Types of service SMP/E SYSMODs

IMS provides maintenance packaged in SMP/E format.

IMS maintenance is packaged as one of three types of SMP/E SYSMODs:

• Program Temporary Fixes (PTFs)

  Program Temporary Fixes (PTFs) are normally considered preventative service. PTFs contain solutions for problems and are distributed in machine-readable format. The PTF is considered the final solution for a problem for the release of IMS for which it is provided.

  For modules that supersede a previous level of a module, the source changes are the cumulative delta source changes for the module. If a PTF has a prerequisite, the source changes included in the PTF are not cumulative, but reflect only the code changed for the PTF.

• Authorized Program Analysis Reports (APARs)

  Authorized Program Analysis Report (APAR) fixes are considered corrective service. APARs contain solutions for problems and are distributed in machine-readable format. The APAR is considered an interim solution, or temporary solution, for a problem. The final solution is the corresponding PTF or PTFs created at the end of the APAR process. One APAR can become one or more PTFs.

• USERMODs
  IMS provides USERMODS in the following situations:

  • As an APAR fixtest, to ensure that the problem reported by an APAR is corrected or to provide relief until the APAR or PTF is available
  • As a circumvention to a problem, to provide relief until the final APAR or PTF is available
  • As a trap (or specialized code) to obtain additional documentation or information (such as a dump) necessary to analyze and understand a problem

Related reading: For more detailed SMP/E information, see SMP/E Reference.