[Freemarker-devel] String comparisons

[Jaime G. <jg...@re...>]

In the code on ComparisonExpression:

        else if(ltm instanceof TemplateScalarModel && rtm instanceof TemplateScalarModel) {
            if(operation != EQUALS && operation != NOT_EQUALS) {
                throw new TemplateException("Can not use operator " + opString + " on string values.", env);
            }
            String first = EvaluationUtil.getString((TemplateScalarModel)ltm, left, env);
            String second = EvaluationUtil.getString((TemplateScalarModel)rtm, right, env);
            comp = env.getCollator().compare(first, second);
        }

Collator supports "less", "less than", "greater" and "greater than" semantics.  

What is the caveat on not allowing anything but equals and not equals?  There must be a reason.

(Having all the semantic behaviors would be a great way to deal with date comparisons when I need to convert dates to text, and back to a date.)

Thanks
Jaime