Applying service to CICS Transaction Server for z/OS

Service material for CICS® Transaction Server for z/OS® is distributed as APAR fixes and PTFs.

An APAR (Authorized Program Analysis Report) is raised when you and your IBM® programming service representative agree that a CICS problem exists. You might be given an APAR fix. When the problem has been analyzed, all users are sent a PTF (Program Temporary Fix) to correct the problem permanently on the current release. PTFs are incorporated into any future CICS release.Both types of change are called SYSMODs (system modifications).

Using SMP/E control statements, you can process SYSMODs in three stages:
  1. The RECEIVE control statement moves the SYSMOD into the PTF temporary store (PTS) data set. This operation is reversed by the REJECT control statement.
  2. The APPLY control statement moves the SYSMOD into the target libraries. This operation is reversed by the RESTORE control statement.

    At this point you can test the modified system.

  3. The ACCEPT control statement moves the SYSMOD into the distribution libraries. This operation is not easily reversed.

When you are dealing with APAR fixes, apply the SYSMOD, but do not accept it. If you later obtain a PTF that solves the problem in a different way, you might be asked to restore (that is, remove) the APAR fix and apply the PTF instead.

When you are dealing with PTFs, apply the SYSMOD and then test it. Afterward you can accept it.

For background information about SMP/E operations, see the SMP/E for z/OS User's Guide. For more detailed information, see SMP/E for z/OS Reference.