to close the Params window. Optionally, complete other values on the Presentation tab and Conditions tab of the Cell Properties panel. Click Apply to apply the changes you made to the Cell Properties panel and Parameters window. Click OK to close the Cell Properties panel. Save the rule form. Test. Ensure that your application populates the source property before the work object form (or flow action form) appears.

A sample activity This one-step activity creates a page SafetyEquipment of class Code-Pega-List. (Identify this page on the Pages & Classes tab of the Activity form.)

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When executed, the clipboard contains a page for each piece of safety equipment.

After a user submits the flow action form, Process Commander copies pages from the source property to the target page. Six selections appear as embedded pages to property pyWorkPage.Entrants.

3) Adding attachments to work objects. Because many applications prompt users to attach files such as correspondence to work objects, there are several standard flow actions that create work object attachments. For example, the standard Work-.AddAttachments flow action enables users to upload a single file and select a category for it while Work-.AddMultipleAttachments enables user to select multiple files and choose a category for each.

178

Using Activities to attach a file.

Summary of activity steps Activities that create the attachment objects and link them to work objects include the following general steps: Create a page for the work object attachment (Data-WorkAttach-File class). Put the file on the attachment page. Save the attachment page (Obj-Save method). Create a link object (Link-Attachment class) that connects the attachment to the work object with the Link-Objects method.

How to create activities that run multiple connectors in parallel By default, a connector takes control of the requestor session until it returns a response to the connector activity. However, when the RunInParallel parameter is selected, the connector runs as a child requester and the activity, the parent requestor, retains control of the session. The activity can then call another connector with a subsequent task to accomplish, and the second connector does not have to wait for the first connector to return a response before it can start its task. Connector activities that run connectors in parallel should do the following: Because each connector needs its own copy of the step page, create a separate step page for each connector, even if they share the same applies to class. Each child requestor (connector) makes a copy of the step page and then returns the results in its copy. Therefore, if the activity runs each connector on the same step page, the results from the connector that finishes last overwrite the results from the other connectors. For each connector that runs in parallel, invoke the appropriate Connect-* method with the RunInParallel parameter selected. (For SOAP connectors, use Connect-SOAP; for JMS connectors, use Connect-JMS; and so on.)

After the last Connect-* step, invoke the Connect-Wait method. This method tells Process Commander how long to wait for all the child requestors (connectors) to return their responses. This step should use a transition to check the step status before continuing to the next step.

After the Connect-Wait step, invoke the Page-Merge-Into method to copy the returned values from all the step pages into the appropriate page. 179

How to include an image or link as a report columnHow to include an image or link as a report column 1 1 1 1

Create or edit a list or summary view rule. For a list view, open the Display Fields tab. For a summary view, open the DrillDown tab and choose Detailed View. Locate the property that you would like to display as an image or with a link. In the HTML Property field of the property row, choose reporting_image or reporting_link from the dropdown list.

 Click the Display Formats icon (

) located to the right of the HTML Property field.

In the Value fields, enter the

ImageSourceName (reporting_image HTML property only) - name and location of the image file to display in the report

ActivityName - the name of the activity that is called when the image or link is clicked. ActivityClassName - the class name of the activity Target - the name of the window. In addition, the following values can be used: 1

_blank - the HTML is loaded into a new, unnamed window

1

_parent - the HTML is loaded into the current frame's parent. If the frame has no parent, this value acts like the value "_self"

1

_self - the current document is replaced with the specified HTML

1

_top - the HTML replaces any framesets that may be loaded. If there are no framesets defined, this value acts like the value "_self"

Note: You can specify the size and other characteristics of the display using the remaining parameters

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.

How to rename Rule-Set? Select Tools > Rule Management > Copy / Move Ruleset. Select the rule-set and give new name and save.

JavaScript and Client-Side validation in Pega. You can make use of client-side scripts as follows:: Create and text a JavaScript script. Include the validation that you want to do. Create a text file rule (Rule-File-Text rule type) with "js" as the final key part. Upload the JavaScript file to the rule. Having the body of the script in a versioned rule file is beneficial. On the Harness rule form, update the Scripts and Styles tab to specify the text file rule containing the script. Update the HTML Property rule associated with the specific field. Attach an event such as OnChange or OnSubmit.

Rule Availability Final Use the Availability value of Final to signal that this rule is the final version and should not be changed. If the Availability of a rule is set to Final, that means that you may use this version of the Rule, but you cannot save it into the same RuleSet, or a different RuleSet, unless you change its name. Normally, if you wish to change a rule in a locked RuleSet version (the activity “Display”), you would perform a “Save As” of that Rule into your application RuleSet, with the same name, and make your changes. If the rule is marked Final, however, you may only do a “Save As” and copy it with a different name (activity “DisplayInvoice”).

No/Draft When a rule is marked No/Draft , the system treats it as though it were not present at all; the system ignores the rule and uses other rules. The Not Available label applies to one rule only. When the system is gathering all the rules to consider for a rule resolution, any rule marked Not Available is simply discarded. 181

This availability is sometimes referred to as the “draft” availability, as it can be used to test “draft” rules before actually putting them into production. You can create a copy of a rule you wish to change, make the change, and set availability to “No/Draft” in the main system, so the system will ignore that rule. You can then check out the rule into your personal RuleSet and change the Availability to “Yes” to test your change locally. This allows you to verify that the rule displays the behavior you want, before setting the Availability of the changed rule to “Yes” for all users.

Blocked Unlike rules marked “No,” rules marked Blocked are still considered by rule resolution. If the rule resolution process completes, and the one rule that is the final result of that process is marked Blocked, then the process returns “not found.” You can think of Blocked as blocking not just the rule, but the process.

Blocked vs. No When the system is determining which rule to use, the Availability values of BLOCKED vs. NO will change what rule is chosen. If there were two versions of the activity DISPLAY: 

Acme-.DISPLAY

AcmeCo:05-02



Acme-.DISPLAY

AcmeCo:05-01

if the 05-02 version of the rule were set to NO, the system would use the 05-01 version. if the 05-02 version of the rule were set to BLOCKED, the system would not use the 05-01 version, but would return “not found.”

Withdrawn Occasionally, you need to delete a rule from an application. If the incorrect rule is stored in an unlocked RuleSet version, you can easily delete it. However, if the application has been moved to other systems, however, or the rule is in a locked RuleSet version, it is no longer possible to change or delete that rule. Instead, you can withdraw the rule. 1) Where we define the WorkIDPrefix and Status of New W.O? A: In the pyDefault Model of Work- class. We can override it in our Application Details Tab.

Here we can define different WorkIDPrefix for different class. 2) Pega Portals PRWeb : Used for Development Purpose. We have developer/Manager/User portal here. PRDBUtil: Supports installation and upgrade processing. It has few functions like 182

Testing the data base connections configured in Appln Server. Upload Application files Setup organization Download rule utility logs Complete the Pega Installation process Configure JMX settings etc. PRsysmgmt: For SMA. Organization: Can have Access group and Rule set. Division: Only Access Group. Rule Resolution Takes pattern inheritance as precedence over direct inheritance. Model chaining does the opposite. pzPVStream: The only one column in pc_work by default which stores work object as BLOB. pc_assignment_worklist/workbasket: The table where W.O assignments related info are stored.

