The question is about approving or rejecting an incoming deployment. The following roles allow you to do so:

• Specified Reviewer Group: This is a group that can be specified by the application administrator when creating a deployment package. Members of this group can approve or reject the deployment package in the target environment.
• System Administrators: This is a group that has full access and control over all applications and system settings in Appian. Members of this group can approve or reject any deployment package in any environment.
• Application Administrators Group: This is a group that has full access and control over a specific application in Appian. Members of this group can approve or reject any deployment package for their application in any environment.

The following roles do not allow you to approve or reject an incoming deployment:

• Application Viewers: This is a group that has read-only access to a specific application in Appian. Members of this group cannot approve or reject any deployment package for their application in any environment.
• Application Editors: This is a group that has edit access to a specific application in Appian. Members of this group can create and export deployment packages for their application in any environment, but they cannot approve or reject them.

References:

• Deploying Applications
• Application Roles

 Two things that can be done to increase the performance of a poorly-performing process model that has a lot of nodes and is mainly used to do background updates are:

• Remove all activity chaining. Activity chaining is a feature that allows a process to move from one node to another without waiting for a commit point. This can improve the performance of some processes, but it can also cause memory issues and data inconsistency if used excessively or incorrectly. Removing activity chaining can reduce the memory consumption and ensure data integrity of the process model.
• Refactor some nodes into subprocesses when possible. Subprocesses are processes that are called from within another process model. Refactoring some nodes into subprocesses can simplify the main process model and improve its readability and maintainability. It can also reduce the memory usage and execution time of the main process model, as subprocesses are executed in parallel and have their own memory allocation. References: Activity Chaining, Subprocess Node, Process Model Best Practices

The question is about a sign that an application’s performance is degrading and should be addressed with changes to the application design. The following is a sign of this:

• Three of the top five most executed process models have a low completion percentage. This means that a large proportion of the process instances are not reaching the end event, either because they are taking too long to complete, or because they are encountering errors or exceptions. This can affect the performance of the application, as it can consume more memory and resources, and reduce the availability and reliability of the application. You should review the process model design and identify the causes of the low completion rate, and make changes to improve the process efficiency and error handling.

The following are not signs of performance degradation that require changes to the application design:

• Integration calls to an external system are consistently returning an HTTP status code of 500. This means that the external system is experiencing an internal server error, which is not related to the application design. You should contact the external system provider and report the issue, or implement a fallback or retry mechanism in your integration logic.
• The number of tasks assigned to users has increased from 1 per day to 5 per day. This means that the workload or demand for the application has increased, which is not necessarily a sign of performance degradation. You should monitor the task completion rate and user feedback to see if the increase in tasks is affecting the user experience or satisfaction, and adjust the task assignment or prioritization logic if needed.
• The number of objects in the Application has increased from about 100 to about 500. This means that the application has grown in size and complexity, which is not necessarily a sign of performance degradation. You should follow the best practices for application design and maintenance, such as using folders, prefixes, dependencies, and documentation, to keep the application organized and manageable.

References:

• Process Model Metrics
• HTTP Status Codes
• Task Report
• Application Design

Activity chaining is a feature that allows users to complete multiple tasks in a row without returning to their task list. However, activity chaining can also have some drawbacks, such as increased memory consumption, longer transaction times, and reduced user feedback. Therefore, some actions can be taken to make the process model more efficient, such as:

• Shorten long process chains by combining transactions into the smallest number of nodes. This can reduce the memory footprint and the database load of the process model.
• Avoid chaining system nodes like Integrations. These nodes can have unpredictable execution times and can cause timeouts or errors if chained. It is better to use asynchronous integrations or message events to decouple the process flow from external systems.
• Move transactions that can be done asynchronously outside of the chain. This can improve the responsiveness of the process model and allow parallel processing of independent tasks.

Therefore, the correct answers are B, C, and D.

References:

• Activity Chaining
• Performance Best Practices

The three actions that can be taken to minimize the performance impact of the Tempo report are:

• Limit the number of series values and categories in the report. This is because having too many series values and categories can make the report difficult to read and render, as well as increase the amount of data that needs to be transferred from the database to Appian. A good practice is to limit the number of series values to 10 or less, and the number of categories to 20 or less.
• Use local variables in your report interface to avoid redundant database queries. This is because local variables can store the results of database queries and reuse them in multiple places within the interface, reducing the number of times the database is accessed. A good practice is to use local variables for common filters, aggregations, or calculations that are used in multiple charts or grids.
• Perform aggregation in the database using a view prior to reading the data into Appian. This is because performing aggregation in the database can reduce the amount of data that needs to be transferred from the database to Appian, as well as leverage the database’s optimization capabilities. A good practice is to create a view in the database that performs the aggregation and then query that view using Appian. References: Report Performance Best Practices

