diff --git a/apps/showcase/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/tags/non-ui/actionPrefix/actionPrefix.ftl b/apps/showcase/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/tags/non-ui/actionPrefix/actionPrefix.ftl
index 412e37069..0faa3a9e8 100644
--- a/apps/showcase/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/tags/non-ui/actionPrefix/actionPrefix.ftl
+++ b/apps/showcase/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/tags/non-ui/actionPrefix/actionPrefix.ftl
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 			<p>You have come to this page because you used an <strong>action</strong> prefix.<p/>
 
-			<p>The text you've entered is ${text?default('')?html}<p/>
+			<p>The text you've entered is ${text!''?html}<p/>
 
 			<@s.a href="javascript:history.back();" cssClass="btn btn-info"><i class="icon icon-arrow-left"></i> Back</@s.a>
 		</div>
diff --git a/apps/showcase/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/tags/non-ui/actionPrefix/methodPrefix.ftl b/apps/showcase/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/tags/non-ui/actionPrefix/methodPrefix.ftl
index 702ca71d6..744f7fa3f 100644
--- a/apps/showcase/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/tags/non-ui/actionPrefix/methodPrefix.ftl
+++ b/apps/showcase/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/tags/non-ui/actionPrefix/methodPrefix.ftl
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 			<p>You have come to this page because you used an <strong>method</strong> prefix.<p/>
 	
-			<p>The text you've enter is ${text?default('')?html}<p/>
+			<p>The text you've enter is ${text!''?html}<p/>
 
 			<@s.a href="javascript:history.back();" cssClass="btn btn-info"><i class="icon icon-arrow-left"></i> Back</@s.a>
 		</div>
diff --git a/apps/showcase/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/tags/non-ui/actionPrefix/redirectActionPrefix.ftl b/apps/showcase/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/tags/non-ui/actionPrefix/redirectActionPrefix.ftl
index f0bd957be..4dd06d7d1 100644
--- a/apps/showcase/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/tags/non-ui/actionPrefix/redirectActionPrefix.ftl
+++ b/apps/showcase/src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/tags/non-ui/actionPrefix/redirectActionPrefix.ftl
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 			<p>Because this is a <strong>redirect-action</strong>, the text will be lost, due to a redirection
 			implies a new request being issued from the client.<p/>
 
-			The text you've enter is ${text?default('')?html}<p/>
+			The text you've enter is ${text!''?html}<p/>
 
 			<@s.a href="javascript:history.back();" cssClass="btn btn-info"><i class="icon icon-arrow-left"></i> Back</@s.a>
 		</div>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/checkbox.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/checkbox.ftl
index 004f67471..c89f764aa 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/checkbox.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/checkbox.ftl
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ lables
 <#elseif parameters.labelposition??>
 <#assign labelpos = parameters.labelposition/>
 </#if>
-<#if labelpos?default("") == 'left'>
+<#if labelpos!"" == 'left'>
 <span <#rt/>
 <#if parameters.id??>id="wwlbl_${parameters.id}"<#rt/></#if> class="wwlbl">
 <label<#t/>
@@ -62,26 +62,26 @@ lables
 </span>
 </#if>
 
-<#if labelpos?default("top") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"top") == 'top'>
 <div <#rt/>
 <#else>
 <span <#rt/>
 </#if>
 <#if parameters.id??>id="wwctrl_${parameters.id}"<#rt/></#if> class="wwctrl">
 
-<#if parameters.required?default(false)>
+<#if parameters.required!false>
         <span class="required">*</span><#t/>
 </#if>
 
 <#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/simple/checkbox.ftl" />
-<#if labelpos?default("") != 'left'>
-<#if labelpos?default("top") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"") != 'left'>
+<#if (labelpos!"top") == 'top'>
 </div> <#rt/>
 <#else>
 </span>  <#rt/>
 </#if>
 <#if parameters.label??>
-<#if labelpos?default("top") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"top") == 'top'>
 <div <#rt/>
 <#else>
 <span <#rt/>
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ lables
 </#if>
 </#if>
 <#if parameters.label??>
-<#if labelpos?default("top") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"top") == 'top'>
 </div> <#rt/>
