# Simple question re: ruby warning message **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [February 19, 2009, 10:00am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/simple-question-re-ruby-warning-message/160748 "2009-02-19T10:00:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 10:00am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/simple-question-re-ruby-warning-message/160748/1 "2009-02-19T10:00:23Z")
I just set up my first ternary operator expression, and got a warning from Ruby, as a reward! I don’t see what the problem might be: The expression: db\_type= ‘n’ ? db = @nodes\_h : db = @links\_h The warning: …/lib/setnet/SN.rb:781: warning: string literal in condition I use string literals all the time in case statements, and other places, and have never had this objection. Can someone explain the problem to me? I cannot imagine what it might be. Thanks! t. – ```auto Tom C., MS MA, LMHC - Private practice Psychotherapist Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A: (360) 920-1226 << removed_email_address@domain.invalid >> (email) << TomCloyd.com >> (website) << sleightmind.wordpress.com >> (mental health weblog) ``` ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 10:05am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/simple-question-re-ruby-warning-message/160748/2 "2009-02-19T10:05:11Z")
Alle Thursday 19 February 2009, Tom C. ha scritto: > and have never had this objection. > > Can someone explain the problem to me? I cannot imagine what it might be. > > Thanks! > > t. Ruby thinks you are likely to have written = instead of == in the condition. Stefano ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 10:09am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/simple-question-re-ruby-warning-message/160748/3 "2009-02-19T10:09:17Z")
Stefano C. wrote: > > > > Ruby thinks you are likely to have written = instead of == in the condition. > > Stefano Geee, I wonder why? Good Lord! A real newbie mistake! t. – ```auto Tom C., MS MA, LMHC - Private practice Psychotherapist Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A: (360) 920-1226 << removed_email_address@domain.invalid >> (email) << TomCloyd.com >> (website) << sleightmind.wordpress.com >> (mental health weblog) ``` ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 10:04am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/simple-question-re-ruby-warning-message/160748/4 "2009-02-19T10:04:35Z")
From: Tom C. [[mailto:removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)] # db\_type= ‘n’ ? db = @nodes\_h : db = @links\_h ``` ^^^ ``` try replacing = with == ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 10:11am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/simple-question-re-ruby-warning-message/160748/5 "2009-02-19T10:11:04Z")
From: Peña, Botp [[mailto:removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)] # # From: Tom C. [[mailto:removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)] # # db\_type= ‘n’ ? db = @nodes\_h : db = @links\_h # # ^^^ # # try replacing = with == # or maybe better do some arrangement, like eg, db = db\_type==‘n’ ? @nodes\_h : @links\_h and wc clearly shows diff bw = and == ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/simple-question-re-ruby-warning-message/160748/6 "2009-02-19T18:19:22Z")
On Thu, Feb 19, 2009 at 4:19 AM, vimal [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > ``` > end > > ``` Which, since any ruby object except nil and false is truthy is effectively the same thing as db\_type = db = @nodes.h which makes db\_type, and db reference the same object, which is the return valud of @nodes.h – Rick DeNatale Blog: [http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/](http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/) Twitter: [http://twitter.com/RickDeNatale](http://twitter.com/RickDeNatale) WWR: [http://www.workingwithrails.com/person/9021-rick-denatale](http://www.workingwithrails.com/person/9021-rick-denatale) LinkedIn: [http://www.linkedin.com/in/rickdenatale](http://www.linkedin.com/in/rickdenatale) ---
**Author:** ![tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@tbcox23](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tbcox23)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 10:20am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/simple-question-re-ruby-warning-message/160748/7 "2009-02-19T10:20:28Z")
On Feb 19, 1:59 pm, Tom C. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > I just set up my first ternary operator expression, and got a warning > from Ruby, as a reward! I don’t see what the problem might be: > > The expression: > db\_type= ‘n’ ? db = @nodes\_h : db = @links\_h I guess your representation (db\_type= ‘n’) doesn’t look like a condition, its like performing an assignment. If its a condition it should be db\_type == ‘n’ Your representation (db\_type= ‘n’ ? db = @nodes\_h : db = @links\_h) assigns db\_type the result of the following: checks a condition ‘n’ if true db = @nodes\_h else db = @links\_h end Regards, Vimal Das