[RESOLVED] Avoiding long painful conditionals

[MikeSpider]

Hi guys,
I have to test for different conditions something like:

 If IsFontColour = True And IsFontSize = True And IsWidth = True And IsHeight = True And IsMarginL = True _
                          And IsMarginR = True And IsSpeed = True And IsEasing = True Then

                   LongStr = Fcolor & Fsize & width & height & marginL & marginR & speed & easing 

         ElseIf IsFontColour = False And IsFontSize = True And IsWidth = True And IsHeight = True And IsMarginL = True _
                          And IsMarginR = True And IsSpeed = True And IsEasing = True Then

           LongStr =  Fsize & width & height & marginL & marginR & speed & easing 
        
         ElseIf IsFontColour = True And IsFontSize = False And IsWidth = True And IsHeight = True And IsMarginL = True _
                          And IsMarginR = True And IsSpeed = True And IsEasing = True Then
           LongStr = Fcolor & width & height & marginL & marginR & speed & easing 


End If

Is there a way to write this more efficiently and quicker? I have to test for all possibilities, but i've been there before and
I know it's very long, painful and easy to get confused and lost in the spaghetti.Is there an easy way to do this?

Any help is welcome,
Mike
Thanks

[dunfiddlin]

Well I don't know whether it's an improvement but here's one quirky way to do it,

Dim a1 As Boolean = False 'obviously these values would normally be set in the program
        Dim a2 As Boolean = False
        Dim a3 As Boolean = False
        Dim a4 As Boolean = True
        Dim a5 As Boolean = True
        Dim a6 As Boolean = True
 
        Dim c = Tuple.Create(a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6) ' Tuples! Huh! What are they good for?
 
        If c.Equals(Tuple.Create(False, False, False, True, True, True)) Then
            MsgBox("Yay!")
        ElseIf c.Equals(Tuple.Create(False, True, False, True, False, True)) Then
            MsgBox("Nay")
        Else
            MsgBox("Confused Yet?")
 
        End If

[MotoX646]

Well, one way to do what I think you are doing in your example is to loop through each boolean value, check if it is true, and if it is true add the cooresponding value to the LongStr.

Example;

Dim booleanArray As Boolean() = {IsFontColour, IsFontSize, IsWidth, IsHeight, IsMarginL, IsMarginR, IsSpeed, IsEasing}
Dim objectArray As Object() = {Fcolor, Fsize, Width, Height, marginL, marginR, speed, easing}
Dim LongStr As String = Nothing

For i As Integer = 0 To booleanArray.Length - 1
   If booleanArray(i) = True Then
       LongStr += objectArray(i).ToString
   End If
Next

MsgBox(LongStr)

[MikeSpider]

Well, one way to do what I think you are doing in your example is to loop through each boolean value, check if it is true, and if it is true add the cooresponding value to the LongStr.

Example;

Dim booleanArray As Boolean() = {IsFontColour, IsFontSize, IsWidth, IsHeight, IsMarginL, IsMarginR, IsSpeed, IsEasing}
Dim objectArray As Object() = {Fcolor, Fsize, Width, Height, marginL, marginR, speed, easing}
Dim LongStr As String = Nothing

For i As Integer = 0 To booleanArray.Length - 1
   If booleanArray(i) = True Then
       LongStr += objectArray(i).ToString
   End If
Next

MsgBox(LongStr)

Hi,
I tried but cannot get the LongStr printed out. I put in a MsgBox to test and nothing comes out. I even deleted the "objectArray(i).ToString" and wrote "Something is true". Plain string but still the msgbox is empty.

[dunfiddlin]

Dim booleanArray As Boolean() = {IsFontColour, IsFontSize, IsWidth, IsHeight, IsMarginL, IsMarginR, IsSpeed, IsEasing}
Dim objectArray As Object() = {Fcolor, Fsize, Width, Height, marginL, marginR, speed, easing}
Dim LongStr As String = Nothing

For i As Integer = 0 To booleanArray.Length - 1
   If booleanArray(i) = True Then
       LongStr += objectArray(i).ToString
   End If
Next

MsgBox(LongStr)

Huh? Doesn't that give exactly the same result for (forgive the shorthand) aT bT cF, aF bT cT and aT bF cT?