 <#else>
 </span> <#rt/>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/controlfooter.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/controlfooter.ftl
index 2783a0ba0..fef73cee6 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/controlfooter.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/controlfooter.ftl
@@ -20,19 +20,19 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 -->
-${parameters.after?if_exists}<#t/>
+${parameters.after!}<#t/>
     <#lt/>
 <#if !parameters.labelposition?? && (parameters.form.labelposition)??>
 <#assign labelpos = parameters.form.labelposition/>
 <#elseif parameters.labelposition??>
 <#assign labelpos = parameters.labelposition/>
 </#if>
-<#if labelpos?default("top") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"top") == 'top'>
 </div> <#rt/>
 <#else>
 </span> <#rt/>
 </#if>
-<#if parameters.errorposition?default("top") == 'bottom'>
+<#if (parameters.errorposition!"top") == 'bottom'>
 <#assign hasFieldErrors = parameters.name?? && fieldErrors?? && fieldErrors[parameters.name]??/>
 <#if hasFieldErrors>
 <div <#rt/><#if parameters.id??>id="wwerr_${parameters.id}"<#rt/></#if> class="wwerr">
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/controlheader-core.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/controlheader-core.ftl
index 2a5c98b55..0c93113a1 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/controlheader-core.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/controlheader-core.ftl
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 <#assign hasFieldErrors = parameters.name?? && fieldErrors?? && fieldErrors[parameters.name]??/>
 <div <#rt/><#if parameters.id??>id="wwgrp_${parameters.id}"<#rt/></#if> class="wwgrp">
 	
-<#if parameters.errorposition?default("top") == 'top'>
+<#if (parameters.errorposition!"top") == 'top'>
 <#if hasFieldErrors>
 <div <#rt/><#if parameters.id??>id="wwerr_${parameters.id}"<#rt/></#if> class="wwerr">
 <#list fieldErrors[parameters.name] as error>
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 <#assign labelpos = parameters.labelposition/>
 </#if>
 <#if parameters.label??>
-<#if labelpos?default("top") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"top") == 'top'>
 <div <#rt/>
 <#else>
 <span <#rt/>
@@ -65,13 +65,13 @@
         class="label"<#t/>
 </#if>
     ><#t/>
-<#if parameters.required?default(false)>
+<#if parameters.required!false>
         <span class="required">*</span><#t/>
 </#if>
         ${parameters.label?html}${parameters.labelseparator!":"?html}
 <#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/xhtml/tooltip.ftl" />
 	</label><#t/>
-<#if labelpos?default("top") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"top") == 'top'>
 </div> <br /><#rt/>
 <#else>
 </span> <#rt/>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/controlheader.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/controlheader.ftl
index 9e4737790..bc27a672f 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/controlheader.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/controlheader.ftl
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 <#elseif parameters.labelposition??>
 <#assign labelpos = parameters.labelposition/>
 </#if>
-<#if labelpos?default("top") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"top") == 'top'>
 <div <#rt/>
 <#else>
 <span <#rt/>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/form-validate.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/form-validate.ftl
index e62cd8d99..dac513e82 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/form-validate.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/form-validate.ftl
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 -->
-<#if parameters.validate?default(false) == true>
+<#if parameters.validate!false == true>
 <script type="text/javascript" src="${base}/struts/css_xhtml/validation.js"></script>
     <#if parameters.onsubmit??>
         ${tag.addParameter('onsubmit', "${parameters.onsubmit}; return validateForm_${parameters.id}();")}
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/reset.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/reset.ftl
index 9c3a40af3..8cb50a929 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/reset.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/reset.ftl
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 <#elseif parameters.labelposition??>
 <#assign labelpos = parameters.labelposition/>