Name of BRE in Pega: PegaRules. Process Commander: It’s an application that provides a highly interactive graphical development and execution environment with dashboards for process monitoring also. 3 tier Architecture for Pega. Client Tier (Dev/Man Portal) -> Appln Server Tier (Rule cache, BRE, DB Roles, Data Dictionary) -> DB Tier. Declarative rules are fired automatically -> by Agents. If we create a new page by Page-New method, we can provide a model to initialize the properties of the method. pzInsKey: Combination of Class name + primary key SendEmailNotificationWithAttachment: Activity that send email with attachment. We have to give attachment page name in parameter.

Difference between Decision Tree/Table. Decision table can be edited in excel. Decision trees can have nested if and test on multiple properties. Trees can call other decision rules. Table can call only tables.

Application Server 1) Creating a JDBC Connection 183

Go to Admin Console of Websphere. Give username and password. There is a link under JDBC – Data Sources. You can add a new data source here.

In Tomcat, we have datasource description in context.xml file. We can use them to create resources in web.xml The standard function callActivity( ) in the Pega-RULES Utilities library calls an activity, but returns only void, not a value result. You can execute an activity in an expression, but only for its side effects. Identify the primary page, the activity, and the parameter page. For example: @Pega-RULES:Utilities.callActivity(pyWorkPage, MyActivity, tools.getParameterPage());

Agile Software Methodologies Agile software development is a software development methodologies based on iterative and incremental development, where requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organizing, cross-functional teams. It promotes adaptive planning, evolutionary development and delivery, a time-boxed iterative approach, and encourages rapid and flexible response to change. Twelve principles underlie the Agile Manifesto, including: [7] Customer satisfaction by rapid delivery of useful software Welcome changing requirements, even late in development Working software is delivered frequently (weeks rather than months) Working software is the principal measure of progress Sustainable development, able to maintain a constant pace 184

Close, daily co-operation between business people and developers Face-to-face conversation is the best form of communication (co-location) Projects are built around motivated individuals, who should be trusted Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design Simplicity Self-organizing teams Regular adaptation to changing circumstances

SCRUM Methodologies Scrum is an iterative, incremental framework for project management often seen in agile software development, a type of software engineering. Although the Scrum approach was originally suggested for managing product development projects, its use has focused on the management of software development projects, and it can be used to run software maintenance teams or as a general project/program management approach .

Characteristics Scrum is a process skeleton that contains sets of practices and predefined roles. The main roles in Scrum are[7]: the “ScrumMaster”, who maintains the processes (typically in lieu of a project manager) the “Product Owner”, who represents the stakeholders and the business (Client’s Voice) the “Team”, a cross-functional group who do the actual analysis, design, implementation, testing, etc. Daily Scrum Meeting. Scrum of Scrums meeting. Story points.

About Direct Capture of Objectives Direct Capture of Objectives (DCO) is a suite of features that enable project team members to directly capture, organize and manage business specifications inside of Process Commander and associate them with the specific parts of the application that are implementing them. Designed as an enabling technology suite, it can be used collaboratively and productively by project teams that include members of the business analyst, user, developer, quality assurance and IT communities of your organization. By removing redundancies and disconnects, it helps close gaps in the development process by fostering a Build for Change mindset that encourages reuse of application assets, automates common project activities, and generates on-demand, up to date, accurate project documents. DCO is not a methodology in and of itself. It is an agile process that is adaptable to any size project and can be used in conjunction with any implementation methodology. When applied consistently, DCO saves you time, effort, and budget dollars while improving and maintaining project and application quality. The end result and benefit of using DCO is a clear 360 degree view of your Process Commander application through a project life-cycle. 185

Direct Capture tools include:

Application Profiler — captures objectives, use cases, requirements, processes, interfaces, reports, correspondence, and case type relationships; estimates project sizings; documents the collected information as an application profile document; jump starts application development by providing the information as input to the Application Accelerator.

Application Accelerator — jump starts the creation and extension of your application and automates best practices for application design; consuming information from an application profile, it creates organization and class structures, case type relationships, and draft processes and user interface elements so you can see the working application based on the captured information.

Application Document wizard — supports rapid and iterative documentation of the application as development progresses using your predefined templates and content settings.

Application Use Case — allows business users to describe at an atomic, granular level the steps required to build an application in business language; stored as business rules and linked to processes and other application components to provide development and testing detail and traceability as development progresses.

Application Requirement — allows business users to describe capabilities that the application must fulfill and define success criteria; stored as business rules and linked to other rules to provide development and testing detail and traceability.

Rational Unified Process (RUP) Pegasystems implementation methodology is based on Rational Unified Process. The focus is on project management, 186

return on investment, conformance to best practices and compliance requirements, communication with stakeholders, creation of physical artifacts that help ensure project success. Advantage of RUP. Develop software iteratively Manage Requirements Use Component based architecture Visually model software Verify the Quality Control changes to software. Pegasystems' methodology includes the following phases: Business Value Assessment phase — Assess return on investment, define success criteria, understand high-level requirements. Produces a project plan, scope document, and project sizing estimate Conception phase — Analyze the problem domain, define requirements, establish a scalable architectural foundation, and identify high-risk elements. Produces a requirements document, a high-level design document, test plan, and deployment plan. Elaboration phase — Design solutions tailored to the business requirements Construction phase — Iterative development following a build order. Built the application to meet business requirements. Transition phase — Deploy, validate, test and use.

Typical Interview Questions by Pega PS for Medco Account Technical Questions What are the various phases in Pega SmartBPM methodology? http://pdn.pega.com/ba_landing.asp - Go through both approach “Getting Started with PRPC Using SmartBPM” & “Getting Started with PRPC Using Pega Scrum”. The SmartBPM implementation methodology (v2) is used within Pegasystems own Professional Services teams — and by partners and others — to organize and run application development projects. In contrast to many more prescriptive, rigid methodologies, the SmartBPM methodology is an adaptable process framework. The methodology is closest in approach to the popular Rational Unified Process (RUP), and is compatible with Unified Modeling Language (UML) approaches. 187

Flexibility allows the team to adapt the methodology to large and small projects. The processes can be right-sized to project needs. Experience shows that the SmartBPM methodology can be followed without conflicting with most organization's existing (post-1990, non-waterfall) methodologies and project management approaches. Large applications are subdivided into functional slivers of limited scope, to reduce risk and allow benefits and return-on-investment to start earlier.

Benefits The list of expected benefits from the methodology may be familiar — they are similar to those claimed by almost every methodology . However, important differences in Pegasystems' approach help to realize these benefits: Manage projects in a structured, repeatable fashion Common terms and language used by all stakeholders Support iterative, rapid application development Generated documentation matches current implementation Promote and encourage reuse Promote and encourage compliance with industry standards Manage project risks

Enabling tools Wizards and tools built into Process Commander directly support teams during each phase — not just during the development (Construction) phase — of their projects. By capturing even preliminary ideas about system objectives, system participants (actors), assumptions, interaction scenarios or use cases, Process Commander provides value and useful foundations very quickly. Information is saved in a single repository — a RuleSet — rather than in disparate formats based on Microsoft Word, Excel, Visio, and other general-purpose tools. Since these early ideas naturally evolve and change, the internal Process Commander representation of them can be updated too, providing a project history and avoiding the need to switch tools when "real development" starts.

