Hopefully everyone is aware of and uses the IBM Preventive Service Planning (PSP) website. This website has all the detailed information you might need on cumulative PTF packages, HIPER PTFs, defective PTFs, PTF Groups and more.
About a year ago, IBM started supplying downloadable .csv files from the PSP website so you can get the detailed PTF listings in a spreadsheet file in addition to a PDF document.
Having the detailed PTF summary listings in a .csv file is very useful; you can take the .csv file and copy the information into an IBM i DB2 file by using the copy from import file (CPYFRMIMPF) command. This support allows you to easily review the available PTFs and more quickly determine if you are missing any fixes.
These downloadable files are found under the “Summary Listings” section on the PSP website. The summary listings provide a reference of LIC fixes and PTFs by Licensed Program Product (LPP) for each release.
If you start at the main PSP page, you will see the following sections available. I’ve highlighted the summary listings section.
When you expand the summary listing section, you’ll find the list of links for each release, which includes a text version, a PDF version and the .csv version, as the screen capture below shows:
My final screen capture shows how the information is displayed when you open the .csv file as a spreadsheet:
If you weren’t aware of this feature, hopefully you’ll find it useful in your PTF management processes.
Can this csv file be retrieved using the SNDPTFORD command? That would make it really useful. I have the PSP download automated, but I still have to look at the listing myself. The automated download of the csv would allow the comparison to be compared more easily.
Posted by: Jeff Gardner | October 16, 2013 at 01:35 PM
I do not order via SNDPTFORD. I use Scott Klement's HTTPAPI
http://www.scottklement.com/httpapi/
to get the .CSV file to the IFS and then CPYFRMIMPF to a PF
Alternately I have used the unix wget from QSH to get the file.
Posted by: bryan dietz | November 07, 2013 at 09:06 AM