 </#if>
-<#if labelpos?default("top") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"top") == 'top'>
 <div <#rt/>
 <#else>
 <span <#rt/>
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 </#if>
 ><#t/>
 <#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/simple/reset.ftl" />
-<#if labelpos?default("top") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"top") == 'top'>
 </div> <#t/>
 <#else>
 </span> <#t/>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/submit-close.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/submit-close.ftl
index 15c608af4..c275e4d26 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/submit-close.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/submit-close.ftl
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 <#elseif parameters.labelposition??>
 <#assign labelpos = parameters.labelposition/>
 </#if>
-<#if labelpos?default("top") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"top") == 'top'>
 </div> <#t/>
 <#else>
 </span> <#t/>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/submit.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/submit.ftl
index 1611ffb5f..d7173253a 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/submit.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/css_xhtml/submit.ftl
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 <#elseif parameters.labelposition??>
 <#assign labelpos = parameters.labelposition/>
 </#if>
-<#if labelpos?default("top") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"top") == 'top'>
 <div <#rt/>
 <#else>
 <span <#rt/>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/a-close.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/a-close.ftl
index 84b5aaeb4..f2f58e6fb 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/a-close.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/a-close.ftl
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@
  */
 -->
 <a<#rt/>
-<#if parameters.id?if_exists != "">
+<#if parameters.id??>
  id="${parameters.id?html}"<#rt/>
 </#if>
-<#if parameters.href?if_exists != "">
+<#if parameters.href??>
  href="${parameters.href}"<#rt/>
 </#if>
 <#if parameters.tabindex??>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/actionerror.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/actionerror.ftl
index 6563876d4..6164a4419 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/actionerror.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/actionerror.ftl
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 -->
 <#if (actionErrors?? && actionErrors?size > 0)>
 	<ul<#rt/>
-<#if parameters.id?if_exists != "">
+<#if parameters.id??>
  id="${parameters.id?html}"<#rt/>
 </#if>            
 <#if parameters.cssClass??>
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 </#if>
 >
 	<#list actionErrors as error>
-		<#if error?if_exists != "">
+		<#if error??>
             <li><span><#if parameters.escape>${error!?html}<#else>${error!}</#if></span><#rt/></li><#rt/>
         </#if>
 	</#list>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/actionmessage.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/actionmessage.ftl
index 07174dd20..f5b02e595 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/actionmessage.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/actionmessage.ftl
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 -->
 <#if (actionMessages?? && actionMessages?size > 0 && !parameters.isEmptyList)>
 	<ul<#rt/>
-<#if parameters.id?if_exists != "">
+<#if parameters.id??>
  id="${parameters.id?html}"<#rt/>
 </#if>
 <#if parameters.cssClass??>
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 </#if>
 >
 		<#list actionMessages as message>
-            <#if message?if_exists != "">
+            <#if message??>
                 <li><span><#if parameters.escape>${message!?html}<#else>${message!}</#if></span></li>
             </#if>
 		</#list>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/checkboxlist.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/checkboxlist.ftl
index d50a98fa3..4f262ecaf 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/checkboxlist.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/checkboxlist.ftl
@@ -72,21 +72,21 @@
     <#if parameters.disabled!false>
        disabled="disabled"<#rt/>
     </#if>
-    <#if itemCssClass! != "">
+    <#if itemCssClass??>
      class="${itemCssClass?html}"<#rt/>
     <#else>
         <#if parameters.cssClass?has_content>