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As suggested by the diagram, these features of Process Commander (V5.4+) can directly support the methodology: The Application Profiler, recording application objectives, requirements, use cases and roles The Application Document wizard The Enterprise Application Accelerator Auto testing facilities The Project Explorer and Project Management Framework

Phases: The methodology identifies five major phases: Pre-inception, Inception, Elaboration, Construction, and Transition. But as suggested by the diagram, these phases overlap both during a single iterative development of each "slice" of the application, and they overlap because more than one slice may be developed at once.

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The Pre-Inception Phase The Pre-Inception phase is primarily for knowledge transfer and education. The goal is to provide the business participants with terminology that will assist with requirements gathering, objective determination and scope definition.

The Inception Phase During the Inception Phase the team defines the scope of the sliver being implemented. This phase produces three artifacts: An Application Profile A project sizing A high-level project plan These three deliverables help to define the scope, effort and timelines of the application. The tangible result of the Inception phase is an approved Application Proposal.

The Elaboration and Construction Phase The Elaboration/Construction phase is focused on the Direct Capture of objectives as well as iterative construction tasks associated with requirements and use cases. Direct Capture of Objectives (DCO) allows information to be entered once and reused many times — for planning, documentation, and testing. DCO can drastically reduce the effort and elapsed time otherwise needed to keep documentation up to date. During this phase, business users participate in periodic reviews of the application as it advances and grows iteratively, identifying at the earliest moment any divergence in requirements and development efforts. The Enterprise Application Accelerator, Auto Test features, Application Preflight tool, and Auto Test facilities can be helpful during this phase.

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This phase can be iterated rapidly, without advancing to the Transition phase. Progress and results can be assessed often, even biweekly.

The Transition Phase The Transition phase is used to test and to ensure the quality of the application. Application quality includes: System testing Interface testing Performance testing User acceptance testing (UAT).

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Go-Live A Go-Live occurs when an application is moved — often just one sliver at a time — into a production environment and business users begin using the application to perform real work. What phases have you worked on in your previous projects? Inception, Elaboration, Construction etc. – Say all & think of some examples of what you did based on the understanding from above link. What are the Guardrails in Pega? Mention the guardrails with an explanation of each, some if not all. – You can find this easily in PDN / Pega Help. The Ten Guardrails to Success are design guidelines and recommended best practices for Process Commander implementations.

Suggested Approach Following the fundamental principles promoted in the Ten Guardrails to Success leads to rulesbased applications that are well designed, straightforward to maintain, and architected to Build for Change™. They are your keys to success with Process Commander.

Adopt an Iterative Approach 1

Define an initial project scope that can be delivered and provide business benefit within 60-90 days from design to implementation.

1

Document five concrete use case scenarios up front and evaluate them at the end to calibrate benefits. Use your scenarios as story boards and ensure that each delivers a measurable business benefit.

1

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Establish a Robust Foundation 1

Design your class structure complying with the recommended class pattern.

1

It should be understandable, be easy to extend, and utilize the standard work and data classes appropriately.

1

Use your organization entities as a starting pattern, and then proceed with class groups.

1

Lead with work objects. Create the class structure and “completed work” objects early.

1

Position rules correctly by class and/or RuleSet.

1

Actively use inheritance to prevent rule redundancy.

Do nothing that is Hard 1

Use “out of the box” functionality as much as possible, especially in the initial project release.

1

Avoid creating custom HTML screens or adding buttons.

1

Always use the “Auto Generated HTML” feature for harness sections and flow actions.

1

Always use the standard rules, objects, and properties. Reporting, Urgency, Work Status, and other built-in behaviors rely on standard properties.

1

Never add a property to control typical work or for managing the status or timing of work.

Limit Custom Java 1

Avoid Java steps in activities when standard Process Commander rule types, library functions, or activity methods are available.

1

Reserve your valuable time and Java skills for implementing things that do not already exist.

Build for Change ™ 1

Identify and define 10-100 specific rules that business users own and will maintain.

1

Activities should not be on this list. Use other rule types for business-maintained logic.

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Design Intent-driven Processes 1

Your application control structure must consist of flows and declarative rules, calling activities only as needed.

1

Use flow actions to prompt a user for input.

1

Present fewer than five connector flow actions for any individual assignment. If you need more than that, you need to redesign the process.

1

Create activity rules that implement only a single purpose to maximize reuse.

Create Easy-to-Read Flows 1

Your flows must fit on one page and must not contain more than 15 SmartShapes (excluding Routers, Notify shapes and Connectors) per page.

1

If a flow has more than 15 SmartShapes: o

Create a subflow.

o

Use parallel flows to perform additional functions

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Monitor Performance Regularly 1

Evaluate and tune application performance at least weekly using Performance Analyzer (PAL) to check rule and activity efficiency.

1

Use PAL early to establish benchmarks. Compare these readings to follow on readings; correct application as required.

Calculate and Edit Declaratively, Not Procedurally 1

Whenever the value of a property is calculated or validated, you must use declarative rules wherever appropriate.

1

Create a Declare Expressions rule instead of using a Property-Set method in an activity.

1

Use a Declare Constraints rule instead of a Validation rule.

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Keep Security Object-Oriented, Too 1

Your security design must be rule-based and role-driven based on who should have access to each type of work.

1

Never code security controls in an activity.

1

Use the standard access roles that ship with Process Commander only as a starting point.

1

Use RuleSets to segment related work for the purpose of introducing rule changes to the business, not as a security measure.

What are the basic Pega classes? Work-, Data- etc. – You can find this easily in PDN / Pega Help. A base class is one of twelve standard abstract classes that are immediately below the top class in the hierarchy. This top class, known as the ultimate base class, is identified by the symbol @baseclass. The three base classes of greatest interest to application developers are Data-, Assign- and Work-. The base classes are:

Base class Description Assign- Assignment instances, each identifying a step in a workflow that requires human input or work by an outside organization, person, or system. Code-

Classes that directly reference server program code. Pages belonging to classes derived from the Codebase class exist only temporarily in memory, and are not saved in the PegaRULES database.

Data-

Parent class of concrete classes containing reference data, including data for system administration and security.

DCOMSOffice-

Reserved.

DocletGenerator- Reserved. Embed-

Defines the structure of pages embedded within other pages. Pages belonging to classes derived from the Embed- base class cannot be renamed or directly saved.

19 6

History-

Append-only instances record the change history of objects in another class.

Index-

Secondary access keys defined to provide fast retrieval of other instances.

Link-

Instances that record associations between two objects.

Log-

Parent of concrete classes containing cumulative logs of important system-wide events.

PegaAccel-

Parent of special classes that support the Application Accelerator tool.

Rule-

Rule types, for defining applications.

System-

Contains operational status information about the entire Process Commander system.

Work-

Work objects, covers, and folders.

Custom classes that are immediate child classes of the ultimate base class are known as top-level classes. These are different from base classes. Types of classes - Abstract and Concrete, explain about them. – You can find this easily in PDN / Pega Help. An abstract class is a rule (an instance of the Rule-Obj-Class class) created to support the definition of rules, including other classes. Such rules can be inherited by subclasses of the abstract class. Rules with a class as a key part (such as properties, activities, flows, models, and so on) can apply to an abstract class. In the Class Explorer display, a shape identifies an abstract class. A class that is not abstract is concrete. Unlike abstract classes, concrete classes can have instances stored in the database. A selection on the Class rule form determines whether a new class is abstract or concrete. An abstract class can be a child — a subclass — of a higher abstract class. A dash or minus character (-) as the last character in the class name indicates an abstract class. For example, the Work-Cover- class is an abstract class, while Work-Cover-General is a concrete class A concrete class can have instances stored in the database. In contrast, an abstract class cannot have any instances. A selection on the Class form determines whether a class is concrete or abstract. On the Class Explorer display, the shape identifies a concrete class. For all but a few classes, a dash or minus sign (-) character as the last character in the class name indicates that the class is abstract and can contain other (abstract or concrete) classes. For example, the Rule- class and Work-Cover- class are abstract classes, while Work-CoverGeneral is a concrete class. Concrete classes usually appear near or at the bottom (leaf nodes) of the class hierarchy, but may appear anywhere below the top level.

