Searching the problem reporting databases

After you complete your keyword string, you are ready to search the IBM Software Support Facility to determine if an APAR has already been recorded.

Table 1. Steps to Search the IBM Software Support Facility
Step	Action
1	Search the IBM software support data base for your keyword string by using a search tool, such as Info Access, or by calling the IBM Support Center for assistance. If the problem has been reported before, a correction might already be available. This correction could be a PTF, an APAR fix, or a bypass.
2	If you find a set of APAR closing descriptions, compare the APAR closing descriptions in the IBM software support data base with your problem.
3	If you find an APAR that matches your problem, correct your problem by applying the PTF, APAR fix, or bypass described in the APAR. See Fixing or bypassing the problem.
4	If you cannot find an appropriate APAR, try varying your search argument: Drop one keyword at a time starting from the right until you get to the type-of-application keyword. If your type-of-failure keyword is LOOP, WAIT, or PERFM, try searching with one or both of the other two. Sometimes what seems like a WAIT state might actually be a LOOP or a PERFM problem. If you cannot find an appropriate APAR using either technique, go to Reporting a problem.