      class="${parameters.cssClass?html}"<#rt/>
         </#if>
     </#if>
-    <#if itemCssStyle! != "">
+    <#if itemCssStyle??>
      style="${itemCssStyle?html}"<#rt/>
     <#else>
         <#if parameters.cssStyle?has_content>
      style="${parameters.cssStyle?html}"<#rt/>
         </#if>
     </#if>
-    <#if itemTitle! != "">
+    <#if itemTitle??>
      title="${itemTitle?html}"<#rt/>
     <#else>
         <#if parameters.title?has_content>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/combobox.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/combobox.ftl
index 760ad7116..a9ef547d0 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/combobox.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/combobox.ftl
@@ -40,14 +40,14 @@
 <#if parameters.list??>
 <select onChange="autoPopulate_${parameters.escapedId?html}(this);"<#rt/>
 <#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/${parameters.expandTheme}/css.ftl" />
-    <#if parameters.disabled?default(false)>
+    <#if parameters.disabled!false>
  disabled="disabled"<#rt/>
     </#if>
 >
 	<#if (parameters.headerKey?? && parameters.headerValue??)>
 		<option value="${parameters.headerKey?html}">${parameters.headerValue?html}</option>
 	</#if>
-	<#if parameters.emptyOption?default(false)>
+	<#if parameters.emptyOption!false>
 	    <option value=""></option>
 	</#if>
     <@s.iterator value="parameters.list">
@@ -86,13 +86,13 @@
         <#if (parameters.nameValue == tmpListKey)>
  selected="selected"<#rt/>
         </#if>
-        <#if itemCssClass?if_exists != "">
+        <#if itemCssClass??>
  class="${itemCssClass?html}"<#rt/>
         </#if>
-        <#if itemCssStyle?if_exists != "">
+        <#if itemCssStyle??>
  style="${itemCssStyle?html}"<#rt/>
         </#if>
-        <#if itemTitle?if_exists != "">
+        <#if itemTitle??>
  title="${itemTitle?html}"<#rt/>
         </#if>
     ><#t/>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/debug.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/debug.ftl
index 492ee766a..a67b7fadc 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/debug.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/debug.ftl
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@
 </style>
 <br>
 
-<a href="#" onclick="toggleDebug('<#if parameters.id?if_exists != "">${parameters.id?html}<#else>debug</#if>');return false;">[Debug]</a>
-<div style="display:none" id="<#if parameters.id?if_exists != "">${parameters.id?html}<#else>debug</#if>">
+<a href="#" onclick="toggleDebug('<#if parameters.id??>${parameters.id?html}<#else>debug</#if>');return false;">[Debug]</a>
+<div style="display:none" id="<#if parameters.id??>${parameters.id?html}<#else>debug</#if>">
 <h2>Struts ValueStack Debug</h2>
 <br>
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/doubleselect.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/doubleselect.ftl
index 548575578..23b1ab86a 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/doubleselect.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/doubleselect.ftl
@@ -133,13 +133,13 @@
             </#if>
         </#if>
     ${parameters.id}Group[${itemCount}][${doubleItemCount}] = new Option("${doubleItemValue?js_string}", "${doubleItemKeyStr?js_string}");
-        <#if itemDoubleCssClass! != "">
+        <#if itemDoubleCssClass??>
     ${parameters.id}Group[${itemCount}][${doubleItemCount}].setAttribute("class","${itemDoubleCssClass?html}");
         </#if>
-        <#if itemDoubleCssStyle! != "">
+        <#if itemDoubleCssStyle??>
         ${parameters.id}Group[${itemCount}][${doubleItemCount}].setAttribute("style","${itemDoubleCssStyle?html}");
         </#if>
-        <#if itemDoubleTitle! != "">
+        <#if itemDoubleTitle??>
         ${parameters.id}Group[${itemCount}][${doubleItemCount}].setAttribute("title","${itemDoubleTitle?html}");
         </#if>
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/form-close.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/form-close.ftl
index 360eef98a..14b99cb5e 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/form-close.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/form-close.ftl
@@ -22,13 +22,13 @@
 -->
 </form>
 
-<#if (parameters.customOnsubmitEnabled?if_exists)>
+<#if (parameters.customOnsubmitEnabled??)>
 <script type="text/javascript">
 <#-- 
   Enable auto-select of optiontransferselect tag's entries upon containing form's 
   submission.
