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**BEGIN**

//statements//

**END**

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| **BEGIN** | Declares a single code statement structure. |
| //statements// | Executable program instructions. |

The **BEGIN** compiler directive tells the compiler to treat the //statements// as a single structure. The BEGIN structure must be terminated by a period or the END statement.

BEGIN is usually used in an EXECUTE control structure to allow several lines of code to be treated as one.

**Example:**

**EXECUTE Value**

** Proc1      !Execute if Value = 1**

** ****BEGIN****      !Execute if Value = 2**

**  Value += 1**

**  Proc2**

** ****END**

** Proc3      !Execute if Value = 3**

**END**

**See Also:**

[[execute  statement execution structure .htm|EXECUTE]]