Drools Rule Template error [Error: unclosed #if{} block. expected #end{}] when placeholder is used - drools

Question

drools rule template cannot be compiled if placeholder is used in subclass collection list.
I have this simple class structure
public class Parent {
private List<Child> children;
}
public class Child {
private String gender;
}
When placeholder #{gender} is used, ExternalSpreadsheetCompiler throw error
[Error: unclosed #if{} block. expected #end{}]
Parent($children: children)
Child(gender == "#{gender}") from $children
No issue when "MALE" is hardcoded in the template
Parent($children: children)
Child(gender == "MALE") from $children
Any idea? Thanks for your help.
Full error stack trace :
[Line: 42, Column: 0]
at org.drools.core.runtime.rule.impl.DefaultConsequenceExceptionHandler.handleException(DefaultConsequenceExceptionHandler.java:39)
at org.drools.core.common.DefaultAgenda.handleException(DefaultAgenda.java:1291)
at org.drools.core.phreak.RuleExecutor.innerFireActivation(RuleExecutor.java:442)
at org.drools.core.phreak.RuleExecutor.fireActivation(RuleExecutor.java:380)
at org.drools.core.phreak.RuleExecutor.fire(RuleExecutor.java:136)
at org.drools.core.phreak.RuleExecutor.evaluateNetworkAndFire(RuleExecutor.java:89)
at org.drools.core.concurrent.AbstractRuleEvaluator.internalEvaluateAndFire(AbstractRuleEvaluator.java:33)
at org.drools.core.concurrent.SequentialRuleEvaluator.evaluateAndFire(SequentialRuleEvaluator.java:43)
at org.drools.core.common.DefaultAgenda.fireLoop(DefaultAgenda.java:1101)
at org.drools.core.common.DefaultAgenda.internalFireAllRules(DefaultAgenda.java:1048)
at org.drools.core.common.DefaultAgenda.fireAllRules(DefaultAgenda.java:1040)
at org.drools.core.impl.StatefulKnowledgeSessionImpl.internalFireAllRules(StatefulKnowledgeSessionImpl.java:1341)
at org.drools.core.impl.StatefulKnowledgeSessionImpl.fireAllRules(StatefulKnowledgeSessionImpl.java:1332)
at org.drools.core.impl.StatefulKnowledgeSessionImpl.fireAllRules(StatefulKnowledgeSessionImpl.java:1316)
at org.drools.template.parser.TemplateDataListener.finishSheet(TemplateDataListener.java:158)
at org.drools.decisiontable.parser.xls.ExcelParser.finishSheet(ExcelParser.java:277)
at org.drools.decisiontable.parser.xls.ExcelParser.processSheet(ExcelParser.java:212)
at org.drools.decisiontable.parser.xls.ExcelParser.parseWorkbook(ExcelParser.java:105)
at org.drools.decisiontable.parser.xls.ExcelParser.parseFile(ExcelParser.java:84)
at org.drools.decisiontable.ExternalSpreadsheetCompiler.compile(ExternalSpreadsheetCompiler.java:140)
at org.drools.decisiontable.ExternalSpreadsheetCompiler.compile(ExternalSpreadsheetCompiler.java:168)
at org.drools.decisiontable.ExternalSpreadsheetCompiler.compile(ExternalSpreadsheetCompiler.java:99)
at org.drools.decisiontable.ExternalSpreadsheetCompiler.compile(ExternalSpreadsheetCompiler.java:85)
at com.dhl.gssdemo.config.SpringDroolsConfig.addTemplateContent(SpringDroolsConfig.java:112)
at com.dhl.gssdemo.config.SpringDroolsConfig.classpathDrlKieBase(SpringDroolsConfig.java:102)
at com.dhl.gssdemo.config.SpringDroolsConfig$$EnhancerBySpringCGLIB$$583d8208.CGLIB$classpathDrlKieBase$0(<generated>)
at com.dhl.gssdemo.config.SpringDroolsConfig$$EnhancerBySpringCGLIB$$583d8208$$FastClassBySpringCGLIB$$25a5fef6.invoke(<generated>)
at org.springframework.cglib.proxy.MethodProxy.invokeSuper(MethodProxy.java:244)
at org.springframework.context.annotation.ConfigurationClassEnhancer$BeanMethodInterceptor.intercept(ConfigurationClassEnhancer.java:331)
at com.dhl.gssdemo.config.SpringDroolsConfig$$EnhancerBySpringCGLIB$$583d8208.classpathDrlKieBase(<generated>)
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:62)
at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:498)
at org.springframework.beans.factory.support.SimpleInstantiationStrategy.instantiate(SimpleInstantiationStrategy.java:154)
... 52 common frames omitted
Caused by: java.lang.RuntimeException: [Error: unclosed #if{} block. expected #end{}]

Answer 1

I had the same issue I think its related to resolving MVEL expression but I resolved it by using the following workaround (use $$ instead of $)
E.g in your case
Parent($children: children)
Child(gender == "#{gender}") from $$children