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C# C# Objects Encapsulation and Arrays Ternary If

Posted by Shaun Jones
Shaun Jones
1,062 Points

Not accepting the Ternary code

The error asks if I have included the boolean comparison in the statement. I have, what am I missing here?

CodeChallenge.cs 
int value = -1;
string textColor = null;

(value < 0) ? textColor = "red" : textColor = "green";

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points

The termary operator takes 3 operands: the condition, the true expression and the false expression. The entire thing returns a value, but it is not a complete statement in itself, no more than "count < 8" would be.

Termaries should not be used to control execution flow. So it would not normally contain assignment statements, though it's common for it to be used in one.

A typical use of a ternary might have a structure like this:

somevariable = conditional_expression ? value_if_true : value_if_false;
Shaun Jones
Shaun Jones
1,062 Points

I have used it nearly the exact same way as the course has (except the course puts a return prior to the start of it. I have tried it the way you are describing it (variable = condition ? true : false;) and it still errors out. The error specifically being "Did you include the "red" and "green" string literal expressions (separated by a colon) to the right of the ternary operator?".

When I don't have the variable in the front, the message says "Did you include the boolean expression to evaluate?". Which I have done so. At this point, I am not sure what they are trying to say.

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points

Those hints seem pretty explicit. Perhaps you should show your code again now that you've taken the assignments out of the ternary. Just guessing from the description, the one with the "variable in the front" is probably the closest to being correct.

Shaun Jones
Shaun Jones
1,062 Points
Shaun Jones
Shaun Jones
1,062 Points

The one about the boolean expression:

int value = -1;
string textColor = null;

(value < 0) ? textColor = "red" : textColor = "green";

The one with the variable in front:

int value = -1;
string textColor = (value < 0) ? textColor = "red" : textColor = "green";
Shaun Jones
Shaun Jones
1,062 Points

I just solved it. I did it by doing what you stated, taking the assignment portion out. Things didn't click for a little bit, even after you mentioned it. However, I don't understand why the first block of code wasn't being accepted.

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points

The challenge may impose additional criteria beyond just successful compilation and execution.