[rules-users] Scope of bindings, identical patterns

Suppose I have a rule like: rule "foo" when $a : Cheese(name="Stilton") $b : Cheese(name="Stilton") then # etc end First question: is it possible that a == b ? In other words, can both patterns end up matching the same object in one activation? I have been assuming this is so, but it isn't covered in the docs so far as I can see. Second question: why can't I add as a pattern, $a != $b ? The eclipse IDE compiler complains they are undefined. What is the scope of the bindings defined by $a and $b ? -- Julian Morrison Programmer i-neda Ltd.