Pega Freshers Interview Questions and Answers

1. What is pattern and directed inheritance. Explain in Detail.

Pattern inheritance is a class naming pattern where a class is concatenated with is previous class by a
pattern of hyphen (-) symbol.
Example A-B-C, for class C, A-B , A are pattern parents.

2. Different types of classes. 

We have two types of classes.
1. Abstract class : These classes can not be instantiated, means work object can no be created.
Reusable rules can be created under this classes.
2. Concrete class: These classes can be instantiated, means work object can be created under this
classes. This class gets mapped to tables.

3. What is key that you give in class. 

We give Class Key in a Class. Class key will be used by pega in the PZInskey formation.

4. what is the class structure? 

Class structure consists of different levels of classes.
A typical class structure consists of below class levels.
1. Org class
2. Frame work class
3. Implementation work class.
4. At each level of Org, Framework, Implementation , we have Data and Int Classes.

Work classes derives from Work- OOTB class.

Data classes derives from Data- OOTB class.
Int classes derives from Int- OOTB class.

5. Have you ever created class explain how do you create. 

A class can be created under sys admin category. CreateSysAdmin Class

6. Class group  
Class group is instance class of Work Objects.

7. What is the difference between flow action and flow 

Flow defines transaction life cycle or Work object life cycle.
Flow action is container of section which can be called at an assignment to display a UI with default
actions of Submit , save and cancel.

8. Where do we call Flow Action in flow. 

Flow action can be called in a flow by using assignment shape outward connector in process flow and
it can be called on assignment shape in screen flows.

9. What is the purpose of flow action. 

A flow action can be used to display a user interface at an assignment , which allows users to perform
submit, save, cancel actions.

10. Smart Shapes, Advanced Shapes  

In a flow we can use Smart shapes or Automation shapes and Advanced shapes.
Smart Shapes are : Create Case, Change Stage, Send Email, Create PDF etc…
Advanced shapes are : Split for each, split join , etc…
11. Process flow and screen flow scenarios real time scenario 
Process flow can be used to perform assignments which notgoing back.
Screen flows can be used to perform assignment with forward and back work moving.

12. What is Process Flow and Screen Flow  

Differences between Process flow and screen flow

Process Flow Screen Flow

 It creates a work object  It cannot create work object (By
Default)
 For every assignment we see submit  For every assignment we get next, back
button, means when an assignment is and finish buttons available
completed, we cannot navigate back. accordingly. We can navigate between
assignments.
 Flow action can be called on  Flow action can be called, on
assignment shape outward connector. assignment shape itself. Only one flow
Here we can call multiple flow actions action per assignment is possible.
per assignment.
 Harness can be called, per each  Harness can be called on start shape of
assignment. screen flow that means for all
assignments in screen flow same
harness.

 Routing option is available on  Routing option available on Start shape

assignment shape. of screen flow.
Each assignment can be routed to  That means all assignments in screen
different operator using assignment flow gets routing to one single work list
shape. or work basket.
 All assignment must be worked on only
by one operator.
 By default, PRPC performs a save and  By default, PRPC performs a save and
commit for each flow shape. commit for each flow shape.
 Here, on start shape screen flow “Sava
on Last step” option is available.
 If we select this option, the save and
commit happens only at the end of
screen flow.

13. Activities and methods  

 Obj-save   : this method can be used to insert or update instances into tables.
 Obj-open  : This can be used to fetch single record from the table by using classe key(s)
 Obj-open-by-handle   :This can be used to fetch single record from the table by using
classeprimary key which is pzInsKey.

14. Writenow and commit methods.

Commit method : commits the entire differ queue items respective table or tables. Commit method
releases lock

Write Now : It is an immediate commit operator which is being done only on one table. This option in
obj-save can not release the lock.
  
15. Rollback and obj-save-cancel
 Rollback method erases or rolls back entire differ queue items means all the obj-saves done in a thread.
The roll back will not have any impact after the commit is executed.

