Next Executable Statement
Note: The term "next executable statement" refers to the next COBOL statement to which control is transferred, according to the rules given above. There is no next executable statement under these circumstances:
- When the program contains no Procedure Division.
- Following the last statement in a declarative section when the paragraph in which it appears is not being executed under the control of some other COBOL statement.
- Following the last statement in a program when the paragraph in which it appears is not being executed under the control of some other COBOL statement in that program.
- Following the last statement in a declarative section when the statement is in the range of an active PERFORM statement executed in a different section and this last statement of the declarative section is not also the last statement of the procedure that is the exit of the active PERFORM statement.
- Following a STOP RUN, EXIT PROGRAM, or GOBACK statement that transfers control outside the COBOL program.
- Following the END PROGRAM header.
When there is no next executable statement and control isnot transferred outside the COBOL program, the program flow of control is undefined unless the program execution is in the nondeclarative procedures portion of a program under control of a CALL statement, in which case an implicit EXIT PROGRAM statement is executed.