# Problem with case stmt alternatives

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-with-case-stmt-alternatives/165346>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [April 12, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-with-case-stmt-alternatives/165346 "2009-04-12T22:56:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RichardOnRails](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@RichardOnRails](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/RichardOnRails)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-with-case-stmt-alternatives/165346/1 "2009-04-12T22:56:00Z")

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Hi,

I posted my problem code on [http://pastie.org/444466](http://pastie.org/444466).

On lines 38-39 I have the code:  
case colSymbol  
when :Status || :Symbol || :TradeType || :Quantity || :Price

As colSymbol assumes various Symbols as values, only the first one  
seems to match.  
The || symbols don’t seem to work in this context.

Any ideas why not?

Thanks in Advance,  
Richard

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**Author:** ![RichardOnRails](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@RichardOnRails](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/RichardOnRails)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-with-case-stmt-alternatives/165346/2 "2009-04-12T23:01:51Z")

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On Apr 12, 2009, at 3:55 PM, RichardOnRails wrote:

> On lines 38-39 I have the code:  
> case colSymbol  
> when :Status || :Symbol || :TradeType || :Quantity || :Price
> 
> As colSymbol assumes various Symbols as values, only the first one  
> seems to match.  
> The || symbols don’t seem to work in this context.
> 
> Any ideas why not?

Try:

when :Status, :Symbol, …

James Edward G. II

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RichardOnRails](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@RichardOnRails](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/RichardOnRails)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-with-case-stmt-alternatives/165346/3 "2009-04-12T23:17:05Z")

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On Apr 12, 5:01 pm, James G. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> > Any ideas why not?
> 
> Try:
> 
> when :Status, :Symbol, …
> 
> James Edward G. II

Hey James,

You’re spot on!

Thank you very much.

Best wishes,  
Richard