Obj-save-cancel : erases or rolls back only the latest un committed obj-save.  

This method will not have any impact after the commit is executed.

16. Can we call an activity in Flow Action. 

Yes , we can call activities from flow using under action tab at, pre processing and post processing. The
same way we can call data transforms also.

Pre processing means the activity runs on load of flow action, post processing means the activity runs
on submit of flow action.

17. Where can we call activities. 

We can call activities from
1. Activity
2. Data transform by using the function pxececuteactivity(Primarypage,
Actitivityname).
3. Flow action under pre and post pressings.
4. On Dropdown, Autocomplete controls.
5. On events like on change, on click of UI controls.
6. We can call in declare on change, declare trigger rules.

18. How can we call an activity in Flow. 

An activity can be called from a flow by using Utility shape. The activity which we call in utility shape
must be of type “utility’.

19. what are the methods available in the activity?

Below are the basic methods that we use regularly.
Page-new, property-set, page-remove, obj-save, obj-browse, obj-delete, obj-open, obj-open-by-handle,
obj-delete-by-handleetc..
 
20. how you call decision table in activity? 
A decision table and tree can be called in an activity by using below methods.
1. Decision table : Property-Map-DecisionTable
2. Decision Tree : property-Map-DecisitonTree.

21. how to add function and conditions in activity? 

We can call functions in conditions of activity by using Expression builder functions.

22. can we use looping inside the activity? 

Yes, we have options at beginning of step like ForEachEmbededPAge, ForEachValuein Valuelist and
For.

23. When we fetch data using Obj Browse, what is the page on clipboard where we can see
data.
This is pxResults page list of class Code-Pega-List.

24. How to call flow from activity

We can call an activity from a flow by using OOTB activity NEW,
NEWFromflow,svcAddWorkObject

We need to pass the parameters name of the flow and the class name in which flow is created.

25. How to access parent case data to child and child to parent
 If we want to assign data from parent case to child case, we can use data propagation.

If we want to access data from child to parent , then we have to open parent case by obj-open
or open-by-handle and update it back to work table.

26. In dropdown what are the rules we can call. 

The sources rules to populate a dropdown are, Activity, report definition, data transform, activity,

27. In an activity where we can we call when rule, can we define more than one when rule
at a step. 
In an activity we can call when rules at all the steps at the beginning and ending of step execution.
‘We can call more than one when at every step.

28. In table layout what are the sources we can give. 

Below are the sources of table layout
1. Page list property
2. Report definition
3. Data page of type list.

29. Database tables and their mapping. 

Every concrete class in Pega is going to get mapped to a table in the back ground. The class and table
mapping can be done by creating a rule called, Database table rules.
If we create a concrete class without mapping to a table , then by defauklt it gets mapped to
PR_OTHER table.

30. How do you connect external table with PRPC? 

We need to create below rules.
1. Create database table rule and connect by using Database connection URL, user name and
password.
2. Create ca class and table mapping rule.

31. When you create a datatype what are the rules that will be created. 
When we create a data type below rule are getting created.
1. A physical table gets created.
2. A class
3. Properties
4. Class and table mapping rule that is “Data base table” rules.
5. Report definition
6. Three data pages.

32. tell me the difference between data tables and data base tables? 
A Data table is a data type in new versions of page ,i.e pega 7 and later. Data tables gets created in rule
base.
Data base table is like a external table out of Pega Rules rule base.

33. What is Report Definition and it’s real life example?

 Report definition is used to fetch data from tables and display the data in table or charts format.
Real life example : If amazon application developed using pega, we can use report definition to fetch
all the returned items into a report to analyse the monthly returns data.

34. What are the different types of joins available in report definition?
We have below joins in report definition
1. Class joins
2. Associations
3. Index Joins
4. Sub reports.

