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.

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

Use the Collect instruction in an activity step to call a collection rule. Collections define an ordered sequence of rules to execute.

Most activities can be defined by using only methods and instructions. Some activities require inline Java.

The Queue instruction uses a Java thread from a limited thread pool. If using the queue instruction, set the agent/threadpoolsize value in the prconfig.xml file or dynamic system settings appropriately based on concurrency needs.

Use the Connect-Cassandra method to start a request/response interaction between the Pega Platform and the external data store identified by a Connect Cassandra instance.

The Connect-CMIS method is reserved.

Use the Connect-dotNet method to invoke a Web service identified in a Connect dotNet rule (an instance of the Rule-Connect-dotNet rule type).

Use the Connect-EJB method to invoke a connector to an external Enterprise JavaBean.

Use the Connect-File method to invoke a Connect File rule ( Rule-File-Connect rule type). The rule can create, add contents to, or close an output file.

Use this method to copy a file from one file system to another file system using File Transfer Protocol.

Use the Connect-HBase method to start an request/response interaction between the Pega Platform and the external data store identified by a Connect HBase instance ( Rule-Connect-HBase rule type).

Use the Connect-HTTP method to start an HTTP request/response interaction between the Pega Platform and the external system identified by a Connect HTTP rule ( Rule-Connect-HTTP rule type).

Use the Connect-Java method to call a public method of an external Java class, using a Rule-Connect-Java rule.

Use the Connect-JCA method to communicate through a JCA resource adapter to an external system.

Use the Connect-JMS method to send a JMS message to an external system using the Java Message Service application programmer interface.

Use the Connect-MQ method to invoke a connector to an external system that uses IBM WebSphere MQ messaging services.

Use the Connect-REST method to start an HTTP request/response interaction between the Pega Platform and the external system identified by a Connect REST rule ( Rule-Connect-REST rule type).

Use the Connect-SOAP method to invoke a Web service identified in a Connect SOAP or Connect SAP rule ( Rule-Connect-SOAP rule type).

Use the Connect-Wait method

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).

Use this method to clear the activity status value, setting it to Good or another status determined by the operation of the parameter.

This method appears in activities that support the Pega Platform infrastructure, but is otherwise rarely needed. In ordinary circumstances, use the Exit-Activity method, not Activity-End, to return to a calling activity from an internal step of the current activity.

Three activity lists are maintained for each requestor, stored in Java constructs. The lists are:

Use the Activity-Set-Status method to set the execution outcome of an activity. This method sets the status (pxMethodStatus property) of the activity to the severity that you specify.

Use the Apply-DataTransform method to invoke a data transform for updating an existing clipboard page or pages. (In contrast, use the Page-New method to create a new page and invoke a data transform in a single step.)

Use this method to locate and execute a Parse Delimited rule ( Rule-Parse-Delimited rule type). Parse Delimited rules parse character-delimited data into multiple property values on the clipboard.

Use this method to locate and execute a Parse Structured rule ( Rule-Parse-Structured rule type). Parse Structured rules parse structured text string into property values added to the clipboard. The source of the input data depends on which rule type calls this method:

Use this method in activities to parse an XML document contained in the value of a property and add them to the step page. This method locates and executes a Parse XML rule ( Rule-Parse-XML rule type) and parses the XML document text into values for multiple other properties.

Reserved. Do not use this method.

Do not use this deprecated method.

Use the Call-Async-Activity method to load data pages asynchronously (into background threads) to allow other processing to continue.

Call automations from an activity without using a Java step.

Use the Call-Function method to call a Rule-Utility-Function that returns a value for a property or parameter. Unlike calling functions by using the Property-set method, functions that are called by using the Call-Function method can also return a value of void.

This method is used only for custom rule types, to end the processing that develops rule references. Use this method as the last step in an activity of Activity Type Validate when the class of the activity is a Rule- class and the Start-Validate method was used as the first step.

The Exit-Activity method ends the current activity and returns control to the calling activity.

Use this method to immediately end a flow execution, before execution reaches a Flow-End shape.

This instruction spins off a new flow for a case.

History classes are created automatically in many cases:

Use the History-List method to obtain a list of History- instances for a class.

Do not use this deprecated method. Use Declare Index rules to define indexing.

Use this method to create an instance of a concrete class derived from the Link- base class. A link functions as a bidirectional cross reference to associate two objects together.

Use the Load-DataPage method to load a data page in a background thread.

Use the Log-Message method to append a message to the Pega log when the step is reached. Depending on method parameters and the current logging level, a line is added to the Pega log on the current node.

Use the Map-Structured method to invoke a map structured rule ( Rule-Map-Structured rule type) to assemble a text property value from property values on a clipboard page, or disassemble a single text property value into other property values.

Use the Obj-Browse method to search instances of one class and copy the entire instances, or specified properties, to the clipboard as an array of embedded pages.

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.