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Kinds of inheritance - Pattern/Direct. which takes precedence and how do you let Direct take precedence (by un-checking the checkbox in Class form) – You can find this easily in PDN / Pega Help. Inheritance is a primary benefit of object oriented technology. Process Commander offers multiple types of inheritance that can maximize reuse of your rules while allowing localized overriding as appropriate. Also called polymorphism, inheritance allows a rule created for one class (possibly an abstract class) to be applied to other classes that inherit from it: Process Commander provides two types of class inheritance, both of which allow rules of ancestor classes to be inherited:

Directed inheritance — Allows you to name a parent class, choosing a name that's not related to the name of this class

Pattern inheritance

The system determines the name of the parent class is based on an initial portion or substring of the name of the class. Segments of the name are delimited by a dash (-) character. —

Pattern inheritance: During rule resolution, pattern inheritance causes a class to inherit rules first from classes that match a prefix of the class name. Select the Find by name first (Pattern)? check box on the Class rule form to instruct the system to use pattern inheritance for this class.

The algorithm For a class using pattern inheritance, the following is a simplified description of the rule resolution algorithm: Search each class formed by repeatedly truncating the original class name, stopping if the needed rule is found. If the pattern search finishes without finding a rule, go back to the original class and use directed inheritance to find the parent of the original class. If the parent class identified in step 2 was searched during step 1, skip it and skip to step 5. If the parent class was not previously searched, search it. Stop if the needed rule is found. If not found, determine whether the parent class uses pattern inheritance. If so, repeat this algorithm, starting at step 1, with the parent class. Otherwise, identify the parent of the parent. Continue at step What kinds of Declarative rules used with some e.g. – You can find this easily in PDN / Pega Help. Allow for dynamic processing of property values 1

Do not need to be explicitly called

1

Declarative rules need / should not be referred from any rule. They are always in force

198

Declarative rules will be in force automatically and hence you need not call these rules explicitly Types of Declarative Rules: Constraints rules (Rule-Declare-Constraints) Declare Expression rules (Rule-Declare-Expressions) Declare Index rules (Rule-Declare-Index) Declare OnChange rules (Rule-Declare-OnChange) Declare Trigger rules (Rule-Declare-Trigger)

1)Constraints rules : Create constraints rules to define and enforce comparison relationships among property values. Constraints rules can provide an automatic form of property validation every time the property's value is "touched", in addition to the validation provided by the property rule or other means. The system evaluates constraints automatically each time a property identified in a constraints rule is changed. This technique is known as forward chaining.

Where referenced No other rules explicitly reference constraints rules. When you save a constraints rule, Process Commander enforces it immediately and thereafter. The system automatically adds a message to any property that is present on the clipboard and fails a constraint

Delegation After you complete initial development and testing, you can delegate selected constraints rules to line business managers. The Constraints tab of the Constraints form provides managers with access to the fields most often updated. Provide bounds(limits) on the value that a property can hold. For example: 1

Property cannot be negative

1

Property cannot be greater than a certain value

Can target more than one property in a single constraints rule

2) Declare Expression rules: Purpose Use Declare Expression rules to define automatic computations of property values based on expressions.

199

Don't confuse Declare Expression rules with simple expressions. Expressions — a syntax that includes constants, function calls, operators, and property references — are used in many situations in addition to Declare Expression rules.

Forward chaining Often, Process Commander recomputes target property values automatically each time any of the other input values in the expression change, or when a value for this property is accessed, changed, or using other criteria. This technique is known as forward chaining. For example, you can declare that a property named Order.TotalPrice is always the sum of: OrderLine(1).TotalPrice OrderLine(2).TotalPrice OrderLine(3).TotalPrice and so on. You can also declare that OrderLine().TotalPrice is always equal to .Quantity multiplied by.UnitPrice.

Backward chaining In an activity, the Property-Seek-Value method can access the computational relationships among properties in a Declare Expression rule to identify source values needed to compute a missing property value. This technique is known as backward chaining. For example, consider a single Declare Expression rule defining Circumference as 3.1416 times Diameter with Change Tracking set to Whenever used. This rule can be used in either forwardchaining or backward-chaining mode: If step 3 of an activity causes the value of Diameter to be set, an updated value for the Circumference property is available at the start of step 4 (forward chaining). If step 1 of another activity uses the Property-Seek-Value method with Circumference as the target, and no value for Circumference is found, the system seeks a value for Diameter (backward chaining).

Delegation After you complete initial development and testing, you can delegate selected Declare Expression rules to line business managers. The Expressions tab of the form provides managers access to the fields most often updated. ** For example, we can declare a R-D-E for property called “Area” , so that whenever it’s value is accessed from clipboard, it’s value is equal to the product of properties, Length and Width. Once the R-D-E is saved for the property “Area”, any change to a Length or Width value, regardless of how it occurs, causes an immediate recomputation of the value of the Area property.

200

3) Declare OnChange rules: Purpose Create

Declare

OnChange

rules

to

run

an

activity

automatically

at

activity

step

boundaries(limitations) when the value of a specified property changes. This capability provides a form of automatic forward chaining. For example, a Declare OnChange rule can update a year-to-date counter property (an integer) to track how many times a work object status changed in value. Another Declare OnChange rule can compute the average dollar amount of work objects entered by a work group, in real time. For example If you specify more than one property, they all must be on same page. For example, we can create a declare onchange to call an activity that send a mail to employee when ever either HRA or Basic or SpecialAllowance are changed Where referenced No other rules explicitly reference Declare OnChange rules. After you save a Declare OnChange rule, Process Commander immediately thereafter runs it when and as needed

4) Rule-Declare-Index: Declare Index rule are defined for defining criteria under which Process Commander automatically maintains index instances for faster access. An index can improve search and reporting access for properties that cannot be exposed as database columns because they are embedded within an aggregate property. 8. Function alias. – You can find this easily in PDN / Pega Help. Use an alias function rule to define prompting for a function rule for users who maintain decision rules. The alias rule provides an optional natural-language description and prompting that supports certain selection lists on decision rule forms. 201

Complete and test the function rule itself before defining a function alias rule that references it. You cannot define an alias for a function rule that returns a complex Java type (that is, a type other than a Java.lang.String type or a primitive type such as int).

Where referenced Alias function rules are useful for functions that managers or less technical developers may use frequently in decision tree rule, when condition rules, Declare Expression rules, and constraints rules.

Utility functions and e.g. of where it is used .This was asked as an example of Reusability guardrail, question #2. - – You can find this easily in PDN / Pega Help. http://pdn.pega.com/DevNet/PRPCv5/kb/25016.asp Reusable functions are implemented as instances of the Rule-Utility-Function rule type You can call these functions in expressions and activities. Rule-Utility-Function instances, when generated into Java, are public static Java methods which are grouped into libraries (Rule-Utility-Library rule type). 10. Kinds of performance tools used. - http://pdn.pega.com/devnet/PRPCv5/kb/24219.asp

PAL: Use the Performance tool to understand the system resources consumed by processing of a single requestor session, or the SQL statements sent to the PegaRULES database by the requestor session. Process Commander always accumulates cumulative resource statistics for the Performance tool. Use the tool to display these statistics, and to identify incremental resources (in the delta rows) consumed by your processing. Because this feature displays existing data, its use does not degrade processing. The Performance tool is sometimes known as PAL.

