GOTO - CMD

Overview

The GOTO command in Windows Command Prompt (CMD) allows you to change the flow of execution to a specific section within a batch script, usually marked by a label. This command is primarily used for creating conditional or repetitive logic structures, enabling more dynamic and flexible script behavior.

Syntax

The basic syntax for using GOTO is:

GOTO label

• label: This is the target label within the script where execution will jump to. The label must be defined somewhere in the batch file prefixed with a colon : (e.g., :Start).

Options/Flags

The GOTO command does not have additional options or flags. Its functionality is solely determined by the label to which it directs the flow of execution.

Examples

1. Basic Navigation: Jumping to a labeled section of the script to repeat or skip actions.

   @ECHO OFF
   :begin
   ECHO Hello, this part will run repeatedly.
   GOTO begin
   

2. Conditional Logic: Using GOTO with IF statements to execute different sections of code based on specific conditions.

   @ECHO OFF
   SET /P USERINPUT=Enter Y to continue, N to exit:
   IF %USERINPUT%==Y GOTO CONTINUE
   IF %USERINPUT%==N GOTO END
   
   :CONTINUE
   ECHO You chose to continue!
   GOTO END
   
   :END
   ECHO Goodbye!
   

Common Issues

• Label not found: If the label specified in the GOTO command does not exist in the batch file, CMD will return an error stating it could not find the batch label. Ensure that all labels are correctly spelled and defined in the script.
• Endless Loop: Improper use of GOTO can cause scripts to enter an endless loop. This can be avoided by setting proper exit conditions in loops.

Integration

GOTO can be effectively combined with other CMD commands for more complex scripting scenarios:

• Loop with Delay: Integrating GOTO with TIMEOUT for delays in loops.

  @ECHO OFF
  :LOOP
  ECHO Looping...
  TIMEOUT /T 5
  GOTO LOOP
  

• Error Checking: Using GOTO with error checks.

  @ECHO OFF
  COPY file1.txt file2.txt
  IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO ERRORHANDLING
  ECHO File copied successfully!
  GOTO END
  
  :ERRORHANDLING
  ECHO An error occurred during copying.
  GOTO END
  
  :END
  

Related Commands

• IF: Used for conditional branching in scripts.
• CALL: Calls one batch program from another, sometimes used with GOTO for more structured script flow.
• EXIT: Exits the command interpreter or the current batch script, often used after a GOTO to terminate the script correctly.

For more information, refer to the official Microsoft documentation.