Conditional operator question?

Question

Hello,
Quick question, are we not allowed to use the conditional operator this way... see code below:
char volatile ProgString_[] = "\
{Fan code} \
12 <Limit11> [C1_ACM2]_[B1] _AND_ \
bla bla \
unsigned char UPC_SYSZ_EndOfTable(unsigned long i){ // Find the double '*' in string
char volatile *u;
u = &ProgString_[i];
if(!(strncmp("*", u, 1))){
i++;
u = &ProgString_[i];
if(!(strncmp("*", u, 1))){
return TRUE;
else {
return FALSE;
else
return FALSE;
void UPC_SYSZ_Parse(){
unsigned char volatile iOCntr = 0;
unsigned long volatile i;
for(i=0; i<200; i++){
(UPC_SYSZ_EndOfTable(i))?(break):(continue); //<<<<< Invalid expression ??
I would of used the following compact line:
(UPC_SYSZ_EndOfTable(i))?(break):(continue);    //<<<<< Invalid expression ??
to periodically test the end of the string by fetching the "EndOfTable() function and evaluating if the double star is detected.
If detected, I would break out of the for loop, if not then I would continue.
Is it possible to do it this way?
thanks for all help!
r

Answer 1

Think of it along the lines of each of the operands of the ternary operator must produce a value (which of course break and continue being statements cannot do).
Based on your brief example here is what I would do
for(i=0; i<200; i++){
if (UPC_SYSZ_EndOfTable(i)) break;
// doesn't make any sense to put more code down here anyway, so no real point to continue}