Displaying PTF information with the character-based interface

To use the character-based interface to view the status descriptions for your IBM® i fixes, follow these procedures.

You can manage your PTFs with the options available from the GO PTF menu. Option 5 (Display Program Temporary Fix) shows you the status of your PTFs. In addition to the status of a PTF, you can also find out general information about a PTF.

Displaying PTF status information

To determine the status of the PTFs for products that are installed and supported on your system, do the following:
  1. Type DSPPTF and press F4 (Prompt).
  2. Specify the licensed program number and fix identifier for the product (LICPGM) parameter and for the fix numbers to select (SELECT) parameter. If you want to see the status for all the products on the system, specify *ALL for both parameters and press Enter until all the licensed programs are displayed.
  3. The Display Program Temporary Fix display shows the action that will be taken for a fix at the next unattended IPL (initial program load).

Displaying PTF details

In addition to the status of a PTF, you can find out general information about a fix by doing the following:
  1. On any command line, type DSPPTF. The display PTF Status display appears.
  2. Select the specific fix that you want to display and then select Option 5 (Display PTF details). The Display PTF menu appears.
  3. Select Option 1 (General information). The General information display appears.

The following table describes each field on the General information display:

Field Description
On order Specifies whether the fix is on order. Yes indicates that the fix is on order, but may or may not be on the system. No indicates that the fix is not ordered.
PTF save file Specifies whether a save file exists for the fix.
PTF status Specifies the current status of the fix. The fix status field on the Display information display may differ from the Status field on the Display PTF status display for several reasons:
  • If there has been a change in status since the Display PTF Status display is shown, the General information display shows the updated status.
  • The Status field on the Display PTF Status display is a combination of the fix status field, and the Action pending and Action required fields on the General information display.
  • If the system encountered an error while building the fix information file, the fix status is updated when the General information display is shown.
Latest superseding PTF Specifies the most recent superseding PTF to the PTF currently shown.
Superseded by Specifies the PTF that replaced all objects of the PTF currently shown.
Status date/time Specifies the date and time that the PTF status was last changed. The PTF obtained the current status at the date and time listed.
Type Specifies whether the fix is immediate or delayed
Unattended IPL action Specifies the action that will occur on the next unattended IPL (initial program load).
Optional part Specifies the option that this fix is for.
PTF library Specifies the library this fix is installed into.
Cover letter Specifies whether there is a cover letter for this fix.
Mandatory instructions Specifies whether there are instructions that need to be performed before this fix is applied.
Test Fix Specifies that you cannot permanently apply a test fix on the system.
Action pending Specifies whether there is an action that needs to be performed. If YES is specified for this field, an action needs to be taken to make the fix active or inactive. If NO is specified, it means the fix is active.
Action required Specifies whether an action is required to make this fix active after it has been applied.
Target release Specifies the release of the operating system this fix can be copied to or loaded on.
Minimum-maximum level Specifies the lowest and highest level of the product that this fix can be installed on. Some fixes are able to span multiple levels of a product.
PTF creation date/time Specifies the date and time that the PTF was created.
Technology refresh PTF Specifies whether or not the PTF is a technology refresh PTF. A technology refresh PTF is used to deliver a significant amount of new function between major releases.