Superclass feature

Developers can make data transforms more modular by using a superclass. You can combine several data transforms using the superclass feature to set values at multiple levels of the class hierarchy. Taking advantage of this feature improves the maintainability of data transforms.

When the superclass feature is enabled on data transforms, at runtime, Pega Platform™:

• Identifies the parent of the current class
• Identifies the next level parent until the highest parent class is located
• Finds the data transform
• Invokes data transforms

In the following image, click the + icons to learn more about each part of the runtime process:

Consider a Claim class with a Home subclass. The Home subclass, in turn, has a Rental subclass with data transforms at each level that sets the default values. You set your data transforms so that common default values are set in the Claim class, and specific values are set in the subclasses.

The case type requires two fields found in parent classes: the Date of loss and the Address fields. You set the SetDefault data transform on each class so that the common default values for Date of loss and Prefix (case ID prefix) are set in the Claim class, the Address is set in the Home class, and Name on lease is set in the Rental class.

The following image shows the rule execution sequence of SetDefault data transforms that are invoked when case type Rental is created and the superclass feature is enabled on all data transforms. Click the + icons to learn more about each rule execution step.

To configure the superclass feature, in the Dev Studio workspace, create a data transform with the same name at each class level and ensure the Call superclass data transform option is selected on the desired data transform. If properties are specified in both the parent and subclasses, the data transform in the subclass overwrites the data transform in the parent class.

Pega Platform comes with standard pyDefault data transforms in the work classes from which the case types inherit. The standard Work- pyDefault data transform sets property values that are used in all case types. The properties include work status, work urgency, and operator organization information.