35. In report definition If I want to fetch 1000 records but I want to export to word o only
500 records how to do it? 
In the report definition under Data access tab, we need to specify 500 at the filed , maximum number
of records to export

36. Explain about Data Pages and scopes

Data page is a shared / cached page on servers clipboard. We user data pages when the data is common
data and constant data which is frequently been accessed in the application.

D-pages  
Modes 
Read only , Editable Modes
Scopes
 Thread  : A thread scope of data page is accessible for sharing with in a single WO multiple
times.
 Requestor  : This scope of data page is accessible for sharing with in a single requestor session
among multiple WO’s but not with other requestors.
 Node : This scope of data page is accessible among multiple requestors who logon to same
node but not with requestors of other node.

Real life example

When an insurance agent login to insurance application, every time when he creates a policy
that should be created under some branch of insurance company.
Where we have multiple branches to be loaded and the list of branches are same for all
insurance agents who access the application. In this case we can use node Data page to load
the branches and that is accessible to all insurance agents when they login. So that they can
choose one.

37. What is Page list and Page Group?

Page list is ordered collection of pages where each page will have an index. Example is pxresults page
list of Cod-Pega-List class.
Example :
Address
Address(1)
DoorNumber
StreetName
Address(2)
DoorNumber
StreetName
Address(3)
DoorNumber
StreetName
Address(4)
DoorNumber
 StreetName

Page group is unorder collection of pages where each page will have a name. OOTB page group is
pyWorkParty

Example :
Address
Address(Home)
DoorNumber
StreetName
Address(Office)
DoorNumber
StreetName
Address(Permanent)
DoorNumber
StreetName
Address(Present)
DoorNumber
StreetName

38. In data page we have read only and editable data pages can explain why do we have
that. 
Read only data pages can be used when data is constant data that can be used multiple times. Read only
data pages gets created under data pages.

We don’t have node level editable data pages, because to maintain data integrity across the users.
Editable data pages gets created on clipboard under ‘User Pages’.

39. Data page sources. 

Below are the sources of data page
1. Activity
2. Data transform
3. Report Definition
4. Look up : To fetch single record from the table.
5. Connector : for integrations purpose.
6. Robotic process automation
7. Robotic desktop automation.

40. Data Pages Refresh Strategy

We can refresh strategy of a data page under it’s load management tab.
1. Click on Delete Data page button
2. Reload once per interaction
3. By mention Number of Days, Hours, Minutes, Seconds.

41. Tell me about step page? 

In an activity if we choose a page step, that is called as step page. The rule which we call at that step
should be created in the step page reference class.

42. Can we call a when rule in another when rule. 

 A when rule can be called from another rule by using the below way.

Click on select values

43. Rulesets and why do we need rulesets and their uses. 

Rule set is collection of rules which helps in versioning rules. When we want to update or modify
rules which are in locked versions, we need to save as the rules into new versions and make changes.

In one simple sentence rule set is replacement of version management tools.

44. Rule Authorization. 

When a requestor requests for a rule, process commander runs rule authorization as part of rule
resolution.

PRPC tried to identify

ii) the rule set of the rule
iii) from ruleset, it identifies which application this rule set belongs to.
iv) Next , it looks to, the access group of application.
v) Then finally it check the current requestors access group is matching with above access group or
not. If so, then operator authorized to access the rule , else not.

45. Rule Categories. 

The below are rule categories

46. Live UI, Clipboard 

Live UI : It is a debugging tool to interpret User Interface to find the rule used to design UI.
Clipboard : This is a debugging tool which maintains the data page PRPC on to it’s pages.
47. In clipboard what are the pages we have and explain them. 
We have below categories of pages on clipboard
1. User pages, all the pages that we create on our transaction model gets created under user pages.
2. Data pages : Read only data pages gets created, here.
3. System pages : Operator, Access Group, Org etc pages gets created here.
4. Linked property pages

48. Do you know about tracer can you explain it. 

Tracer is used to debug most of the rules in pega. Tracer records the step by step execution of the rules.
We can trace only rule instances but not data instances.

