# Boolean affectation shortcut

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/boolean-affectation-shortcut/60416>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [May 13, 2006, 11:09am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/boolean-affectation-shortcut/60416 "2006-05-13T11:09:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![nuno](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/65b543/32.png) [@nuno](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/nuno)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 11:09am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/boolean-affectation-shortcut/60416/1 "2006-05-13T11:09:24Z")

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Hello here !

I wonder why I can’t use these statements :  
new\_image? = (filesize \> 0)

or even

new\_image? = (filesize \> 0 ? true : false)

Thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nuno](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/65b543/32.png) [@nuno](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/nuno)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 11:26am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/boolean-affectation-shortcut/60416/2 "2006-05-13T11:26:56Z")

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Hi,

You can’ t because only methods can end with ?, but you are using it  
like a variable.  
Looks, like you need to rethink your programs design.

Maybe something like this:

class Image  
…  
def new\_image?  
filesize \> 0  
end  
…  
end

–  
Martins