how to compare dates outside of the default date field

[mikefoti]

While trying to figure out where a query like the following fails...

cert_endDate>12/5/2011 AND certEnd_date<12/7/2011

It dawned on me that the search engine only recognizes my field value as a string of numbers and slashes. Searching thru other questions and answers lead me to the Convert funtion. But It seems overly complicated... making me wonder if I've missed somethin far simpler.
My question is.. if my field values look like this:

 cert_EndDate=12/6/2016

... how can I get the search engine to treat/evaluate/recognize them as actual dates?

[Ayn · Accepted solution]

Convert the field to epoch values (seconds since 1 Jan 1970) and use those for comparison with another time in epoch:

... | eval cert_EndDate_epoch=strptime(cert_EndDate,"%m/%d/%Y")
    | where cert_EndDate_epoch<strptime("12/6/2016", "%m/%d/%Y")

[mikefoti]

Thanks, I guess its not that complicated after all.