Question on how to copy rules from one ruleset to another? Mention the Ruleset maintenance wizard and specify how you do it. Have list views, get list of rules in each, check if any rules are checked out etc. Please take a look at the steps in this wizard. (This question was asked in most of his interviews) -> Check all the items under Tools -> Rule Maintenance Copy a Version of a RuleSet to another RuleSet name To copy the contents of a RuleSet version to another RuleSet name: Select Tools > Rule Management > Copy/Move RuleSet. 1

Move from the left box to the central box the RuleSet version you want to copy (the Rule Management wizard allows you to copy versions, but not full RuleSets). Select the Copy radio button.

202

1

On the right side of the form, specify the name and version of the RuleSet you wish to copy to. Specify whether source rules are to overwrite any existing rules in the target RuleSet.

1

Click Next. A review form appears. If all is as you want, click Next. When the process is complete a report will appear. You can review the list of rules that were copied and those that were skipped. You can export this summary for further review. When you are finished, click Done.

1

Can a work user access the clipboard and if so what can he/she see? -> It’s based on the role / privilege. Find out the role / privilege associated for clipboard. Data-Party classes? Gov, Div, Org etc. – You can find this easily in PDN / Pega Help. Work party data classes You can use data classes derived from the Data-Party class to organize your role and work party data into meaningful categories. Using sub-classes enables you to produce reports based on their classes. You can also associate each class with a model that defines the initial properties you want to include when you design the PartyDisplay section rule. The system is delivered with five standard Data-Party sub-classes as follows, which include example definitions for each: Data-Party-Com — Business organizations 203

Data-Party-Gov — Government organizations Data-Party-Operator— Process Commander users (who have Operator IDs) Data-Party-Org — Nonprofit organizations Data-Party-Person — Parties who are not Process Commander users You can create your own sub-class and an associated model. What is used for a non numeric subscript? Value group/page group – Go through the property rule details. Value group/page group – Go through the property rule details. Page Group and Value Group members/properties are retrieved/identified by using non numeric subscript called keys For Example: Single property –, Page –, Value List –, Page List--, Value List—, Page Group –

Address()

Phone

street city

Page

Zip

Address(1) Phone(1)

Phone(2)

Address(2) street

street

Page

city

city

List

Zip

Zip

Address(Home) Phone(Home)

Phone(Work)

Address(Work)

street

street

Page

city

city

Group

Zip

Zip

204

Agent calls an activity to start a flow. There's an error and activity doesn't start, what could be the possible reasons and how will you debug? Check if the activity's 'Authenticate' checkbox has been unauthenticated/guest users. Also check Pega logs. Which frameworks have you worked on? CPM is used in this project.

checked.

Agents

are

Question on Smart Dispute how Q&A kind of questions have been done in SD? Done any CTI integration? CTI will be used for a future phase. What is REST? Protocol used in HTTP. Please read on general REST features.

REST stands for Representational State Transfer. (It is sometimes spelled "ReST".) It relies on a stateless, client-server, cacheable communications protocol -- and in virtually all cases, the HTTP protocol is used. REST is an architecture style for designing networked applications. The idea is that, rather than using complex mechanisms such as CORBA, RPC or SOAP to connect between machines, simple HTTP is used to make calls between machines. In many ways, the World Wide Web itself, based on HTTP, can be viewed as a REST-based architecture. RESTful applications use HTTP requests to post data (create and/or update), read data (e.g., make queries), and delete data. Thus, REST uses HTTP for all four CRUD (Create/Read/Update/Delete) operations. REST is a lightweight alternative to mechanisms like RPC (Remote Procedure Calls) and Web Services (SOAP, WSDL, et al.). Later, we will see how much more simple REST is. Despite being simple, REST is fully-featured; there's basically nothing you can do in Web Services that can't be done with a RESTful architecture. REST is not a "standard". There will never be a W3C recommendataion for REST, for example. And while there are REST programming frameworks, working with REST is so simple that you can often "roll your own" with standard library features in languages like Perl, Java, or C#.

2. REST as Lightweight Web Services As a programming approach, REST is a lightweight alternative to Web Services and RPC. Much like Web Services, a REST service is: Platform-independent (you don't care if the server is Unix, the client is a Mac, or anything else),

Language-independent (C# can talk to Java, etc.), Standards-based (runs on top of HTTP), and Can easily be used in the presence of firewalls. Like Web Services, REST offers no built-in security features, encryption, session management, QoS guarantees, etc. But also as with Web Services, these can be added by building on top of HTTP: For security, username/password tokens are often used. For encryption, REST can be used on top of HTTPS (secure sockets). 205

... etc. One thing that is not part of a good REST design is cookies: The "ST" in "REST" stands for "State Transfer", and indeed, in a good REST design operations are self- contained, and each request carries with it (transfers) all the information (state) that the server needs in order to complete it.

3. How Simple is REST? Let's take a simple web service as an example: querying a phonebook application for the details of a given user. All we have is the user's ID. Using Web Services and SOAP, the request would look something like this: 12345

(The details are not important; this is just an example.) The entire shebang now has to be sent (using an HTTP POST request) to the server. The result is probably an XML file, but it will be embedded, as the "payload", inside a SOAP response envelope. And with REST? The query will probably look like this: http://www.acme.com/phonebook/UserDetails/12345

Note that this isn't the request body -- it's just a URL. This URL is sent to the server using a simpler GET request, and the HTTP reply is the raw result data -- not embedded inside anything, just the data you need in a way you can directly use. It's easy to see why Web Services are often used with libraries that create the SOAP/HTTP request and send it over, and then parse the SOAP response. With REST, a simple network connection is all you need. You can even test the API directly, using your browser. Still, REST libraries (for simplifying things) do exist, and we will discuss some of these later. Note how the URL's "method" part is not called "GetUserDetails", but simply "UserDetails". It is a common convention in REST design to use nouns rather than verbs to denote simple resources. The letter analogy A nice analogy for REST vs. SOAP is mailing a letter: with SOAP, you're using an envelope; with REST, it's a postcard. Postcards are easier to handle (by the receiver), waste less paper (i.e., consume less bandwidth), and have a short content. (Of course, REST requests aren't really limited in length, esp. if they use POST rather than GET.)