Use the Obj-Delete-by-Handle method to delete an instance identified by its handle. This method executes the operations of the Obj-Open-By-Handle method followed (if successful) the Obj-Delete method.

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

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.

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.

The handle of an instance is a unique key, in an internal format, assembled by the system that identifies an instance in the PegaRULES database. It may differ from the visible key generally used to identify instances. (Every instance has a unique handle, but more than one instance may share the same visible key.) For rule instances, the handle includes system-generated identifying values (including the create date and time) that make it unique.

Use this method to assure that the contents of the step page are current and a lock is held on the corresponding object.

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.

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 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.

Use this method to apply a validate rule ( Rule-Obj-Validate rule type) for the object identified on the primary page or step page.

Use this method to change the class of the top-level page or embedded page identified in the Step Page column. (To change the class of an embedded page, see How to Change the Class of a Page.)

Use the Page-Clear-Messages method to remove all property messages and certain page messages from the page identified in the Step Page column of the current step.

Use this method to copy the contents of a source clipboard page to a new or previously created destination clipboard page. The Page-Copy method does not alter the source page.

Use the Page-Merge-Into method to merge the contents of two or more pages into one page. Specify the source pages in the MergeFromList parameter.

Use the Page-New method to create a page on the clipboard. The new page may be a top-level page or an embedded page.

Use this method to delete one or more pages from the clipboard. The contents of the database are not affected.

Use this method to rename a top-level page, or to name a primary page.

Use the Page-Set-Messages method to add a message to a clipboard page. Like a message associated with a property, a message associated with a page normally prevents the page from being saved into the database. If the page is an embedded page, the message is added to all its parent pages.

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.

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.

Use this method to determine whether the current requestor has access to a specific privilege ( Rule-Access-Privilege rule type). The privileges that a requestor holds are determined by the contents of the Privilege tab of the set of Access of Rule to Object rules associated with the access roles of the user.

Use the Property-Map-DecisionTable method to evaluate a decision table and save the result as the value of a property.

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

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.

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

Use this method to establish links that identify a partner non-reference property for one or more reference properties.

Use this method to delete a property or properties and its associated value from the step page or another specified page. This does not affect the property, its definition.

Use this method to initiate backward chaining computations for the value of a property, based on Declare Expression rules.

Use this method to associate a text message with a property. The system reads the appropriate property and adds the message to the property. If a property is on an embedded page, the message is added to all its parent pages.

Use this method to save the contents of an HTML or XML stream, after stream processing completes, as the value of a Single Value property. The property value can then be mapped as output for transmission to an external system.

Use this method to set the value of one or more specified properties.

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.

Use the Property-Validate method in an activity to ensure that a property value meets certain requirements including:

Use this method to save the contents of a correspondence stream (generally HTML text) as the value of a Single Value property. The property value can then be mapped as output for transmission to an external system.

Use the Publish-Notifications method to publish the top-level scalar and value list properties of a clipboard page to a notification channel.

Use this method when constructing the application logic that queues items such as work items or assignments to be processed in the background by an agent. This method stores a request for processing as a persistent object (entry) in the system queue. The method specifies:

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 (Rule-Connect-SQL rule type) that contains the DELETE, TRUNCATE or DROP SQL statement.

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.

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 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.

Use this method to halt processing of the requestor and log off the requestor. This method operates on the pxRequestor page.

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 canceled.

Do not use this deprecated method. It is replaced by the Show-Page method.

Do not use this deprecated method. It is replaced by the Show-Property method.

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 a browser. 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.

Use the Show-Page method to send an XML representation of the step page to a user's browser session, typically as an aid to debugging.

Use the Show-Property method to send the value of a single scalar property on the clipboard page identified in the Step Page column to a user's browser session, as an aid to debugging.

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.

Use this method only when building custom rule types, to start the internal processing that develops rule references. Use this method as the first step in an activity of Activity Type Validate when the class of the activity is a Rule- class and rule referencing is to be available.

Use this method to manipulate local variables of type String Buffer for the current activity that are contained in a Java StringBuffer object. This method appends a text string to the current contents of the buffer.

Use this method to manipulate local variables of type String Buffer for the current activity that are stored in a Java StringBuffer object. This method inserts a string into the buffer at a specific byte offset position.

Use this method to clear a local variable of type String Buffer of an activity, setting its value in the Java StringBuffer to the null string. Local variables are defined on the Parameters tab of the activity form.

Use this method in activities with an Activity Type of Utility that return a value that a flow rule can examine to make decisions. The system can test the output of this method to determine which connector to take.

Use this method to apply a parse normalize rule ( Rule-Parse-Normalize rule type) to convert a source text string to a normalized form.

Use this method to clear the Thread pages for your current session, except for any pages specified in the KeepPages parameter.

This method is deprecated for new development.

Use this method to pause a thread for a specified time interval. This method causes the current thread to wait a specified time interval (at least) before continuing with activity processing. (This method performs a Java sleep().)

This method is deprecated. See the equivalent method Connect-Wait.