A record of task and DCT entry status on the system log made on a periodic basis to facilitate the identification of transaction backout information during emergency restart. In the event of an uncontrolled shutdown and subsequent emergency restart, activity keypoints can shorten the process of backward scanning through the system log. Activity keypoints are written automatically by the system (system activity keypoints) or by the user (user activity keypoint). See also system activity keypoint, user activity keypoint.