[DavesChillaxin]

Well I don't know whether it's an improvement but here's one quirky way to do it,

Dim a1 As Boolean = False 'obviously these values would normally be set in the program
        Dim a2 As Boolean = False
        Dim a3 As Boolean = False
        Dim a4 As Boolean = True
        Dim a5 As Boolean = True
        Dim a6 As Boolean = True
 
        Dim c = Tuple.Create(a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6) ' Tuples! Huh! What are they good for?
 
        If c.Equals(Tuple.Create(False, False, False, True, True, True)) Then
            MsgBox("Yay!")
        ElseIf c.Equals(Tuple.Create(False, True, False, True, False, True)) Then
            MsgBox("Nay")
        Else
            MsgBox("Confused Yet?")
 
        End If

Wow, what a great solution! I had no idea this Tuple object existed until now. It's a great one to because I can see this being extremely useful for forms that display data for editing, either pulled from a database or some sort of data source. With this it would be soo much easier to determine if a form is dirty and has unsaved changes.

Are there any perfomance improvements from using

Tuple.Create(True, True, True).Equals(Tuple.Create(True, True, True))

over

If (True And True And True) Then

?

[MotoX646]

Hi,
I tried but cannot get the LongStr printed out. I put in a MsgBox to test and nothing comes out. I even deleted the "objectArray(i).ToString" and wrote "Something is true". Plain string but still the msgbox is empty.

Your booleans are not declared correctly then... So the "If booleanArray(i) = True Then" is always False.

This works for me:

        Dim IsFontColour As Boolean = True
        Dim IsFontSize As Boolean = True
        Dim IsWidth As Boolean = True
        Dim IsHeight As Boolean = True
        Dim IsMarginL As Boolean = False
        Dim IsMarginR As Boolean = True
        Dim IsSpeed As Boolean = True
        Dim IsEasing As Boolean = True

        Dim Fcolor As String = "Red"
        Dim Fsize As Integer = "777"
        Dim Width As Integer = "512"
        Dim Height As Integer = "128"
        Dim marginL As Integer = "123"
        Dim marginR As String = "456"
        Dim speed As Single = "1.234"
        Dim easing As Single = "5.678"

        Dim booleanArray As Boolean() = {IsFontColour, IsFontSize, IsWidth, IsHeight, IsMarginL, IsMarginR, IsSpeed, IsEasing}
        Dim objectArray As Object() = {Fcolor, Fsize, Width, Height, marginL, marginR, speed, easing}
        Dim LongStr As String = ""

        For i As Integer = 0 To booleanArray.Length - 1
            If booleanArray(i) = True Then
                LongStr += objectArray(i).ToString
            End If
        Next

        MsgBox(LongStr)

[MotoX646]

Huh? Doesn't that give exactly the same result for (forgive the shorthand) aT bT cF, aF bT cT and aT bF cT?

No, it doesn't give the same result.

All he (and my code) is doing is building a string of data based on what is true or false. If a boolean is false, it just doesn't add the data to the string.

Here is another way to do the same thing...