4. More Complex REST Requests The previous section included a simple example for a REST request -- with a single parameter. REST can easily handle more complex requests, including multiple parameters. In most cases, you'll just use HTTP GET parameters in the URL. 206

For example: http://www.acme.com/phonebook/UserDetails?firstName=John&lastName=Doe

If you need to pass long parameters, or binary ones, you'd normally use HTTP POST requests, and include the parameters in the POST body. As a rule, GET requests should be for read-only queries; they should not change the state of the server and its data. For creation, updating, and deleting data, use POST requests. (POST can also be used for read-only queries, as noted above, when complex parameters are required.) In a way, this web page (like most others) can be viewed as offering services via a REST API; you use a GET request to read data, and a POST request to post a comment -- where more and longer parameters are required. While REST services might use XML in their responses (as one way of organizing structured data), REST requests rarely use XML. As shown above, in most cases, request parameters are simple, and there is no need for the overhead of XML. One advantage of using XML is type safety. However, in a stateless system like REST, you should always verify the validity of your input, XML or otherwise! How do you use XMLs in Pega? Obj, Parse etc. Parse XML: Use Parse XML rules with services and connectors to map data from an XML text message into clipboard property values. Each Parse XML rule contains an array of parsing instructions that let Process Commander interpret an incoming XML document or message. The incoming message may arrive using an e-mail protocol or by SOAP over HTTP protocol. The message may be a request for service or a reply from a connector. Use the Application Explorer to access parse XML rules that apply to the work types in your application. Use the Rules by Type Explorer to list all parse XML rules available to you. XML Stream: Use this method to save the contents of an XML Stream rule after stream processing completes as the value of a Single Value property. The property value can then be mapped as output and conveyed to an external system. The target property value is the XML text from an XML Stream rule (Rule-Obj-XML rule type), after stream processing. Stream processing evaluates directives and clipboard references.

Parameters This method has three parameters: Parameter Description PropertyName

Identify a Single Value target property to receive the value produced by stream processing. If the property is on the step page, precede the property name with a period. If this property is on a different page, include the page name in the reference and 207

ensure that this page appears on the Pages & Classes tab of the Activity form. XMLStream XMLType

Enter the Stream Name key part of an XML Stream rule to process. Enter the third key part of an XML Stream rule to process.

Cautions 1

You can't use this method for a property that is also the target property of a Declare Expression rule. You can't save the Activity form if such a conflict is detected.

1

Don't attempt to set the value of a property that has a name starting with pz; changes to such properties are reserved.

1

Use the standard activity Work-.UpdateStatus — not this method — to change the value of a work object status (pyStatusWork property).

UI development what all do you need to do? Skins, portals, flow actions, sections, harnesses. Mention the Application Skin wizard and other wizards used in UI development.

About Flow Action rules New

Form

Security

Pages & Classes

Help Setup HTML

Action History

More...

Purpose A flow action rule controls how users interact with work object forms to complete assignments. After selecting one flow action, users may fill in a section of the form to complete (perform) the assignment.

Where referenced In a flow rule, developers can associate flow actions with connectors (arrows) and with assignment tasks. At runtime, the flow actions associated with an assignment determine the choices available to users as they perform the assignment. Controls Containers

Basic

208

Advanced

Short Descriptions

Choose the wording for the Short Description field carefully, so that it is meaningful in context to application users who must select one action from the list. Starting each Short Description text with an action verb such as "Approve", "Reject", "Send", or "Transfer" is often helpful to users. This is known as intent-driven processing.

On Perform work object forms presented with the default action section, the form area created by a flow action normally appears in yellow, headed by an action list: The

text

in

the

Short

Description field appears as user-visible text in the action selection list. Two other formats are supported. See Presenting flow actions — Comparing three approaches. Access Use the Application Explorer or User Interface slice ( ) to access the flow action rules that apply to the work types in your application. Use the Rules by Type Explorer to list all the flow action rules available to you. Delegation After initial development and testing, selected flow action rules can be maintained by line business managers rather than by application developers. The Form tab of the form provides managers access to the fields most often updated.

About Harness rules New HTML

Layout

Scripts and Styles

Pages & Classes

Display Options

History

More...

Purpose Use harness rules to define the appearance and processing of work object forms used in your application to create work objects and process assignments. Like section rules, HTML rules, property rules, and others, harness rules define the structure, appearance, and behavior of the forms used in applications to create and update work objects and assignments. Process Commander includes more than a dozen standard harness forms for entering, reviewing, updating, and processing work objects and assignments. Your application can override the standard rules to extend and tailor them to specific needs. Before creating or editing harness, section or flow action forms, set the Skin preference (in the Run Process area of the General Preferences group) to the skin that application users are expected to use. This provides the closest approximation during development of the runtime look and feel of the form.

Beginning with V5.5, you can use harness rules to define composite portals, as well as work object forms. For this advanced special use, see How to create a composite portal. 209

Controls Column Repeat

Layout

Tabbed Repeat

Row Repeat

Basic

Advanced

Applications without work object forms Work object forms defined by harness rules are typical, but not required, elements of a Process Commander application. Some business process management applications use an external portal or external system and call Process Commander services to create work objects, advance them through a flow, perform flow actions, and so on. The Process Engine API is a collection of standard activities that apply to the Work- base class to support such headless applications. Where referenced Each flow rule that creates a new work object identifies a harness rule to capture initial information about that work object. Standard activities that apply to the Work- class look (using rule resolution) for harness rules with specific names, such as New, Perform, and Review. To display a work object form defined by a harness rule, call the standard @baseclass.Show-Harness activity in your activity. User interaction with work object forms For basic information about using work object forms defined by harness rules from an application user perspective, see Using work object forms.

Rule forms Beginning with V5.5, a few rule forms are defined through harness and section rules. This capability is reserved. If your application includes custom rule types, use the Form Builder tool, not harness rules, to define forms. Access Use the User Interface slice (

) or Application Explorer to access the harness rules that apply to the work

types in your application. Use the Rules by Type Explorer to list all the harness rules available to you.

210

Category Harness rules are instances of the Rule-HTML-Harness class. They are part of the User Interface category

About Portal rules New Custom

Skins Options

Tabs

Spaces

History

More...

Purpose

Use portal rules to create a custom portal layout for a group of users. You can determine: The portal type — Developer, composite portal (V5.5+) or older legacy types For composite portals, the harness rules that define each space CSS styles for the portal window, reports, and work object forms For legacy User portals, the gadgets, workspaces and workspace labels Contrasting composite portals and legacy User portals Introduced with V5.5, composite portals are defined by harness rules and section rules. Unlike legacy user portals, composite portals when appropriately configured can operate with both Internet Explorer 6/7 browsers and Mozilla Firefox 2+ browsers. Composite portals are recommended for new development. The parts — known as spaces — of a composite portal are defined on the Spaces tab. Introduced with V5.1, traditional portals include the standard WorkUser and WorkManager portals, which operate only with Internet Explorer 6/7. Traditional portals operate in V5.5 as in earlier releases. Traditional user portals are built from gadgets — special HTML rules — rather than harness and section rules. Gadgets are referenced on the Options, Tabs, and Custom tabs. Through activities and HTML rules, you can create additional gadgets for traditional portals, and determine their appearance and behavior. See How to customize User portal layout and behavior. Access Use the Rules by Type Explorer to list all portal rules available to you. Where referenced Portal rules are referenced in the Settings tab of the access group form. Users associated with that access group see the corresponding portal layout. Category Portal rules are part of the User Interface category. A portal rule is an instance of the Rule-Portal rule type.

Standard Portal rules Your system contains a few standard portal rules. Use the Rules by Type Explorer to see a complete list of the standard and custom rules available to you. You cannot alter the standard portal rules. To tailor the User, Manager, WorkManager or WorkUser portal, copy the standard rule into an application RuleSet and alter your copy. The Developer portal rule is final.

211

Recommended portal rules Owner

Purpose

Developer

Supports the Developer portal. Recommended. See Developer portal basics. Select Allow rule check out? on the Security tab of the Operator ID instance for operators who use this portal.

Manager

Composite portal for managers and supervisors. Introduced in V5.5. Similar in capabilities to the traditional WorkManager portal, introduced in V5.2.

