fix(workflows): compare non-numeric strings lexicographically instead of returning False (#3323)

_safe_compare coerced both operands to int/float unconditionally for <, >, <=,
>=. any non-numeric string (an iso date, a version tag, a name) failed that
coercion and the whole comparison silently returned False -- so
`{{ inputs.d < '2026-02-01' }}` was False even when the date was earlier.

only coerce when both operands look numeric; otherwise compare the original
values, so two strings order lexicographically the way python does and two
numeric strings still compare as numbers ("10" > "9"). a number vs a
non-numeric string stays incomparable and yields False.

add a regression test covering dates, plain strings, numeric strings, and the
number-vs-string case.

src/specify_cli/workflows/expressions.py

@@ -467,15 +467,34 @@ def _evaluate_simple_expression(expr: str, namespace: dict[str, Any]) -> Any:
     return _resolve_dot_path(namespace, expr)
 
 
+def _coerce_number(value: Any) -> Any:
+    """Return *value* as int/float if it is a numeric string, else unchanged."""
+    if isinstance(value, str):
+        try:
+            return float(value) if "." in value else int(value)
+        except ValueError:
+            return value
+    return value
+
+
 def _safe_compare(left: Any, right: Any, op: str) -> bool:
-    """Safely compare two values, coercing types when possible."""
-    try:
-        if isinstance(left, str):
-            left = float(left) if "." in left else int(left)
-        if isinstance(right, str):
-            right = float(right) if "." in right else int(right)
-    except (ValueError, TypeError):
-        return False
+    """Compare two values for ordering, coercing numeric strings when possible.
+
+    Numeric coercion is applied only when *both* operands look numeric, so a
+    pair like ``"10"`` and ``"9"`` compares as numbers (10 > 9). When either
+    side is a non-numeric string, both fall back to their original values and
+    are compared directly -- so ordinary strings (dates, semver-ish tags,
+    names) compare lexicographically the way Python does, instead of every
+    such comparison silently returning ``False`` after a failed int()/float()
+    coercion. A genuinely incomparable pair (e.g. number vs non-numeric string)
+    raises ``TypeError`` and yields ``False``.
+    """
+    cl, cr = _coerce_number(left), _coerce_number(right)
+    # Only use the coerced numbers when both converted; otherwise a numeric
+    # string paired with a plain string would become an int-vs-str mismatch
+    # (always False) rather than a lexicographic string comparison.
+    if isinstance(cl, (int, float)) and isinstance(cr, (int, float)):
+        left, right = cl, cr
     try:
         if op == ">":
             return left > right  # type: ignore[operator]

tests/test_workflows.py

@@ -342,6 +342,35 @@ class TestExpressions:
         assert evaluate_expression("{{ steps.plan.output.task_count > 5 }}", ctx) is True
         assert evaluate_expression("{{ steps.plan.output.task_count < 5 }}", ctx) is False
 
+    def test_ordering_comparison_of_non_numeric_strings(self):
+        """`<`/`>`/`<=`/`>=` between non-numeric strings must compare
+        lexicographically, not silently return False.
+
+        `_safe_compare` used to coerce both operands to int/float unconditionally;
+        a non-numeric string (date, version tag, name) failed that coercion and
+        the whole comparison returned False. Ordinary strings should order the
+        way Python does; numeric strings must still compare as numbers."""
+        from specify_cli.workflows.expressions import evaluate_expression
+        from specify_cli.workflows.base import StepContext
+
+        # ISO dates compare lexicographically (correct chronological order).
+        ctx = StepContext(inputs={"d": "2026-01-01"})
+        assert evaluate_expression("{{ inputs.d < '2026-02-01' }}", ctx) is True
+        assert evaluate_expression("{{ inputs.d > '2026-02-01' }}", ctx) is False
+
+        # Plain string ordering.
+        ctx = StepContext(inputs={"name": "beta"})
+        assert evaluate_expression("{{ inputs.name > 'alpha' }}", ctx) is True
+
+        # Two numeric strings still compare numerically, not lexically
+        # ("10" > "9" is True as numbers; as strings it would be False).
+        ctx = StepContext(inputs={"v": "10"})
+        assert evaluate_expression("{{ inputs.v > '9' }}", ctx) is True
+
+        # A number vs a non-numeric string is genuinely incomparable -> False.
+        ctx = StepContext(inputs={"n": 5})
+        assert evaluate_expression("{{ inputs.n > 'abc' }}", ctx) is False
+
     def test_boolean_and(self):
         from specify_cli.workflows.expressions import evaluate_expression
         from specify_cli.workflows.base import StepContext