Preparing APARs

Prepare an authorized program analysis report (APAR) only after you follow the diagnostic procedures in this information and the keyword search is unsuccessful.

To prepare an APAR:

  1. Initiate an APAR:
    If, after you consulted with your IBM® Support Center for assistance, no fix for your problem is found, an IBM specialist will contact you to diagnose the problem in more detail. If the problem is a new one, the specialist initiates an APAR. Be prepared to supply this information:
    • Customer number
    • Release level
    • Current service level (the PTF list and list of APAR fixes applied)
    • Keyword string or strings that are used to search IBM Software Support Facility or EWS
    • Processing unit number: serial number, type, and model
    • Printer type and model
  2. Gather information for the APAR:
    You might be asked to supply any or all of this information to describe the environment of the PSF problem:
    • A description of the problem
    • The SMP/E PTF or SMP/E CSI listing
    • A small segment of the input statements and data that is sufficient to reproduce the problem
    • A small segment of the output that is sufficient to illustrate the problem
    • Any traces or storage dumps that you used to diagnose the problem
    • The terminal operator log (or the control statement listing from the library)
    • A full listing of the JCL used
    • Any printed output of data related to the job or data set in error, such as data set error messages
    • A copy of the link-edit map for load module APSPPIEP
    • A copy of the host system log
    • For a WAIT problem (if possible):
      • A description of the resource that is waited for
      • The program module that is waiting
    • For a LOOP problem, the location of the loop or at least a partial trace of the loop
    • For a DOC problem, the location of the error in the publication and a description of the problem it caused
    • For a PERFM problem, a description of the actual performance and the expected performance, and the source of the performance specification
  3. Submit the information:
    When you are submitting information for an APAR to IBM, carefully pack and clearly identify any storage media that contains source programs, job stream data, data sets, or libraries.
    Note: If you submit confidential information to IBM, mark the information confidential. IBM considers all information that is submitted to be non-confidential unless otherwise indicated.
    Any storage media that is submitted must have this information attached and visible:
    • The APAR number assigned by IBM
    • A list of the data sets on the storage media, such as the application source program, JCL, or data
    • A description of how the storage media was made, including:
      • The JCL required to get the information from the tape
      • The exact JCL listing or the list of commands used
      • Labeling information that is used for the volume and its data sets
      • The recording mode and density
      • The attributes used for each data set
    Each source that is submitted must have this information attached and visible:
    • The APAR number assigned by IBM
    • The contents of the storage media, such as the source program, job control statements, or data

    Each dump, and any other printed information, must show the APAR number.