Building a keyword string

This topic provides you with the tasks you need to build a keyword string. A keyword describes a part of a failure. You use a completed keyword string to search the IBM® Software Support database for a possible resolution to the failure. When you perform a software database search or contact the IBM Support Center for help, identify the failure using all keywords that apply. See Keyword worksheet for a worksheet you can use to document problem related information including the keyword string.

The tasks you perform are described in these topics.

These keywords are required for every keyword string you build:

Component identification
Release level
Type-of-failure

These keywords are optional. However, you should include them in your keyword string whenever possible:

Module keyword or control section (CSECT)
Modifier keywords
- Function (when possible)
- Subfunction (if applicable)
- Other significant failure-related modifiers

Each keyword you add makes the search argument more specific. The more precise the keyword string, the more selective the search, yielding fewer matches in the Software Support database. If you do not find a similar problem in the database, you can broaden the scope of the search by deleting keywords, beginning at the end of the string.

Here is a sample completed keyword string for an abend:

Sample keyword string: 5650DF186 R210 ABEND001 EDGRDSN

where:

5650DF186: Is the component keyword.
R210: Is the release level keyword.
ABEND001: Is the type-of-failure keyword with the abend code appended.
EDGRDSN: Is the module keyword.