User

Composite portal for workers. Introduced in V5.5. Supports mulitple open work objects; otherwise similar in capabilities to the traditional WorkUser portal, introduced in V5.2. Supports full localization. See User portal basics.

Other standard portal rules Owner TabbedWorkSample

Purpose Sample traditional portal with Type (on the Skins tab) of Custom.

Traditional portal rules These portals support special situations and provide backward compatibility.

Owner WorkManager

Purpose Traditional. Supports managers and supervisors, who can use the Monitor Activity workspace and the Scan Station tool. Supports full localization and IE 6/7, but not FireFox. See User portal basics. You can override this standard portal with another (in an application RuleSet with the same name) using the Application Skin wizard. See About the Application Skin wizard.

WorkUser

Traditional. Accesses the Process Work layout only, for application users who are not managers. Supports full localization and IE 6/7, but not FireFox. See User portal basics. You can override this standard portal with another (in an application RuleSet with the same name) using the Application Skin wizard. See About the Application Skin wizard.

SysAdminDD

Supports administrators, providing access to the Version 4.2 Administer and Manage Rules workspaces.

About Portal rules

How to create a composite portal Show all

A composite portal is a user portal defined by a set of harness rules and section rules. Compared with the fixed-layout portals WorkManager and WorkUser, composite portals provide additional flexibility in appearance, user interactivity, and functional capabilities. Version 5.5 includes two composite portals as working examples: User — For application users. Supports log off, find work, enter new work, news, show full profile, recent work, and multiple work object forms, using the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) form of the Work Area View control. Manager— For line managers and supervisors. Provides all the facilities of the User portal plus additional facilities similar to the traditional WorkManager portal: a process dashboard with 4 charts, Monitor Activity reports, and access to the worklists and workbaskets associated with a work group. 212

Step 1. Plan A composite portal provides users or managers with specific functions and capabilities. The portal consists of multiple spaces, each defined by a harness rule with a specific arrangement of panels (forming a panel set). Panels within a panel set are identified by position as Top, Bottom, Left, Right, and Center; most panel sets contain a subset of these five. Each panel set can present a section rule that at runtime delivers capabilities. Navigation from space to space is typically provided by a dynamic menu, buttons, or links. Plan the purpose and panels of each space. Consider the size of each panel and how well it can support the intended functions. If you plan to offer a dynamic menu to allow switching among spaces, identify the panel that is to contain the menu. See Harness rules — Adding a dynamic menu.

Step 2. Create an application skin Process Commander contains two standard skin rules CompositeBrand and MetalBrand recommended for composite portals. These rules are final, but you can copy either (using a new name) to use as a starting point for your application's skin rule. Use the Style Viewer to review the style names and style presentation for these or any other skin rules. See About the Style Viewer tool.

As a best practice, create at least an initial version of the application skin rules using the Application Skin wizard before you develop other parts of the user interface, such as the portal, work object forms and flow action forms. You can evolve and refine the skin later by rerunning the Application Skin wizard. See About the Application Skin wizard. Then, select Edit > Preferences... and access the General preferences group. Update the Skin field in the Run Process Group to identify this skin. This allows you to see a presentation of composite harness, section, and flow action rules that is closer to the runtime presentation that users will experience. CSS styles in a skin control not only colors and fonts, but also field widths and heights, margins, and padding. See Developer Portal basics — Setting Preferences.

Step 3. Create a harness rule for each space Create a harness rule for each space. In most cases, set the Applies To class to a work class, such as the class group of the application, or by convention to the Data-Portal class. On the Layout tab, click the down-arrow (

) at the right end of the Layout control group (

) and select the Panel Set control ( ). Select a panel layout that is appropriate for the space, in terms of arrangement and sizes of panels. See Harness rules — Adding a Panel Set control. Save the harness rule. If your portal is to have multiple spaces, ensure that each space offers a mechanism to switch to others. Use OnClick="pega.desktop.showSpace('Sname')" where Sname is the name of the space to change spaces. Users can switch spaces using links, buttons, or a MenuBar control. See Harness rules — Adding a Menubar control.

Step 4. Add sections to the harness rules Add a section to each panel of the harness rules. 213

You can use any of the standard sections listed below, which replicate many of the functions of the gadgets used in standard V5.4 portals. You can also refine and evolve these sections in an application RuleSet version. Certain sections require parameters. See Section form — Completing the Parameters tab and Pega Developer Network article

PRKB-25448 How to use parameters in section rules.

Step 5. Complete the portal rule Create a portal rule. On the Skins tab, set the Type to Composite. On the Skins tab, identify the application skin you developed. Complete the Spaces tab. Link each space to a harness rule created in an earlier step. Identify one space as the default space. Enter a distinct name for each space. One space must be named Work. See About Portal rules.

Step 6. Adjust access groups and application rules as necessary Most composite portals use the standard section @baseclass.NewWork to allow users to enter new work objects. At runtime, this section allows users to identify the application — not a work pool within an application — to which the new work object belongs. To support this capability: Each access group should identify a composite portal in the Default Portal field (on the Settings tab. Leave the Secondary Portal Layouts array blank or list alternate composite portals only. Do not mix traditional and composite portals in one access group. Leave the Work Pools array (on the Layout tab of the Access Group form) blank. Update the Work Types area on the Details tab of the application rule. Identify each work type, a name, and a work object prefix. (The prefix value you enter here supercedes any prefix set in the model.)

Step 7. Test and evolve Save all rules. Select Edit > My Profile > Access Group. On the Settings tab of your own Access Group form, add the portal rule into the Secondary Portal Layouts area. Save. Select File > Open > Portal > (portal) to open the composite portal. Test and evolve. Available standard sections The following standard sections are designed for composite portals. All are in @baseclass. Some are very easy to customize and adapt. Together, these can provide your composite portals with capabilities very similar to the gadgets used in the older WorkUser and WorkManager portals, but these section rules are easier to evolve. Review the Parameters tab of each section to tailor the appearance and behavior of the section. Section

Description

DashboardReports

Contains a two-by-two layout with an interactive chart in each cell, using the Chart control. See Harness, Section, and Flow Action rules — Adding a Chart.

FindWork

Allows users or managers. to search for work

214

objects. Results are always limited to those work types that belong to the currently selected application. The DisplayOption parameter has three values:



Advanced — default, includes the search bar and supports Lucen-based full-text searh as well as work "Entered by me", "Resolved by me" and other choices as shown..



Basic — search by work object ID only



Classic — matches the gadget in the WorkUser portal

Optionally, can allow users access to full-text search of work objects. MyDelegatedRules

Presents a list of rules delegated to this user as links, arranged horizontally or in a vertical list. When clicked, each link opens the appropriate version of the associated rule. Presents a Log off button or Log Off link, depending on the value of the LogOffDisplay section parameter.

Logoff

Use this section only directly in a panel of a panel set. Do not use this section in an IAC form. Do not use this section as an included section within other sections, unless you can provide a custom JavaScript that targets the top level. Displays the text of the Data-Broadcast message (if any) associated with the operator's current

News

organization unit. Using the Edit button, the operator can update this message. See About Broadcast data instances. Starts entry of a new work object form. Complete the DisplayOption parameter to control the presentation of starting flows: as a select list, menu option, labeled buttons, or links. Buttons or links can be presented horizontally or in a vertical list.

