Google closure compiler Javascript parse error

Question

I am trying to use google closure compiler on my javascript files. It works fine except for the following piece of code:

function goto(form) { var index=form.select.selectedIndex
if (form.select.options[index].value != "0") {
location=form.select.options[index].value;}}

The compiler returns:

JSC_PARSE_ERROR: Parse error. missing ( before function parameters. at line 1 character 9 function goto(form) { var index=form.select.selectedIndex

There is a caret (^) pointing to the g in "goto" when it is output on the screen.

I am using just the basic UI version here to test:

Any idea what is wrong with the javacript? It seems to work just fine but I am not a javascript person so I have no clue how to fix it.

well it is missing a semicolon after selectedIndex, doubt that is the issue. — epascarello
– epascarello, Commented Jun 14, 2013 at 13:57

epascarello · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-14 14:02:47Z

4

I am not sure why @Sirko deleted his answer. So I will add it.

You need to change the name of the function goto to something else. Something like gotoUrl, gotoPage, etc.

It was a reserved word in ECMAScript 3, but removed in ECMAScript 5. I am guessing the closure compiler uses that older list still.

answered Jun 14, 2013 at 14:02

epascarello

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2 Comments

that fixed it, thanks! I was having flashbacks to BASIC programming when I saw that goto in the first place

Javascript has a weird and wonderful list of reserved words, most of which don't appear in the language itself, consequently they are unguessable.