public boolean before(String userDefinedValue) throws IllegalArgumentException {
  try {
    return value.before(getDate(userDefinedValue));
  }
 catch (  DataTypeValidationException e) {
    throw new IllegalArgumentException(e.getMessage());
  }
}

public boolean before ( String userDefinedValue ) throws IllegalArgumentException { try { return value . before ( getDate ( userDefinedValue ) ) ; } catch ( DataTypeValidationException e ) { throw new IllegalArgumentException ( e . getMessage ( ) ) ; } }
indicates whether or not provided value is before .