 The most efficient way to achieve the integration between the third-party document scanner and the Appian record list is to create a view between both the [appian].[document] and [appian].[caseData] tables to feed the record. A view is a virtual table that is defined by a query and does not store any data. It can join, filter, aggregate, or transform data from one or more tables and present it in a desired format. A view can be used to simplify complex queries, provide security, or enhance performance. By creating a view, the record can show data from both tables without duplicating or copying any data. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

References:

• Relational Database Guidance
• Views

Three methods that could be used to launch a test run for expression rule test cases when required are:

• A process model invoked via an API. A process model can be designed to run test cases for expression rules using the a!testRule() function or the Test Rule smart service. This process model can be exposed as a web API with an HTTP method such as POST or PUT, allowing external systems or applications to invoke it through an HTTP request.
• A process model exposed to users as an action. A process model can also be designed to run test cases for expression rules using the same function or smart service as above. This process model can be exposed to users as an action on an interface, such as a button or a link, allowing users to trigger it manually when needed.
• A SAIL interface embedded in a report. A SAIL interface can be created to run test cases for expression rules using the a!testRule() function. This interface can be embedded in a report, such as a grid or a chart, allowing users to view the test results interactively on an interface. References: Automated Testing for Expression Rules, a!testRule() Function, Test Rule Smart Service, Web APIs, SAIL Interfaces

The database object that should be used to create a virtual relation in a database to query the data is a view. A view is a searchable object that is defined by a query. It does not store any data but retrieves data from one or more tables at run time, creating a virtual table and returning the data in the defined format. It is created using joins, filters, aggregations, or other SQL operations. A view can be used to simplify complex queries, provide security, or enhance performance. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

References:

• Relational Database Guidance
• Views

The question is about the potential causes of a low completion rate of 10% for a process model. The following are two possible causes of this:

• The process instances are long-lived compared to the configured days until archival or deletion. This means that the process instances take a long time to complete, and they are archived or deleted before they reach the end event. This reduces the completion rate, as only the instances that reach the end event are counted as completed.
• A large number of instances are encountering process errors, and they are not being addressed by the production support team. This means that the process instances are stuck in an error state, and they cannot proceed to the next step or the end event. This reduces the completion rate, as only the instances that reach the end event are counted as completed.

The following are not likely causes of a low completion rate:

• A large value is configured for days until archival or deletion compared to other process models in your application. This means that the process instances have more time to complete before they are archived or deleted. This should increase the completion rate, as more instances can reach the end event before they are removed from the system.
• A large number of smart service nodes are configured in the process model. This means that the process model has a complex logic or functionality that requires multiple smart services. This does not directly affect the completion rate, as long as the smart services execute successfully and do not cause errors or delays.

References:

• Process Model Metrics
• Archiving and Deleting Process Instances

The question is about designing a process model to store the result of an expression rule for every item in a list with the lowest memory footprint. The best design for this purpose is to configure a script task to use a!foreach to iterate over each item in the list, as it allows you to execute an expression rule for each element of an array without creating multiple nodes or subprocesses in the process model. A script task is a node that executes an expression without user interaction, and a!foreach is a function that applies an expression to each element of an array and returns an array of results. The other options are not optimal for this purpose, as they either create more nodes or subprocesses in the process model, which consume more memory and resources. References:

• Script Task
• a!foreach()

 According to Appian best practices, the preferred style and size for the images to display the profile picture of each employee inside an employee grid are style: “AVATAR” and size: “SMALL”. This is because the avatar style creates a circular image that is suitable for profile pictures, and the small size creates a 32x32 pixel image that fits well inside a grid cell. The standard style creates a rectangular image that may not look good for profile pictures, and the large size creates a 128x128 pixel image that may be too big for a grid cell. References: Image Component

The question is about choosing the right plug-in for a requirement that can only be achieved by using a plug-in. The following are three primary considerations in choosing the right plug-in:

• What are the compatible Appian versions? This is important because some plug-ins may not work with older or newer versions of Appian due to changes in APIs or features. You should check the plug-in documentation or release notes to see which Appian versions are supported by the plug-in.
• Is the plug-in Cloud-approved? This is important because some plug-ins may not be allowed in Appian Cloud environments due to security or performance reasons. You should check the Appian Cloud Approved Plug-ins list to see which plug-ins are approved for use in Appian Cloud.
• What are the limitations of the plug-in? This is important because some plug-ins may have known issues or limitations that could affect your requirement or use case. You should check the plug-in documentation or forums to see if there are any reported bugs or limitations for the plug-in.

The following are not primary considerations in choosing the right plug-in:

• What is the size of the plug-in? This is not a major factor, as plug-ins are usually small in size and do not affect the performance or storage of Appian significantly. However, you should still follow the best practices for managing plug-ins and avoid installing unnecessary or unused plug-ins.
• Who is the plug-in author? This is not a decisive factor, as plug-ins can be authored by Appian, third-party vendors, or community members. However, you should still consider the reputation and reliability of the plug-in author and check their support and update policies.

