| The capabilities described on this page are included in Appian's standard capability tier. Usage limits may apply. |
Portals and sites both give your users rich experiences that display valuable data and manage important processes. However, since portals are run in a service that is separate from your Appian environment, there are some capabilities that work a little differently in portals.
Appian capabilities can be either compatible, partially compatible, or incompatible with portals:
The following table lists some common capabilities and whether they are compatible, partially compatible, or incompatible with portals. The compatibility of functions and components is also listed in the Appian Functions table. Keep this compatibility in mind when designing your portal to make sure you are using them in a way that works with portals.
| Platform capability | Portals compatibility | How to use |
|---|---|---|
| Using a record type to write or query data | Compatible | In a portal interface, use a!queryRecordType() to query data or a!startProcess() to start a process that uses the Write Record or Delete Record smart services. |
| Records-powered grids, charts, and card choices components. | Incompatible | Use a!queryRecordType() to query your record type for read-only grids, charts, and card choices. |
| Record actions, lists, and views. | Incompatible | Build a custom interface instead of using a record action, list, or view. |
| Starting a process. | Compatible | In a portal interface, use a!startProcess() in the saveInto parameter of a submit link or button. |
| Writing and querying data from a publicly accessible external database. | Compatible | - |
| Using a CDT to write or query data, including connecting to a database behind a VPN. | Partially compatible | Connect to a web API object using an integration object. From the web API, use an Appian function to write or query data in your database. |
| Uploading and downloading files. | Compatible | - |
| HTTP and OpenAPI connected systems using basic and API key authentication. | Compatible | - |
| HTTP and OpenAPI connected systems using AWS Signature Version 4, Google Service Account, and OAuth 2.0 authentication types. | Partially compatible | Connect to a web API object using an integration object. From the web API, call an integration object using the desired authentication type. |
| Pre-built connected systems. | Partially compatible | Connect to a web API object using an integration object. From the web API, call an integration object using the desired connected system. |
| Constants of type Application, Group, Group Type, Report, Site, or Task Report | Incompatible | - |
| Appian functions. | See each function in the the Appian Functions table for its compatibility with portals. | You can still leverage functions that are listed as partially compatible by connecting to a web API object using an integration object. From the web API, call the function. Don't use incompatible functions in a portal. |
| Function plug-ins. | Partially compatible | Connect to a web API object using an integration object. From the web API, call the function plug-in. |
| Interface components. | See each component in the the Appian Functions table for its compatibility with portals. | Don't use incompatible components in a portal. |
| Component plug-ins. | Incompatible | - |
| Appian-supported locales, time zones, and calendars. | Compatible | - |
| Rule inputs. | Compatible | Use rule inputs in any expression or interface, except interfaces added as pages |
| Decision objects. | Partially compatible | Connect to a web API object using an integration object. From the web API, call the decision object. |
| Tasks. | Incompatible - Your users should be authenticated if you need to send them a task. | - |
| Accessing the portal in the Appian Mobile application. | Incompatible | Access the portal from a mobile browser. |
| Offline mobile. | Incompatible | - |
| Using a portal as an embedded interface. | Incompatible | Link to the Portal from your website. |
| Restricting access to a portal using a VPN | Incompatible | - |
