Usage Notes

The patch facility is provided to give you:
  • The same control you have with source updates and IBM update file updates.
  • The same tracking capability so that no previously applied patch will be lost or ignored when IBM replacement service is applied.

The following guidelines are recommendations to follow:

  1. Keep each fix to a TEXT file in a separate update file.

    This also applies to source update fixes; each source update fix should be in a separate update file.

    Each fix should have an alphanumeric number that is the file type of the update file.

  2. Keep all local fix descriptions for the same TEXT file in the same AUX file, unless a fix applies to a different control file level.

    Local fixes for the same TEXT file should not be distributed over AUX files (different control file levels) arbitrarily. Local service should be easily distinguished from IBM service and should always be applied last. Local service can be distributed over separate control files for the purpose of maintaining different service levels with a single structure of AUX and update files. Each level can be built from a different control file containing only the desired level identifiers.

  3. Never place local patches in AUX files from IBM. In other words, keep your local service separate from IBM service. Local service should be easily distinguished from IBM service and should always be applied last.
  4. Patches to TEXT files should be applied only when no source file is available. Mixing source updates and TEXT file patches for the same module will lead to confusion and is not recommended.