References:

• Plug-ins
• Appian Cloud Approved Plug-ins

When troubleshooting a process model instance with an error in a node, two options that can provide more information about the error are to view the Process Details dialog and to view the properties dialog of the affected node. The Process Details dialog shows the status, history, and variables of the process instance, as well as any errors or warnings that occurred during the execution. The properties dialog of the affected node shows the configuration, inputs, outputs, and expressions of the node, as well as any errors or warnings that occurred during the evaluation. These options can help to identify the cause and location of the error, and to apply any necessary fixes. Therefore, the correct answers are B and D.

References:

• [Process Details Dialog]
• [Properties Dialog]

Three possible reasons for high memory consumption of a process model are:

• Too many process variables. Process variables are used to store data that is needed throughout the process execution. However, having too many process variables can increase the memory usage of the process engine, especially if the variables store large or complex data types, such as documents or CDTs. It is recommended to use local variables whenever possible, and to delete or nullify process variables that are no longer needed.
• Nested CDTs with large numbers of fields. CDTs are custom data types that define the structure and validation of business data in Appian. CDTs can be nested within other CDTs to create complex data models. However, nesting CDTs with large numbers of fields can result in high memory consumption and performance degradation, as each field requires additional memory allocation and processing. It is recommended to limit the number of fields and nesting levels of CDTs, and to use references instead of embedding whenever possible.
• Too many nodes. Nodes are the graphical elements that represent the activities and events in a process model. Having too many nodes in a process model can increase the memory usage and complexity of the process execution. It can also make the process model harder to read and maintain. It is recommended to simplify the process model by using subprocesses, smart services, or expression rules to encapsulate common or reusable logic. References: Process Variables, Custom Data Types, Process Model Best Practices

The performance log that should be used to see the mean evaluation time of a slow-performing expression rule every hour is expressions_details.csv. This log records information about how expression rules are performing in the system, such as the number of evaluations, the total time, the mean total time, and the standard deviation of the total time. The log is written to once every hour, and it provides fine-grain aggregation by type of expression rule. The mean total time column shows the average time it took to evaluate an expression rule in milliseconds. Therefore, the correct answer is A.

References:

• Expression Performance Logs
• Performance Best Practices

Three best practices that should be applied when code-checking a process model are:

• All XOR/OR gateways should have a single incoming flow. This is because XOR/OR gateways are used to split the process flow based on a condition or an event. Having multiple incoming flows to a gateway can cause confusion and ambiguity about the logic and order of execution. If multiple incoming flows are needed, they should be merged into a single flow using an AND gateway before reaching the XOR/OR gateway.
• All outgoing flows from a gateway should be labeled. This is because labels provide clarity and readability to the process model. They also help to document the business logic and rules that determine the path of execution. Labels should be concise, descriptive, and consistent throughout the process model.
• Node inputs should not make the same query call more than once. This is because repeated query calls can negatively impact the performance and efficiency of the process model. They can also cause data inconsistency and duplication if the query results change over time. Node inputs should use variables or rules to store and reuse query results whenever possible. References: Process Model Best Practices, Process Model Object, Process Modeling

The best process model design for a case management application is to use a case record and a related action. This way, the process flow does not have to wait for the reviewer to complete the task, which can take up to 7 days. This reduces the memory impact of the process, as well as the risk of process timeouts or errors. The case record also provides a better user experience, as the reviewer can access the case details and the related action from one place. Therefore, the best answer is A.

References:

• Case Management
• Related Actions

 The load time of this interface component can be improved by reducing the number of queries performed and the amount of data transferred. One way to achieve this is to prefetch the transaction types and use the displayvalue() function to display the Transaction Type for each transaction. This way, only one query is performed to get the transactions, and the transaction types are retrieved from a local variable instead of a separate query. This reduces the network latency and the database load, which can improve the performance of the interface. Therefore, the best answer is D.

References:

• Prefetching Data
• displayvalue() Function

 Two true statements are:

• It is not possible to undo changes from an import to all types of objects. Once a package is imported to an environment, it applies changes to the existing objects or creates new objects based on the package contents. There is no built-in mechanism to revert these changes or delete these objects automatically. Therefore, it is important to test the package in a non-production environment before importing it to production, and to backup any objects that may be overwritten by the import.
• It is possible to import the same package multiple times. A package can be imported to an environment more than once, as long as it does not contain any conflicts or errors that would prevent the import. However, importing the same package multiple times may not have any effect if there are no changes in the package contents or in the target environment since the last import. References: Prepare Deployment Packages, Application Deployment Guidelines