49. Portals and types. 

By default pega provides
Developer portal, admin portal, manager and user portals.

50. Access group explain. 

Access group is an interface between operator and application, portal and access roles.

51. Validations for what we use it. 

Validations can be used to check for the expected input values from the users. If the value is not as
expected then validations will return error messages.

52. What are different types of layouts in Pega

We have below layout types
Dynamic layout, table layout, column layout, hierarchical table layout, Repeating Dynamic
Layout, Navigational tree.

53. Decision table and Decision tree differences.

Decision Table Decision Tree
This has the logic if else if, else if and so on else. This has the logic of if, if, if and so on else.
Decision table we can call other decision rule by We can call other decision rule by selecting the
using functions like pxEvaluateDecisionTable, option “allow selection of call decision option”
pxEvaluateDecisionTree, ObtainValue. under the configuration tab of decision tree.
We can set /return multiple properties values by There is no such option available in decision
selecting the option “Evaluate all rows” under the tree.
results tab.
For all the conditions in decision table, the In decision tree we can use different , different
properties used are fixed and same. properties for different conditions.
We can use expression builder and functions. We can not use expression builder.

54. What is locking and types 

Locking of WO prevents parallel processing. When an operator opens a WO , PRPC acquires lock on it
and prevents other users from editing.
There are two types of locking.
1. Default locking : The moment a case is opened , lock will get acquired.
3. Optimistic locking : This allows more than one user to open a case at a time. Lock will not be
quired on open but it gets acquired when an action is been performed on the case like submit.Lock
table is PR_SYS_LOCKS

55. What is Case types & Case life Cycles With Examples?

  
A Case Type defines work object life cycle. A case type defines WO life cycle to have
1. Stages : It’s collection of processes
2. Process :It’s a flow and collection of steps
 3. Step : It’s a flow step.

56. can we call data transform from a data transform? 

Yes,we can use the option like ApplyDataTransform.

57. Data Transforms explain an example for what purpose we use it and where all we can
data transforms. 
Data transform can be used to assign values to properties, assign one page data to another page, copy
pages from one page list to another page list.
We can call data transforms from
1. Data transform using Apply Data transform option.
2. Activity using the method “Apply-DataTransform”
3. Flow action under action tab as pre processing and post processing.

58. What is Data propagation?

Data propagation is Copying the data from parent into child case at the time the child case is getting
created.
We can define the data propagation under setting tab of Parent case Type.
Here, we can set single properties or create data transform and call it there.

59. Property Optimization Why we use it ?With Live Examples 

Property optimization create a new column in the table with the same name as property name which we
optimize.
Optimization can be done by right click on property and choose optimize for reporting.
When we want to fetch the data into report definitions to avoid performance issues, we have to
optimize the properties.
When we want to use the properties in an activity Obj-Browse where conditions, those properties must
be optimized.

60. parameters concept? 

Parameters are like properties but these can be defined one the rule form under parameters tab.
Parameters can be accessed by using a predefined page ‘Param’.
Parameter page will not be available on clipboard, instead we can see only on tracer, parameters page
name ‘unnammed’.We can pass values to parameters. We can pass parameter page from one rule to
other rule by selecting the option, Pass Current Parameter page

61. What are different types of layouts in Pega

We have below layout types
Dynamic layout, table layout, column layout, hierarchical table layout, Repeating Dynamic
Layout, Navigational tree.

62. Define workgroup. 

Work Group is like a team of operators, a work group can be referred in operators rule form under
work tab. Work group is interface between operator and work queue.

63. Why did you choose Pega out of all the IT software’s? 
Pega provide form based programming model, where we can use OOTB rules. Which is something
different and newer than the technologies that I have learn so far. I am always fond of working out on
new innovations. So I have chosen it.

64. what is the reuse functionality in pega? 

