APARs and PTFs

An APAR is a temporary fix created for individual customers. PTFs are intended for all users to install to avoid possible problems.

APARs

Generally, do not ACCEPT APAR fixes into distribution libraries. Subsequent PTFs might not include the APAR fix, and you might be required to reapply the APAR fix.

If two APAR fixes depend on each another, and each is a prerequisite of the other, you must apply them both in the same SMP/E APPLY processing step.

PTFs

A PTF can contain fixes for several different problems, so several APAR fixes reported in RETAIN might be superseded by the more permanent PTF:

A PTF provides card-image changes that are functionally equivalent to those in the APAR fix.
A PTF contains object-module replacements for preassembled CICS® TS programs.

For further information about using SMP/E to apply service, see SMP/E for z/OS User's Guide.