        Dim IsFontColour As Boolean = True
        Dim IsFontSize As Boolean = True
        Dim IsWidth As Boolean = True
        Dim IsHeight As Boolean = True
        Dim IsMarginL As Boolean = False
        Dim IsMarginR As Boolean = True
        Dim IsSpeed As Boolean = True
        Dim IsEasing As Boolean = True
        Dim Fcolor As String = "Red"
        Dim Fsize As Integer = "777"
        Dim Width As Integer = "512"
        Dim Height As Integer = "128"
        Dim marginL As Integer = "123"
        Dim marginR As String = "456"
        Dim speed As Single = "1.234"
        Dim easing As Single = "5.678"

        Dim LongStr As New System.Text.StringBuilder

        If IsFontColour Then LongStr.Append(Fcolor.ToString)
        If IsFontSize Then LongStr.Append(Fsize.ToString)
        If IsWidth Then LongStr.Append(Width.ToString)
        If IsHeight Then LongStr.Append(Height.ToString)
        If IsMarginL Then LongStr.Append(marginL.ToString)
        If IsMarginR Then LongStr.Append(marginR.ToString)
        If IsSpeed Then LongStr.Append(speed.ToString)
        If IsEasing Then LongStr.Append(easing.ToString)

        MsgBox(LongStr.ToString)

[MikeSpider]

I'm trying to use the For loop solution but I'm getting an error "Conversion from string "" to type 'Integer' is not valid."

 Dim BooleanArray As Boolean() = {IsWidth, IsHeight, IsMarginL, IsMarginR, IsFontColour, IsFontSize, IsSpeed, IsEasing, IsCallBack, IsReset}
    Dim PropertyArray As Object() = {prpt1, prpt2, prpt3, prpt4, prpt5, prpt6, speed, easing, callBackF, resetId}
   
    
    Dim AnimMainStr As String = ""

 Private Sub Button1_Click(.....)
....

 If fontColor <> "" Then
            BooleanArray(IsFontColour) = True
            PropertyArray(prpt1) = "fontColour:'" & fontColor & "'"   ---->> the error is in this line
        End If

...
 For i As Integer = 0 To BooleanArray.Length - 1
            If BooleanArray(i) = True Then
                AnimMainStr += "$('#" & triggerId & "').click(function(){" & vbCrLf & _
                                    vbTab & " $('#" & targetId & "').animate({ " & vbCrLf & _
                                     vbTab & vbTab & PropertyArray(i).ToString & "," & vbCrLf & _
                                     vbTab & vbTab & "}) " & vbCrLf & _
                                     vbTab & ";});"


...

Anyways, I will experiment with the other sugestions,
Thanks,
Mike

[MotoX646]

I'm trying to use the For loop solution but I'm getting an error "Conversion from string "" to type 'Integer' is not valid."

BooleanArray(IsFontColour) = True
PropertyArray(prpt1) = "fontColour:'" & fontColor & "'"   ---->> the error is in this line

Arrays only accept integers for their index position, not strings. The index starts at 0 and counts up.

So to change the value of "IsFontColour" in "BooleanArray", you need to provide the correct index number.

BooleanArray(4) = True

To change "prpt1" in "PropertyArray", do this:

PropertyArray(0) = "fontColour:'" & fontColor & "'"

[MikeSpider]

Yes you are right.
Thanks everybody for the suggestions and all the help
Mike

[MikeSpider]

I still have a problem.

Sorry for marking it resolved so early.

The conditionals are not working as I want to.

The values appear empty but still appear.

 If marginL <> "" Then
            IsMarginL = True
            prpt5 = "marginLeft:" & marginL
        Else
    IsMarginL = False
        End If

 If IsMarginL = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append("," & vbCrLf & vbTab & vbTab & prpt5)
        End If

although it is false it still appends the word "marginLeft:" although with no value.
It should not append anything at all bc is set to false.

I dont know what i'm doing wrong here.

Thanks,
Mike

[MotoX646]

If marginL <> "" Then
    IsMarginL = True
    prpt5 = "marginLeft:" & marginL
Else
    IsMarginL = False
End If

If IsMarginL = True Then
    AnimMainStr.Append("," & vbCrLf & vbTab & vbTab & prpt5)
End If

although it is false it still appends the word "marginLeft:" although with no value.
It should not append anything at all bc is set to false.

I dont know what i'm doing wrong here.

What is the value of marginL when you get the error?

Because, obviously, if it appends the word "marginLeft:" then IsMarginL must be true, which means marginL must contain text.

