Goto

Windows Command Reference > A-Z List > Goto

Applies To: Windows Vista,Windows Server 2008

Directs cmd.exe to a labeled line in a batch program. Within a batch program, goto directs command processing to a line that is identified by a label. When the label is found, processing continues starting with the commands that begin on the next line.

For examples of how to use this command, see Examples.

Syntax

Parameters

Remarks

• Working with command extensions
  
  If command extensions are enabled (the default), and you use the goto command with a target label of :EOF, you transfer control to the end of the current batch script file and exit the batch script file without defining a label. When you use goto with the :EOF label, you must insert a colon before the label. For example:
  
  

• Using valid Label values
  
  You can use spaces in the Label parameter, but you cannot include other separators (for example, semicolons or equal signs). The goto command uses only the first eight characters of a label. For example, the following labels are equivalent and resolve to :hithere0:
  
  

• Matching Label with the label in the batch program
  
  The Label value that you specify must match a label in the batch program. The label within the batch program must begin with a colon (:). If a line begins with a colon, it is treated as a label and any commands on that line are ignored. If your batch program does not contain the label that you specify in Label, the batch program stops and displays the following message:
  
  

• Using goto for conditional operations
  
  You can use goto with other commands to perform conditional operations. For more information about using goto for conditional operations, see the If command reference.
  
  

Examples

The following batch program formats a disk in drive A as a system disk. If the operation is successful, the goto command directs processing to the :end label:

Additional references

Command-Line Syntax Key

Cmd

If

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