 -->
-<#if (parameters.optiontransferselectIds?if_exists?size > 0)>
+<#if (parameters.optiontransferselectIds!?size > 0)>
 	var containingForm = document.getElementById("${parameters.id}");
 	<#assign selectObjIds = parameters.optiontransferselectIds.keySet() />
 	<#list selectObjIds as selectObjectId>
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 			}, true);
 	</#list>
 </#if>
-<#if (parameters.inputtransferselectIds?if_exists?size > 0)>
+<#if (parameters.inputtransferselectIds!?size > 0)>
 	var containingForm = document.getElementById("${parameters.id}");
 	<#assign selectObjIds = parameters.inputtransferselectIds.keySet() />
 	<#list selectObjIds as selectObjectId>
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
 			}, true);
 	</#list>
 </#if>
-<#if (parameters.optiontransferselectDoubleIds?if_exists?size > 0)>
+<#if (parameters.optiontransferselectDoubleIds!?size > 0)>
 	var containingForm = document.getElementById("${parameters.id}");
 	<#assign selectDoubleObjIds = parameters.optiontransferselectDoubleIds.keySet() />
 	<#list selectDoubleObjIds as selectObjId>
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
 	Enable auto-select of all elements of updownselect tag upon its containing form
 	submission
 -->
-<#if (parameters.updownselectIds?if_exists?size > 0)>
+<#if (parameters.updownselectIds!?size > 0)>
 	var containingForm = document.getElementById("${parameters.id}");
 	<#assign tmpIds = parameters.updownselectIds.keySet() />
 	<#list tmpIds as tmpId>
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
 <#-- 
  Code that will add javascript needed for tooltips
 --><#t/>
-<#if (parameters.hasTooltip?default(false))><#t/>
+<#if (parameters.hasTooltip!false)><#t/>
 	<#lt/><!-- javascript that is needed for tooltips -->
 	<#lt/><script type="text/javascript" src='<@s.url value="/struts/domTT.js" includeParams="none" encode="false" />'></script>
 	<#lt/><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="<@s.url value="/struts/domTT.css" includeParams="none" encode="false" />"/>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/optiontransferselect.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/optiontransferselect.ftl
index c68595681..67b5f2c2b 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/optiontransferselect.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/optiontransferselect.ftl
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 	<label for="leftTitle">${parameters.leftTitle}</label><br />
 </#if><#t/>
 <#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/simple/select.ftl" />
-<#if parameters.allowUpDownOnLeft?default(true)>
+<#if parameters.allowUpDownOnLeft!true>
 <input type="button"
 	onclick="moveOptionDown(document.getElementById('${parameters.id}'), 'key', <#if parameters.headerKey??>'${parameters.headerKey}'<#else>''</#if>);<#if parameters.upDownOnLeftOnclick?has_content>${parameters.upDownOnLeftOnclick};</#if>"
 <#if parameters.leftDownLabel??>
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@
 
 </td>
 <td class="tdTransferSelect">
-	<#if parameters.allowAddToLeft?default(true)><#t/>
-		<#assign addToLeftLabel = parameters.addToLeftLabel?default("<-")?html/><#t/>
+	<#if parameters.allowAddToLeft!true><#t/>
+		<#assign addToLeftLabel = parameters.addToLeftLabel!"<-"?html/><#t/>
 		<#if parameters.doubleHeaderKey??><#t/>
 			<input type="button"
 			<#if parameters.buttonCssClass??><#t/>
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@