If marginL is a string, I would try this:

If Not marginL = "" Then
    IsMarginL = True
    prpt5 = "marginLeft:" & marginL
Else
    IsMarginL = False
End If

[David Anton]

One thing that will save you a bit of typing and be less odd is to not explicitly state boolean values in your test:
Use:

If IsFontColour Then

rather than:

If IsFontColour = True Then

The latter sounds awkward - e.g., you don't ask "is it raining equals true?", you ask "is it raining?".

[ThomasJohnsen]

In situations such as this one, I usually prefer to use good old-fashioned bit-fields, as examplified by:

<FlagsAttribute()>
Public Enum MyBitfield
 
    IsFontColour = &H1 'Value gets doubled for each field so each one occupy a single bit of a 32 bit number (ie. max 32 entries).
    IsFontSize = &H2
    IsWidth = &H4
    IsHeight = &H8
    IsMarginL = &H10
    IsMarginR = &H20
    IsSpeed = &H40
    IsEasing = &H80
 
End Enum
 
Public Class MyBitClass
 
    Public Function TestBitfields(ByVal sBitValue As MyBitfield) As Boolean
 
        'Set test to hold True for IsFontSize, IsSpeed and IsHeight and False for all others fields.
        Dim test As MyBitfield = MyBitfield.IsFontSize Or MyBitfield.IsSpeed Or MyBitfield.IsHeight
 
        If (sBitValue And test) = test Then 'Simultaneous test for 3 True and 5 False booleans
 
            '...
 
        End If
 
        'Can also be used as:
        If (sBitValue And &HCB) <> 0 Then
 
            'I get to here, if one of IsEasing, IsSpeed, IsHeight, IsFontSize or IsFontColour is True.
 
        End If
 
        Return test = MyBitfield.IsMarginL
 
    End Function
 
End Class

[MikeSpider]

What is the value of marginL when you get the error?

Because, obviously, if it appends the word "marginLeft:" then IsMarginL must be true, which means marginL must contain text.

If marginL is a string, I would try this:

If Not marginL = "" Then
    IsMarginL = True
    prpt5 = "marginLeft:" & marginL
Else
    IsMarginL = False
End If

I'm not getting any error. Just not the expected results.
And Yes it's a String datatype.
I tried your example still the same.
I dont understand Why is not detecting the boolean at all.

 'setting properties vars
        If txtResetId.Text <> "" Then
            IsReset = True
        Else
            IsReset = False
        End If
        If fontColor <> "" Then
            IsFontColour = True
            prpt1 = "fontColour:'" & fontColor & "'"
        Else
            IsFontColour = False
        End If

        Dim FSize As String = CStr(fontSize)
        If FSize <> "" Then
            IsFontSize = True
            prpt2 = "fontSize:'" & fontSize & "px'"
        Else
            IsFontSize = False
        End If

        If Not widthAnim = "" Then
            IsWidth = True
            prpt3 = "width:" & widthAnim
        Else
            IsWidth = False
        End If

        'If widthAnim <> "" Then
        '    IsWidth = True
        '    prpt3 = "width:" & widthAnim
        'Else
        '    IsWidth = False
        'End If
        If heightAnim <> "" Then
            IsHeight = True
            prpt4 = "height:" & heightAnim
        Else
            IsHeight = False
        End If
        If marginL <> "" Then
            IsMarginL = True
            prpt5 = "marginLeft:" & marginL
        Else
            IsMarginL = False
        End If
        If marginR <> "" Then
            IsMarginR = True
            prpt6 = "marginRight:" & marginR
        Else
            IsMarginR = False
        End If

        'setting speed vars
        If rbSlow.Checked = True Then
            speed = "'" & rbSlow.Text & "'"
            IsSpeed = True
        ElseIf rbFast.Checked = True Then
            speed = "'" & rbFast.Text & "'"
            IsSpeed = True
        End If
        If txtSpeed.Text <> "" Then
            speed = txtSpeed.Text
            IsSpeed = True
        End If