The OOTB rules provided by pega are reusable functionalities.
65. how many studio’s are there in pega? 
By default pega provides below studios.
1. Developer studio : Developers use this to created application, case types and other rules.
2. Admi studio : Administration tasks of system level management can be done by using this like
requestor, agents, listener management etc…
3. Prediction Studio : This can be used by Decision Consultants.
4. App Studio : This can be used by developers and business analyst for low code development,
means it’s more UI based development which looks easier than Dev studio. But we can not create
all the rule here. We can not create activities.
We can create case type, data types here.

66. what is job scheduler and Queue processor? 

Job Scheduler and Queue processor are the latest rules introduced from PEGA 8 onwards. These two
rules are alternate rules of Advanced and Standard agents respectively.

Job Scheduler is replacement of Advanced Agent

Queue Processor is replacement of Standard Agent.

67. what is pyguID? 

pyGUID is used when the property that could be used as the key is not unique. If can be defined as a
key in class rule form.

68. About integrations? 

Integrations can be done in pega, in order to connect to third party systems. Pega supports below
integrations like
SOAP, REST, MQ, FILe, EMAILetc..

69. Agents concept 

Agent is an internal back ground requestor which process to execute the activities on schedule basis.
Three modes of agents
1. Legacy : Deprecated from version 5.4 itself.
2. Standard : It process the Queue items of table PR_SYS_QUEUES.
3. Advanced Agent : To process bulk data , one time activity execution.

70. Difference between connect soap and connect rest. 

SOAP REST
Connect soap to call a soap service. Connect rest to call a rest service.
SOAP uses only XML data structure REST uses multiple data structures like XML,
JSON, TEXT, HTML etc..
Heavy weight service Light weight service.

71. Declarative rules explain 

Declarative rules gets executed automatically without calling. Below are the declarative rules.
1. Declare expression : Whenever the sources properties changes , the expression gets executed
and thus the target property value will be set.
2. Declare on change : When the properties which we mention in watch list gets changed, the
declare on change rule runs and thus it runs an activity of type of on change.

72. Work list & work queue  (basket)

When an assignment is routed to single operator , the assignment gets stored into
PC_ASSIGN_WORKLIST table. The ootb activity that gets executed is “toworklist”

When an assignment is routed to Work basket or Queue , the assignment gets stored into
PC_ASSIGN_Workbasket table. The ootb activity that gets executed is “toworkbasket”
 73. what is SLA? 
Service level agreement defines the goal, deadline and passed deadline time intervals ,urgencies and
escalations.

IT can be called on assignment shape.

There is an OOTB agent ‘ServiceLevelEvents’ in the ruleset ‘Pega-ProCom’ which should be traced
when SLA is not working.

74. What is Circumstance?

Circumstance is creating multiple variants of a single rule with conditions.
Two types of circumstance
1. Single property circumstance : The condition involves only one property
2. Multi property circumstance : The condition involves multiple properties
We need to create two other rules for multi property circumstance
1.Circumstance template
2. Circumstance Definition rules.

This is concept of Polymorphism, method overloading in Java.

75. Detailed explanation about your Application , what you developed 

76. What is ruleset?

Rule set like container of Rules. Which allows us to perform versioning of Rules.

A Rule set allows a developer to create rules in different versions.

Rule set gets associated with a Name and Version.

77. What are the types of versions?

Versioning Increment Order will be like bellow.

01-01-01, 01-01-02, 01-01-03 ……. 01-01-99 , 01-02-01…… 01-99-99, 02-01-01 .. 99-99-99.

Example 01--09-50
01  Major Version
09  Minor Version
50  Patch Version.

78. What is the difference b/w report definition and activity?

Report Definition Activity

It fetches the data + Display like table, chart Fetches data and keeps on clipboard. No
Display.
Export to Excel, PDF is default available There is not feature like this, we have to use
different methods for this to achieve
Scheduling of report to send daily, weekly data No such feature available here.
is OOTB possible when we use scheduler.
Joins among tables is possible. Joins is not possible.
79.
 80. What is the difference b/w RDB methods and OBJ methods?

