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Portal Capabilities

The capabilities described on this page are included in Appian's standard capability tier. Usage limits may apply.

Overview

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:

  • Compatible: Works with portals without a custom integration.
  • Partially compatible: Works with portals using a custom integration to connect the portal to the Appian environment.
  • Incompatible: Doesn't work in portals. However, there may be a workaround available that allows you to achieve a similar outcome.

Portal capabilities

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 To query data, in the portal interface, use a!queryRecordType() or a!queryRecordByIdentifier().

To write data, in the portal interface, use a!startProcess(). In the process, use the Write Record or Delete Record smart services.
Records-powered grids, charts, and selection components Compatible Use the record type as the source for read-only grids, charts, and selection components (card choices, checkbox, dropdown, multiple dropdown, and radio button). For considerations when using read-only grids in a portal, see Using records-powered grids in a portal and Working with Data in a Portal.
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, or Task Report Incompatible -
Interface components See each component in the Appian Functions table for its compatibility with portals. Don't use incompatible components in a portal.
Appian functions See each function in 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.
AppMarket component plug-ins See Portal Best Practices for determining compatibility with portals. If you need to use a connected system plug-in with the component plug-in, see Using connected system plug-ins for more information.
Custom component plug-ins Compatible See Develop Component Plug-ins for Portals for guidelines to ensure that your component plug-ins are compatible with portals.
- Connected system plug-ins (unless they are used with a compatible component plug-in)
- Smart service plug-ins
- Data type plug-ins
- Servlet plug-ins
Incompatible -
Appian-supported locales, time zones, and calendars Compatible -
Rule inputs Compatible Use rule inputs in any expression or interface used by a portal. Certain rule inputs can be used with URL parameters. See Use URL Parameters for Site and Portal Navigation for more information.
Translation sets Compatible You can reference translation strings in portal interfaces. Translation strings will display in the Primary Locale that is configured in the Administration Console for the environment.
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 -
Display a portal page in an external website Compatible See Connecting Appian to External Websites for instructions and more information.
Restricting access to a portal using a VPN Incompatible -
Mutual TLS Incompatible -

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