CONTINUE loops the program

[DonQuixote]

I can't imagine why this is true; but it is.
UniData.  If you write a Basic program and put a CONTINUE statement with no associated LOOP the entire program executes again.  Unbelievable but true.

[precisonline]

No kidding?  What version?

[DonQuixote]

UniData RDBMS 6.1

[precisonline]

Wow.  I did this on Unidata 7.1:

PRINT 'XYZ'
CONTINUE

...and found myself inside an endless loop.  See, that just goes to show the value of my standard advice to avoid CONTINUE and EXIT, right?

[Tom Pellitieri]

I'm guessing that CONTINUE jumps to the start of the current loop.  Since the program example you've provided has no loop, that would be the start of the program - which is why you get an infinite loop.

UniData help states: "Tip: Use CONTINUE instead of GOTO in structured programs", and suggests that it makes the code easier to read and maintain.  To my mind, however, the CONTINUE statement is merely a GOTO statement with an implied label!  I find that the CONTINUE statement makes a program harder to follow, not easier, since I have to find the start AND end of the containing loop.  Rather than use:

IF (TEST = 1) THEN CONTINUE
(more stuff)

I would prefer to see

IF (TEST # 1) THEN GOSUB DO.STUFF
...
DO.STUFF:
(more stuff)
RETURN

Naturally, I try to avoid GOTO statements.  The one exception for me (at this point - don't look at my code from 10 years ago!) is to use GOTO ERR.EXIT or GOTO PGM.EXIT to gracefully abort a routine without having excessively nested "IF-THEN-ELSE" structures.  I would choose a "self documenting" GOTO over an ambiguous CONTINUE any day.

--Tom

[precisonline]

I would choose a "self documenting" GOTO over an ambiguous CONTINUE any day.

Here Here!!

[DonQuixote]

Its so gratifying to know people like you. 

[slestak]

I like the CONTINUE, but I always follow it with a comment, i.e.

CONTINUE;* release loop

[precisonline]

(with all due respect to old commercials...)

If you must drink, drink Dos Equis.
If you must drink and drive, drink Pepsi.
If you must jump somewhere in a program (in any form), use a comment.