        'Setting Easing vars
        If rbSwing.Checked = True Then
            easing = "'" & rbSwing.Text & "'"
            IsEasing = True
        ElseIf rbLinear.Checked = True Then
            easing = "'" & rbLinear.Text & "'"
            IsEasing = True
        End If

        'Setting callback function vars
        If cbCallBack.CheckState = CheckState.Checked Then
            callBackF = txtCallBack.Text
            IsCallBack = True
        End If

        Dim firstParam As String = "$('#" & triggerId & "').click(function(){" & vbCrLf & _
                                vbTab & " $('#" & targetId & "').animate({ " 
        AnimMainStr.Append(firstParam.ToString)

        

        If IsWidth = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append(vbCrLf & vbTab & vbTab & prpt3)
        End If
        If IsHeight = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append("," & vbCrLf & vbTab & vbTab & prpt4)
        End If
        If IsMarginL = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append("," & vbCrLf & vbTab & vbTab & prpt5)
        End If
        If IsMarginR = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append("," & vbCrLf & vbTab & vbTab & prpt6)
        End If
        If IsFontSize = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append("," & vbCrLf & vbTab & vbTab & prpt2)
        End If

        If IsSpeed = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append(vbCrLf & vbTab & "}," & speed)
        End If

        If IsEasing = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append("," & easing)
        End If
        If IsCallBack = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append("," & callBackF & ");")
        End If

        If IsFontColour = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append(vbCrLf & vbTab & "$('#" & targetId & "').css({""color"":""" & fontColor & """})" & vbCrLf _
                                     & vbTab & "});")
        End If

        MsgBox(AnimMainStr.ToString)

Thanks,
Mike

[dunfiddlin]

Well it's clever but it surely adds another level of complication in that now you need to remember what to set the values to in the program rather than just choosing from True & False. And where the values are for intrinsic properties, you also need to set an intermediary variable. As the original intention was to simplify in order to prevent errors I'm not sure this would be my favourite solution.

[dunfiddlin]

I'm not getting any error. Just not the expected results.
And Yes it's a String datatype.
I tried your example still the same.
I dont understand Why is not detecting the boolean at all.

 'setting properties vars
        If txtResetId.Text <> "" Then
            IsReset = True
        Else
            IsReset = False
        End If
        If fontColor <> "" Then
            IsFontColour = True
            prpt1 = "fontColour:'" & fontColor & "'"
        Else
            IsFontColour = False
        End If

        Dim FSize As String = CStr(fontSize)
        If FSize <> "" Then
            IsFontSize = True
            prpt2 = "fontSize:'" & fontSize & "px'"
        Else
            IsFontSize = False
        End If

        If Not widthAnim = "" Then
            IsWidth = True
            prpt3 = "width:" & widthAnim
        Else
            IsWidth = False
        End If

        'If widthAnim <> "" Then
        '    IsWidth = True
        '    prpt3 = "width:" & widthAnim
        'Else
        '    IsWidth = False
        'End If
        If heightAnim <> "" Then
            IsHeight = True
            prpt4 = "height:" & heightAnim
        Else
            IsHeight = False
        End If
        If marginL <> "" Then
            IsMarginL = True
            prpt5 = "marginLeft:" & marginL
        Else
            IsMarginL = False
        End If
        If marginR <> "" Then
            IsMarginR = True
            prpt6 = "marginRight:" & marginR
        Else
            IsMarginR = False
        End If

        'setting speed vars
        If rbSlow.Checked = True Then
            speed = "'" & rbSlow.Text & "'"
            IsSpeed = True
        ElseIf rbFast.Checked = True Then
            speed = "'" & rbFast.Text & "'"
            IsSpeed = True
        End If
        If txtSpeed.Text <> "" Then
            speed = txtSpeed.Text
            IsSpeed = True
        End If