 			 value="${addToLeftLabel}" onclick="moveSelectedOptions(document.getElementById('${parameters.doubleId?html}'), document.getElementById('${parameters.id?html}'), false, '');<#if parameters.addToLeftOnclick?has_content>${parameters.addToLeftOnclick};</#if>" /><br /><br />
 		</#if><#t/>
 	</#if><#t/>
-	<#if parameters.allowAddToRight?default(true)><#t/>
-		<#assign addToRightLabel=parameters.addToRightLabel?default("->")?html /><#t/>
+	<#if parameters.allowAddToRight!true><#t/>
+		<#assign addToRightLabel=parameters.addToRightLabel!"->"?html /><#t/>
 		<#if parameters.headerKey??><#t/>
 			<input type="button"
 			<#if parameters.buttonCssClass??><#t/>
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@
 			 value="${addToRightLabel}" onclick="moveSelectedOptions(document.getElementById('${parameters.id?html}'), document.getElementById('${parameters.doubleId?html}'), false, '');<#if parameters.addToRightOnclick?has_content>${parameters.addToRightOnclick};</#if>" /><br /><br />
 		</#if><#t/>
 	</#if><#t/>
-	<#if parameters.allowAddAllToLeft?default(true)><#t/>
-		<#assign addAllToLeftLabel=parameters.addAllToLeftLabel?default("<<--")?html /><#t/>
+	<#if parameters.allowAddAllToLeft!true><#t/>
+		<#assign addAllToLeftLabel=parameters.addAllToLeftLabel!"<<--"?html /><#t/>
 		<#if parameters.doubleHeaderKey??><#t/>
 			<input type="button"
 			<#if parameters.buttonCssClass??><#t/>
@@ -114,8 +114,8 @@
 			 value="${addAllToLeftLabel}" onclick="moveAllOptions(document.getElementById('${parameters.doubleId?html}'), document.getElementById('${parameters.id?html}'), false, '');<#if parameters.addAllToLeftOnclick?has_content>${parameters.addAllToLeftOnclick};</#if>" /><br /><br />
 		</#if><#t/>
 	</#if><#t/>
-	<#if parameters.allowAddAllToRight?default(true)><#t/>
-		<#assign addAllToRightLabel=parameters.addAllToRightLabel?default("-->>")?html /><#t/>
+	<#if parameters.allowAddAllToRight!true><#t/>
+		<#assign addAllToRightLabel=parameters.addAllToRightLabel!"-->>"?html /><#t/>
 		<#if parameters.headerKey??><#t/>
 			<input type="button"
 			<#if parameters.buttonCssClass??><#t/>
@@ -136,8 +136,8 @@
 			 value="${addAllToRightLabel}" onclick="moveAllOptions(document.getElementById('${parameters.id?html}'), document.getElementById('${parameters.doubleId?html}'), false, '');<#if parameters.addAllToRightOnclick?has_content>${parameters.addAllToRightOnclick};</#if>" /><br /><br />
 		</#if><#t/>
 	</#if><#t/>
-	<#if parameters.allowSelectAll?default(true)><#t/>
-		<#assign selectAllLabel=parameters.selectAllLabel?default("<*>")?html /><#t/>
+	<#if parameters.allowSelectAll!true><#t/>
+		<#assign selectAllLabel=parameters.selectAllLabel!"<*>"?html /><#t/>
 		<#if parameters.headerKey?? && parameters.doubleHeaderKey??><#t/>
 			<input type="button"
 			<#if parameters.buttonCssClass??><#t/>
@@ -182,14 +182,14 @@
 	<label for="rightTitle">${parameters.rightTitle}</label><br />
 </#if><#t/>
 <select
-	name="${parameters.doubleName?default("")?html}"
+	name="${parameters.doubleName!""?html}"
 	<#if parameters.get("doubleSize")??><#t/>
 	size="${parameters.get("doubleSize")?html}"
 	</#if><#t/>
-	<#if parameters.doubleDisabled?default(false)><#t/>
+	<#if parameters.doubleDisabled!false><#t/>
 	disabled="disabled"
 	</#if><#t/>
-	<#if parameters.doubleMultiple?default(false)><#t/>
+	<#if parameters.doubleMultiple!false><#t/>
 	multiple="multiple"
 	</#if><#t/>
 	<#if parameters.doubleTabindex??><#t/>
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@
 	<#if parameters.doubleHeaderKey?? && parameters.doubleHeaderValue??><#t/>
     <option value="${parameters.doubleHeaderKey?html}">${parameters.doubleHeaderValue?html}</option>
