---
title: "Why GETMAIN You Need in CICS Programs"
description: "The real use of CICS GETMAIN command given with sample code."
url: https://srinimf.com/2012/03/24/cics-getmain/
date: 2012-03-24
modified: 2026-10-08
author: "Srini"
image: https://i0.wp.com/srinimf.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/pexels-photo-531844.jpeg?fit=1880%2C1253&ssl=1
categories: ["CICS Tips"]
tags: ["CICS", "GETMAIN"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Why GETMAIN You Need in CICS Programs

This is very important in view of CICS. Since many have a doubt that we already have a lot of storage, so why need to get dynamic memory.

## GETMAIN in CICS.

Cool. I will give an example why we need this. The purpose of Getmain is to get extra virtual storage to faster processing.

**See the example code:**

```
Working storage section.
77   INIT    pic x value low-value.
Linkage section.
01  DWS-work-area.
    02 fild1  pic x(100).
    02 fild2 pic x(200).
EXEC CICS GETMAIN
SET(Address of DWS-Area)
FLENGTH(300)
INITIMG(INIT)
END-EXEC
```

After executing this command, it allocates 300 bytes of virtual storage and initialized with low-values.

### Points to remember:

- FLENGTH is recommended option
- The expected errors are LENGERR and NOSTG
- This is one of the performance improvement criteria
- CICS always gets storage from DSA([Dynamic storage area](https://srinimf.com/2017/04/02/how-getmain-in-cics-solves-storage-issues-better-way/))

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