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 this example.
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.
Google Maps component plug-in	Compatible	-
Rich Text Editor component plug-in	Compatible	Do not enable image uploads in the rich text editor. The Rich Text Editor connected system that is required for image uploads is not compatible with portals.
ESRI ArcGIS Map component and connected system plug-ins	Compatible	In the portal object, be sure to add a service account.
Other plug-ins, including: - Component and connected system plug-ins that aren't specified as compatible above - 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 to set initial values for an interface using URL parameters or default values. See Use URL Parameters to Link to a Site or Portal 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	-
Using a portal as an embedded interface	Incompatible	Link to the Portal from your website.
Restricting access to a portal using a VPN	Incompatible	-