        'Setting Easing vars
        If rbSwing.Checked = True Then
            easing = "'" & rbSwing.Text & "'"
            IsEasing = True
        ElseIf rbLinear.Checked = True Then
            easing = "'" & rbLinear.Text & "'"
            IsEasing = True
        End If

        'Setting callback function vars
        If cbCallBack.CheckState = CheckState.Checked Then
            callBackF = txtCallBack.Text
            IsCallBack = True
        End If

        Dim firstParam As String = "$('#" & triggerId & "').click(function(){" & vbCrLf & _
                                vbTab & " $('#" & targetId & "').animate({ " 
        AnimMainStr.Append(firstParam.ToString)

        

        If IsWidth = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append(vbCrLf & vbTab & vbTab & prpt3)
        End If
        If IsHeight = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append("," & vbCrLf & vbTab & vbTab & prpt4)
        End If
        If IsMarginL = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append("," & vbCrLf & vbTab & vbTab & prpt5)
        End If
        If IsMarginR = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append("," & vbCrLf & vbTab & vbTab & prpt6)
        End If
        If IsFontSize = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append("," & vbCrLf & vbTab & vbTab & prpt2)
        End If

        If IsSpeed = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append(vbCrLf & vbTab & "}," & speed)
        End If

        If IsEasing = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append("," & easing)
        End If
        If IsCallBack = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append("," & callBackF & ");")
        End If

        If IsFontColour = True Then
            AnimMainStr.Append(vbCrLf & vbTab & "$('#" & targetId & "').css({""color"":""" & fontColor & """})" & vbCrLf _
                                     & vbTab & "});")
        End If

        MsgBox(AnimMainStr.ToString)

Thanks,
Mike

We seem to have gotten a long, long way from

to write this more efficiently and quicker

even if it did work!

[MikeSpider]

The only boolean being detected is :

'Setting callback function vars
        If cbCallBack.CheckState = CheckState.Checked Then
            callBackF = txtCallBack.Text
            IsCallBack = True
        End If

All the <>"" are not working. I mean, all checks for empty fields are not working I dont undertand.

[MikeSpider]

Well it's clever but it surely adds another level of complication in that now you need to remember what to set the values to in the program rather than just choosing from True & False. And where the values are for intrinsic properties, you also need to set an intermediary variable. As the original intention was to simplify in order to prevent errors I'm not sure this would be my favourite solution.

Yeah man, I was having a hard time appending everything in a for loop, but will need to practice in a spare time.

[MotoX646]

One thing that will save you a bit of typing and be less odd is to not explicitly state boolean values in your test:
Use:

If IsFontColour Then

rather than:

If IsFontColour = True Then

The latter sounds awkward - e.g., you don't ask "is it raining equals true?", you ask "is it raining?".

I knew someone would mention that. When giving example code I always explicitly state boolean values because I feel it is easier to read and follow for "newbies". But I agree that it's easier to not explicitly state them.

I disagree however that it sounds awkward. Your example sounds awkward only because you treated it like a question. An If statement is not a question, it's just a statement. It's not asking "is it raining?", it stating "If 'it is raining' equals true, then...". In long form it would mean, "If the statement that "it is raining" is true, then...".

Not explicitly stating the boolean value is what I think sounds awkward when you use "If Not"...

If ItsRaining = False Then

Is a lot more straight forward than:

If Not ItsRaining Then

If Not ItsRaining?



Anyway...

[MikeSpider]

Now this is very weird!
I commented everything and just wrote these lines:

 If txtMarginL.Text <> "" Then
            MsgBox("It's not empty")
        Else
            MsgBox("It's empty")
        End If

I dont write anything in the textbox but it still says "it's not empty!" if I put the cursor in the text field and press
"delete" even though i didn't write anything, it then says " it's empty!" .
Weird stuff!

