You can use the Application Manager upgrade function to install new versions of existing applications while preserving any customization that may have been done. The upgrade function allows you to upgrade an existing installation file with the contents of an upgrade file.

The installation file to be upgraded is usually an export of an application that may have been customized.The export function of the Application Manager copies the application definition information from an application table, formats the information into entries corresponding to an installation file, and saves these entries in a user-specified data set.

An upgrade file may be delivered with a new version of an existing application and contain entries for adding, deleting, and replacing portions of the existing installation file. The Application Manager upgrade edit macro reads this file, interprets the entries, and applies them to the installation file to be upgraded. When upgrade files are used to distribute changes to application definitions, there is less chance of having conflicts with local modifications because only the changes have to be processed against the application definitions.

If you use upgrade files, the time required to install subsequent new versions of a service will be reduced. See for more information.