Obj Methods RDB Methods

Obj Methods will work on Rulebase tables as RDB work on Rulebase tables as well as external
well as external DB tables. DB tables, but it can fetch only Exposed columns.
Obj Methods can fetch the content saved RDB methods can NOT fetch content
inside BLOB column. available inside BLOB, it can retrieve BLOB as
BLOB.
Obj-open-by-Handle, OBJ-Delete-by-Handle Obj-open-by-Handle, OBJ-Delete-by-Handle can
can be used on Internal tables. NOT be used on External tables.
When using Obj methods class and table is When using RDB methos.
mapping is must.  If we are writing query like
SELECT vinid,company,model,makeyear
FROM {Class:Hano-Data-vinvalidation}
WHERE vinid =
'{Asis:MyServicePage.Request.Input.VIN}'

Class name in place of Table name.

Here Class and Table mapping is must.

 If we are writing query like

SELECT vinid,company,model,makeyear
FROM public.vinvalidation
WHERE vinid =
'{Asis:MyServicePage.Request.Input.VIN}'

Direct Schema name and table.

Here Class and Table mapping is NOT

Required.

That means FOR RDB methods Class

Table mapping is optional, that depends
on how you write the queries.

Obj Methods Auto Generates the Queries and RDB methods, we need to write queries in
that too those are optimized w.r.to Process connect SQL rules.
Commander.
When using OBJ methods , Query gets When using RDB methods, Queries are Direct
generated at run time, converted to post Queries hits the DB.
Query then it hits the DB.
When we use the direct tables name in Connect
SQL rule.
Obj Methods can not Execute Stored RDB-List can call Stored Procedure.
Procedures.
OBJ Supports only Inner Joins. RDB supports All Joins.
 81. Difference b/w Call, Branch, Queue?
Difference Between Call, Branch and Queue

Call Branch Queue

It Calls Child Activity, then It Branches Child Activity, It Queues Child Activity, But
Parent activity waits for then Parent activity waits Parent activity will not wait
child activity to get for child activity to get for child activity to get
completed, once child completed, once child completed, The parent
activity execution activity execution activity and child activity
completes, control comes completes, controls comes executes in different
back to parent activity. back to parent activity. threads.
Further steps after call step Further steps after Branch
gets executed. step will be ignored This behaviour is called
Asynchronous processing
This behaviour is called This behaviour is called
synchronous processing synchronous processing

82. How to call an Activity from datatransform?

A. We can use Below functions
1. CallActivity(Pagename,ActivityName)
2. pxExecuteAnActivity(Pagename,ActivityName)

83. What is the difference between Append to & Append and Map to?
A. Both are for copying pages from one page list to other page list.
If both page list refers to same class then use “Append To”
If both page lists refers to different classes then use “Append and Map to”.
84. What is skimming?

Skimming :- Is a process of Copying rules from lower versions to next higher minor or major
version.

Two Types :

Skimming creates rules for a major or minor RuleSet version by copying selected rules of

Examples
Major: Skimming rules in 06-05-01 through 06-09-25 into 07-01-01

Minor: Skimming rules in 06-05-01 through 06-09-25 into 06-10-01

Major Skim
During a major skim, rules with Availability of 'Yes', 'Blocked', and 'Final' are carried
forward. Rules with availability of 'No' (not available) or 'Withdrawn' are filtered out.
Blocked rules are carried forward because a Blocked rule can block rules in other rulesets,
and that relationship should be maintained if it exists.

Minor Skim
During a minor skim, rules with Availability of 'Yes', 'Blocked', 'Withdrawn' and 'Final' are
carried forward. Rules with availability of 'No' (shown as 'Not Available' in the table below)
are filtered out.

Table of rules carried forward

The following table displays which rules are carried forward, based on availability.

  Available Not Available Final Withdrawn Blocked

Major Yes No Yes No Yes
Minor Yes No Yes Yes Yes