NewWork

If a user has access to two or more applications, work object entry can occur only for one at a time. The user selects an application from those listed in the user's access groups. (Each access group identifies a single application.) The set of work objects that a user can enter depends on the currently selected application, the list of work types on the Details tab of the associated application rule, and privileges required (if

MonitorActivity

Profile

RecentWork

any) by the Security area of the Process tab of the starter flow rule. Provides links to 20+ standard reports and charts for managers, similar to the initial presentation of the Monitor Activity workspace in the WorkManager portal. A simple section that presents the user's name, portal layout, current application, access group, and other facts. Contains an advanced control that lists work objects recently updated by this operator.

SearchField

Allows users to find work objects using full-text search, when configured. See How to enable and control the full text search facility.

Workbaskets

Displays a drop-down list of the workbaskets available to this user. When a user selects a workbasket, the assignments in the workbasket appear.

Worklist

Contains a ListView control linked to the standard list view rule Assign-WorkList.ListViewEmbed. See Harness, Section, and Flow Action forms — Adding a ListView control.

WUNavigation

Provides the capabilities of the RecentWork, FindWork, NewWork, Profile, and News in a vertical presentation, with added space to improve the presentation. User portal basics

215

About Section rules New

Layout

Parameters

HTML

History

More...

Pages & Classes

Purpose

Use section rules in conjunction with harness rules to define the appearance of work object forms, rule forms, or composite portals. A section rule defines the appearance and contents of one horizontal portion of a form. Harness rules define complete forms that support all user interactions that create, update, and resolve work objects. Process Commander contains dozens of standard harness and section rules. You can copy and tailor these standard forms to meet your application needs. Controls Layout

Column Repeat

Row Repeat

Tabbed Repeat

Basic

Advanced

Where referenced

Rules of the following types can reference a section rule: Harness rules Other section rules List view and summary view rules, as the contents of a pop-up Smart Info window. Paragraph rules, as the contents of a pop-up Smart Info window. Access Use the User Interface slice ( ) or Application Explorer to the access section rules that apply to the work types in your application. Use the Rules by Type Explorer to list all the section rules available to you. Development For section rules that use the SmartFrames format, you can maintain the section rule directly from the Harness rule form (as well as from the Section rule form). 216

Category Section rules are instances of the Rule-HTML-Section class. They are part of the User Interface category.

About Skin rules New

Styles

History

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Purpose Use skin rules to identify a collection of CSS styles to be used in a portal. Separate style collections apply to the workspace, work object forms, and reporting. Where referenced Skin rules are referenced in the Skins tab of the Portal form. Users associated with the portal rule (through an access group data instance) are presented the corresponding portal layout. To support application testing while using the Developer portal, you can also reference a skin rule in the Run Process In group of the General preferences. If not blank, this skin overrides — for tests and previews only — the skin identified in the portal. Wizard You can define a skin rule for User portals through the text file rules, binary file rules (for images) and the Skin rule form, or create the major colors, fonts, and other visual elements through a guided workflow. See About the Application Skin wizard. Access Use the Rules by Type Explorer to list all skin rules available to you. Category Skin rules appear are part of the User Interface category. A skin rule is an instance of the RulePortalSkin rule type. About the Application Skin wizard Show all The Application Skin wizard (sometimes referred to as a "branding" wizard) enables you to quickly develop and put into production a skin rule that reflects your corporate or departmental standards. A skin comprises a set of Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) files stored in your application. The wizard contains a wide range of functions and controls that let you create and edit these files. You can design the color schemes, images, text, and sizing of the interface components that comprise your User portals, reports, and work forms. The wizard helps you reduce or eliminate manual CSS coding.

To start the wizard, select Application > New > Skin from the Developer portal menu. Skins produced from this wizard are not suitable for the Developer portal. Use these skins only with User portals. When you create a skin, you associate it with a user or manager portal rule so that it can be applied across the interface components in your application. When users log onto the system, the name of the portal rule assigned to their access groups is available. The system identifies the skin associated with the portal rule. You specify the portal rule in the Default Portal Layout field in the users' access group rule form. 217

The wizard defines an application skin (Rule-PortalSkin rule type) and its associated CSS style sheet text files ( Rule-File-Text rule type). The skin references images as binary file rules (Rule-FileBinary rule type) and is linked to portal rules (Rule-Portal rule type). The wizard and composite portals As of V5.5, you can build composite portals that reference panel sets using harness rules and section rules. Unlike traditional user portals, which used special HTML rules in a pre-defined structure, you can configure composite portals in a variety of layouts. These portals are supported by Internet Explorer 6/7 and Mozilla Firefox 2+ browsers. The expanded capabilities of the wizard are designed to take advantage of this flexible approach to UI design. To present composite harness, section, and flow action rules that resemble what users will see at runtime, select Edit > Preferences > General Preferences and update the Skin field in the Run Process Group of your own Developer portal preferences to identify this skin. See Developer Portal basics — Setting Preferences. You can also use the wizard to develop skins for traditional portals. Steps 8A through 8D contain additional design elements that apply to traditional portals only. You can reapply the Application Skin wizard to the skin rule that it created in an earlier run to make adjustments as often as needed. Before you begin Colors and fonts Choose colors and fonts in advance. Using any graphics program, identify the RGB Hex code for the colors you plan to use. Choose only fonts that are present on both your own workstation and on all application users' workstations. Use only a limited number of colors and fonts. The colorful examples in this Help System are designed to highlight the impact of specific styles and elements and do not represent good design. Images If your portals include custom images for headers, tabs, or workspace backgrounds, create the image files with any graphics program. Process Commander associates graphics images with binary file rules. Upload each image into a binary file rules in your application RuleSet. When you create a binary file rule for use with the the Application Skin wizard, set the App Name to webwb. On the Main tab, set the Relative Path to images. Valid file types are GIF, JPG, and PNG. After you have created these binary file rules, you can select them for use as background images or logos from within the wizard. Clicking the magnifying glass icon ( ) to the right of an image field opens the Image Catalog. Only images belonging to RuleSet versions in your application appear. When you select an image, the appropriate height and width fields (if any) auto-populate with that image's dimensions. There are no size limitations for images. You cannot change the height or width of an image itself using the wizard — only the height and width of the container in which it is displayed such as the left and right sections of tabs. Starting and using the wizard Verify that all rules that you are modifying, including the skin, style sheet, and portal are checked in. Select Application > New > Skin. The wizard presents this series of steps in the navigation panel: 218

Step 1 identifies the name and RuleSet version of the skin rule and other associated rules to be created. Step 2 displays the Quick Create feature enabling you to, in one step, create default fonts, and the main and accent colors for your portals, work forms, and reports. You can also add a top header logo for traditional portals. Step 3 defines general appearance of most UI elements including background, fonts, and links. It also defines the appearance of the panels built into a harness rules (used for composite portal types), and enables you to add custom styles. Steps 4A through 4E define the appearance of smart and custom layouts, as well as bar, tab, accordion, and repeating (tab, row, and column) layouts. Steps 5A and 5B define the appearance of menus and grids. Steps 6A through 6C define the appearance of labels, buttons, and error sections. Steps 7A and 7B define report components including title bars, columns, and headers. Steps 8A through 8D define the appearance of UI elements that are unique to traditional (noncomposite) user portal rules. Navigation You can open any step without proceeding through them sequentially. Click directly on a step in the navigation panel to open its screen. A check mark appears next to the step when you go to another step. Alternatively, use the Next >> and