COBOL GO TO Statement

COBOL GO TO Statement

GO TO transfers control unconditionally to a procedure. While available, it should be used sparingly.

Syntax

```cobol GO TO procedure-name GO TO procedure-1 procedure-2 DEPENDING ON identifier ```

GO TO DEPENDING ON

```cobol GO TO PARA-1 PARA-2 PARA-3 DEPENDING ON WS-CHOICE ```

• If WS-CHOICE = 1, goes to PARA-1
• If WS-CHOICE = 2, goes to PARA-2
• If out of range, continues to next statement

When to Use

• Converting legacy code
• Simple state machines
• Error handling exits

When NOT to Use

• General program flow
• Loop control (use PERFORM)
• Conditional execution (use IF/EVALUATE)

Best Practices

• Avoid GO TO in new code
• Use PERFORM instead
• Document why if you must use it

       IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID. GOTO-DEMO.
       DATA DIVISION.
       WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
       01 WS-CHOICE PIC 9 VALUE 2.
       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
       MAIN-PARA.
      * GO TO DEPENDING ON
           GO TO OPTION-1 OPTION-2 OPTION-3
               DEPENDING ON WS-CHOICE
           DISPLAY 'Invalid choice'
           GO TO END-PROGRAM.
       OPTION-1.
           DISPLAY 'Option 1 selected'
           GO TO END-PROGRAM.
       OPTION-2.
           DISPLAY 'Option 2 selected'
           GO TO END-PROGRAM.
       OPTION-3.
           DISPLAY 'Option 3 selected'.
       END-PROGRAM.
           STOP RUN.