 	</#if><#t/>
-	<#if parameters.doubleEmptyOption?default(false)><#t/>
+	<#if parameters.doubleEmptyOption!false><#t/>
     <option value=""></option>
 	</#if><#t/>
 	<@s.iterator value="parameters.doubleList"><#t/>
@@ -275,14 +275,14 @@
     	>${doubleItemValue?html}</option><#lt/>
 	</@s.iterator><#t/>
 </select>
-<#if parameters.doubleMultiple?default(false)>
+<#if parameters.doubleMultiple!false>
 <input type="hidden" id="__multiselect_${parameters.doubleId?html}" name="__multiselect_${parameters.doubleName?default("")?html}" value=""<#rt/>
-<#if parameters.doubleDisabled?default(false)>
+<#if parameters.doubleDisabled!false>
  disabled="disabled"<#rt/>
 </#if>
  />
 </#if>
-<#if parameters.allowUpDownOnRight?default(true)>
+<#if parameters.allowUpDownOnRight!true>
 <input type="button"
 	onclick="moveOptionDown(document.getElementById('${parameters.doubleId}'), 'key', <#if parameters.doubleHeaderKey??>'${parameters.doubleHeaderKey}'<#else>''</#if>);<#if parameters.upDownOnRightOnclick?has_content>${parameters.upDownOnRightOnclick};</#if>"
 <#if parameters.rightDownLabel??>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/submit-close.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/submit-close.ftl
index 7f5195888..c16ac6e4b 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/submit-close.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/submit-close.ftl
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <#if parameters.type?? && parameters.type=="button">
-<#if (parameters.body)?default("")?length gt 0>${parameters.body}<#elseif parameters.label??><@s.property value="parameters.label"/><#rt/></#if>
+<#if parameters.body?length gt 0>${parameters.body}<#elseif parameters.label??><@s.property value="parameters.label"/><#rt/></#if>
 </button>
 <#else>
 ${parameters.body}<#rt/>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/token.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/token.ftl
index cabfa9c77..18131cfa9 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/token.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/token.ftl
@@ -20,5 +20,5 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 -->
-<input type="hidden" name="${parameters.tokenNameField?default("")}" value="${parameters.name?default("")?html}" />
-<input type="hidden" name="${parameters.name?default("")}" value="${parameters.token?default("")?html}" />
\ No newline at end of file
+<input type="hidden" name="${parameters.tokenNameField!""}" value="${parameters.name!""?html}" />
+<input type="hidden" name="${parameters.name!""}" value="${parameters.token!""?html}" />
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/updownselect.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/updownselect.ftl
index 30128ef9f..bc741ad7f 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/updownselect.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/simple/updownselect.ftl
@@ -29,24 +29,24 @@
 <#include "/${templateDir}/simple/select.ftl" /><#t/>
 </td></tr>
 <tr><td>
-<#if parameters.allowMoveUp?default(true)><#t/>
-	<#assign defMoveUpLabel="${parameters.moveUpLabel?default('^')}" /><#t/>
+<#if parameters.allowMoveUp!true><#t/>
+	<#assign defMoveUpLabel="${parameters.moveUpLabel!'^'}" /><#t/>
 	<#if parameters.headerKey??><#t/>
 		&nbsp;<input type="button" value="${defMoveUpLabel}" onclick="moveOptionUp(document.getElementById('${parameters.id}'), 'key', '${parameters.headerKey}');" />&nbsp;
 	<#else><#t/>
 		&nbsp;<input type="button" value="${defMoveUpLabel}" onclick="moveOptionUp(document.getElementById('${parameters.id}'), 'key', '');" />&nbsp;
