vb.net - Nested inline if statement -

in vb .net possible use inline if statements, this

if ret = "a" else ret = "not a" 

i know possible nest these statements. know might not practice readability drops down...

if if b ret = "a & b" else ret = "a & not b" else ret = "not a" 

which evaluated :

if     if b         ret = "a & b"     else         ret = "a & not b"     end if else     ret = "not a" end if 

now if remove last else statement, :

if if b ret = "a & b" else ret = "a & not b" 

which :

if     if b         ret = "a & b"     else         ret = "a & not b"     end if end if 

so guess compiler finds else , matches last openend if in line, makes sense. question : possible change evaluation order ? mean possible else matched first if ?

so :

if     if b         ret = "a & b"     end if else     ret = "not a" end if 

but inlined (something this, parenthesis added understand mean) :

if ( if b ret = "a & b" ) else ret = "not a" 

i tried parenthesis or adding end if provokes syntax errors, , couldn't find documentation this.

i'm not stuck anywhere , know might not prorgamming practice, wanted know (out of curiosity) if possible.

i know switch statements (i.e. test b before a), let's can't (a list , must tested nothing before b count example).

you this

ret = if(a, if(b, "a & b", "a & not b"), "not a") 

personally, never understood need put in 1 line.