Program temporary fix

In IBM terminology, a program temporary fix or product temporary fix (PTF) is a software fix, or a group of fixes, distributed in a form ready to install.

A PTF normally follows an Authorized Program Analysis Report (APAR). When an APAR fix is issued, the PTF is generally a tested APAR fix, or a set of APAR fixes. However, if an APAR is resolved as "Fixed If Next" or "Permanent Restriction", there may be no PTF for the current release, only a correction in a later release.

PTFs are used across multiple IBM platforms and are installed using platform-specific service tools. On IBM i, PTFs can be applied either temporarily or permanently, with temporarily applied fixes remaining reversible until they are made permanent. IBM i also distributes fixes in aggregated forms such as cumulative PTF packages and PTF groups. On z/OS, PTFs are commonly installed and tracked using System Modification Program/Extended (SMP/E). On z/VM, VMSES/E provides an installation and service toolset used for servicing software levels, including corrective service delivered as PTFs.