[dunfiddlin]

I knew someone would mention that. When giving example code I always explicitly state boolean values because I feel it is easier to read and follow for "newbies". But I agree that it's easier to not explicitly state them.

I disagree however that it sounds awkward. Your example sounds awkward only because you treated it like a question. An If statement is not a question, it's just a statement. It's not asking "is it raining?", it stating "If 'it is raining' equals true, then...". In long form it would mean, "If the statement that "it is raining" is true, then...".

Not explicitly stating the boolean value is what I think sounds awkward when you use "If Not"...

If ItsRaining = False Then

Is a lot more straight forward than:

If Not ItsRaining Then

If Not ItsRaining?



Anyway...

Well, yeah, but it's all totally arbitrary. There's nothing awkward about 'If Raining' and 'If Not Raining', is there? It's not meant to be read as an English essay. It's meant to be read as a computer program. And as a computer program, 'If VarName Then' and 'If Not VarName Then' are both functional and comprehensible.

[MotoX646]

Your original question was about avoiding long conditional statements. You wanted a conditional statement for every possible combination of 8 booleans, so you can create a string with every possible combination of properties in it. That is a very large number of possible combinations. Boolean is True or False, 1 or 0, that is base-2. With 8 different booleans you have 2^8 combinations. That would mean 256 different combinations... and conditional statements. That is just NOT the right way to go about doing what you were doing.

That is why, after looking at your code, I realized you don't really need every possible combination... You were just adding values to a string if the corresponding boolean was true. That is a pretty simple task... But somehow you have made it more complex than it needs to be...

The only boolean being detected is :
All the <>"" are not working. I mean, all checks for empty fields are not working I dont undertand.

That is because your fields are probably not empty.

Instead of:

If fontColor <> "" Then
  
End If

Try:

If Not fontColor = Nothing Then
    IsFontColour = True
    prpt1 = "fontColour:'" & fontColor & "'"
Else
    IsFontColour = False
End If

Use MsgBox's to help debug your code... See what the values are set to. See what value IsFontColour is set to...

msgbox(fontColor)

If Not fontColor = Nothing Then
    IsFontColour = True
    prpt1 = "fontColour:'" & fontColor & "'"
Else
    IsFontColour = False
End If

MsgBox(IsFontColour.tostring)

If you don't tell me/us the values, then we can't help you.

[MotoX646]

It's not meant to be read as an English essay. It's meant to be read as a computer program..

Well, the original goal for Visual Basic was to make it read like a normal human would speak. Hence why it has this:

For x as integer = 0 to 10 Step 1

Next

...and not....

for (x=0;x<10:x++)
{

}

[MotoX646]

Now this is very weird!
I commented everything and just wrote these lines:

 If txtMarginL.Text <> "" Then
            MsgBox("It's not empty")
        Else
            MsgBox("It's empty")
        End If

I dont write anything in the textbox but it still says "it's not empty!" if I put the cursor in the text field and press
"delete" even though i didn't write anything, it then says " it's empty!" .
Weird stuff!

Oh ok, I just now read your post...

Are you loading some non-unicode characters into your textbox? Some characters are invisible to the eye, but there is a character present.

[MikeSpider]

Oh ok, I just now read your post...

Are you loading some non-unicode characters into your textbox? Some characters are invisible to the eye, but there is a character present.

Thanks I already sorted it out.

Your original question was about avoiding long conditional statements. You wanted a conditional statement for every possible combination of 8 booleans, so you can create a string with every possible combination of properties in it. That is a very large number of possible combinations. Boolean is True or False, 1 or 0, that is base-2. With 8 different booleans you have 2^8 combinations. That would mean 256 different combinations... and conditional statements. That is just NOT the right way to go about doing what you were doing.

That is why, after looking at your code, I realized you don't really need every possible combination... You were just adding values to a string if the corresponding boolean was true. That is a pretty simple task... But somehow you have made it more complex than it needs to be...

Can you show me the simpler way then, i could use it for the future. Is it the loop way?

Thanks