Using XML Operation Tags to query by date

Question

Problem 1:
When I use timestamps from items' XML to form queries on repositories, I receive SQL errors.
Problem 1 Example:
Query the PublishingRepository to find all active projects created on August 16.
In Dynamo Administration, navigate to /atg/epub/PublishingRepository
In the box labeled "Run XML Operation Tags on the Repository," enter the following tag:
    <query-items item-descriptor="project">status = "Active" AND creationDate = "08/16/2013"</query-items>
Result: java.sql.SQLDataException: ORA-01843: not a valid month
Problem 1 Solution:
Use this query instead:
<query-items item-descriptor="project">
status = "Active"
AND
creationDate = date("2013-08-16")
</query-items>
Problem 2:
Using the "<" operator to construct a less-than argument doesn't work.
Problem 2 Example:
Query the PublishingRepository to find all active projects created before August 16.
In Dynamo Administration, navigate to /atg/epub/PublishingRepository
In the box labeled "Run XML Operation Tags on the Repository," enter the following tag:
    <query-items item-descriptor="project">status = "Active" AND creationDate < date("2013-08-16")</query-items>
Result: SOURCE:org.xml.sax.SAXParseException: The content of elements must consist of well-formed character data or markup.
Problem 2 Solution:
For some reason, the ">" greater-than operator seems to work fine, even when the "<" less-than operator won't. You can switch around the order of the query to get the desired result:
<query-items item-descriptor="project">
status = "Active"
AND
date("2013-08-16") > creationDate
</query-items>

Answer 1

Problem 1:
When I use timestamps from items' XML to form queries on repositories, I receive SQL errors.
Problem 1 Example:
Query the PublishingRepository to find all active projects created on August 16.
In Dynamo Administration, navigate to /atg/epub/PublishingRepository
In the box labeled "Run XML Operation Tags on the Repository," enter the following tag:
    <query-items item-descriptor="project">status = "Active" AND creationDate = "08/16/2013"</query-items>
Result: java.sql.SQLDataException: ORA-01843: not a valid month
Problem 1 Solution:
Use this query instead:
<query-items item-descriptor="project">
status = "Active"
AND
creationDate = date("2013-08-16")
</query-items>
Problem 2:
Using the "<" operator to construct a less-than argument doesn't work.
Problem 2 Example:
Query the PublishingRepository to find all active projects created before August 16.
In Dynamo Administration, navigate to /atg/epub/PublishingRepository
In the box labeled "Run XML Operation Tags on the Repository," enter the following tag:
    <query-items item-descriptor="project">status = "Active" AND creationDate < date("2013-08-16")</query-items>
Result: SOURCE:org.xml.sax.SAXParseException: The content of elements must consist of well-formed character data or markup.
Problem 2 Solution:
For some reason, the ">" greater-than operator seems to work fine, even when the "<" less-than operator won't. You can switch around the order of the query to get the desired result:
<query-items item-descriptor="project">
status = "Active"
AND
date("2013-08-16") > creationDate
</query-items>