do-until: Can't "next" outside a loop block.

humble has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Good time! Not that it is my first script in PERL, yet I can not understand why I have such a problem w/ following simple cycle:

do{
  $index_cur=int( rand( ( $last_abc_letter ) ) );
  if( $index_cur==$index_prev ){
    next;
  }else{
    $index_prev=$index_cur;
    print "$letter[$index_cur]\n";
    $key=&ReadKey( 0 );
  }
}until $key eq 'q';
[download]

But at run time after several successful cycles I get (when $index_cur==$index_prev): Can't "next" outside a loop block... So, it seems that next supposes it stands out of do-until. Why is so? How I can fix the issue?

Comment on do-until: Can't "next" outside a loop block. Download Code

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Re: do-until: Can't "next" outside a loop block. by 2teez (Vicar) on Nov 26, 2012 at 06:10 UTC
Hi humble, if you check do documentation, you will notice this: `"do BLOCK" does not count as a loop, so the loop control statements "next", "last", or "redo" cannot be used to leave or restart the block.` check this perlsyn for alternative strategies. `Update:` However, If you must use the do as stated in your code with next, then you have to "double" the braces like so: `do{{ next .... }} until ...;` [download] Please see perlsyn for more. If you tell me, I'll forget. If you show me, I'll remember. if you involve me, I'll understand. --- Author unknown to me	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: do-until: Can't "next" outside a loop block. by humble (Acolyte) on Nov 30, 2012 at 04:57 UTC
Can not to say anything but WOW! Thank You very much, 2teez!	[reply]
Re: do-until: Can't "next" outside a loop block. by marquezc329 (Scribe) on Nov 26, 2012 at 06:47 UTC
instead of do why not try something like: untested `while ($key ne "q") { $index_cur = int( rand($last_abc_letter) ); unless ($index_cur == $index_prev) { $index_prev = $index_cur; print "$letter[$index_cur]\n"; $key = ReadKey(0); } }` [download] I suggest reading perlintro if you haven't already. Also, if you're not already... `use strict; use warnings;` [download]	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^2: do-until: Can't "next" outside a loop block. by humble (Acolyte) on Nov 30, 2012 at 04:58 UTC
Thank You, marquezc329. Of course I could - but I have found the misbehave as I supposed and therefore gave my question. PS I think PERL's manuals are very cramped. - Written for the people who are the language developers rather than its users. - IMO.	[reply]
Re^3: do-until: Can't "next" outside a loop block. by davido (Cardinal) on Nov 30, 2012 at 05:42 UTC
I haven't contributed much at all to the Perl development; I think maybe a POD patch or two, and several bug reports over the years. I'm not a developer of Perl. But as a user, I do consider Perl's POD to be Perl's second "killer app", right behind the CPAN. The POD may be dense at times. perlintro really shouldn't be, if you've got experience programming in some language. Like with most things, comprehending the documentation is one of those things that gets easier the more you work with it. Dave	[reply]