 	</#if><#t/>
 </#if><#t/>
-<#if parameters.allowMoveDown?default(true)><#t/>
-	<#assign defMoveDownLabel="${parameters.moveDownLabel?default('v')}" /><#t/>
+<#if parameters.allowMoveDown!true><#t/>
+	<#assign defMoveDownLabel="${parameters.moveDownLabel!'v'}" /><#t/>
 	<#if parameters.headerKey??><#t/>
 		&nbsp;<input type="button" value="${defMoveDownLabel}" onclick="moveOptionDown(document.getElementById('${parameters.id}'), 'key', '${parameters.headerKey}');" />&nbsp;
 	<#else><#t/>
 		&nbsp;<input type="button" value="${defMoveDownLabel}" onclick="moveOptionDown(document.getElementById('${parameters.id}'), 'key', '');" />&nbsp;
 	</#if><#t/>
 </#if><#t/>
-<#if parameters.allowSelectAll?default(true)><#t/>
-	<#assign defSelectAllLabel="${parameters.selectAllLabel?default('*')}" /><#t/>
+<#if parameters.allowSelectAll!true><#t/>
+	<#assign defSelectAllLabel="${parameters.selectAllLabel!'*'}" /><#t/>
 	<#if parameters.headerKey??><#t/>
 		&nbsp;<input type="button" value="${defSelectAllLabel}" onclick="selectAllOptionsExceptSome(document.getElementById('${parameters.id}'), 'key', '${parameters.headerKey}');" />&nbsp;
 	<#else><#t/>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/checkbox.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/checkbox.ftl
index d84506538..7791dfe97 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/checkbox.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/checkbox.ftl
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 <#elseif parameters.labelposition??>
 <#assign labelpos = parameters.labelposition/>
 </#if>
-<#if labelpos?default("") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"") == 'top'>
 <tr>
     <td colspan="2">
 <#if parameters.label??> <label<#t/>
@@ -52,11 +52,11 @@
  class="checkboxLabel"<#rt/>
 </#if>
 >
-<#if parameters.required?default(false) && parameters.requiredPosition?default("right") != 'right'>
+<#if parameters.required!false && parameters.requiredPosition!"right" != 'right'>
         <span class="required">*</span><#t/>
 </#if>
 ${parameters.label?html}<#t/>
-<#if parameters.required?default(false) && parameters.requiredPosition?default("right") == 'right'>
+<#if parameters.required!false && parameters.requiredPosition!"right" == 'right'>
  <span class="required">*</span><#t/>
 </#if>
 :<#t/>
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ ${parameters.label?html}<#t/>
 <#else>
 <tr>
 	<td class="tdCheckboxLabel">
-<#if labelpos?default("") == 'left'>
+<#if (labelpos!"") == 'left'>
 <#if parameters.label??> <label<#t/>
 <#if parameters.id??>
  for="${parameters.id?html}"<#rt/>
@@ -84,11 +84,11 @@ ${parameters.label?html}<#t/>
  class="checkboxLabel"<#rt/>
 </#if>
 >
-<#if parameters.required?default(false) && parameters.requiredPosition?default("right") != 'right'>
+<#if parameters.required!false && parameters.requiredPosition!"right" != 'right'>
         <span class="required">*</span><#t/>
 </#if>
 ${parameters.label?html}<#t/>
-<#if parameters.required?default(false) && parameters.requiredPosition?default("right") == 'right'>
+<#if parameters.required!false && parameters.requiredPosition!"right" == 'right'>
  <span class="required">*</span><#t/>
 </#if>
 :<#t/>
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ ${parameters.label?html}<#t/>
 </label><#t/>
 </#if>
 </#if>
-<#if labelpos?default("") == 'right'>
-    <#if parameters.required?default(false)>
+<#if (labelpos!"") == 'right'>
+    <#if parameters.required!false>
         <span class="required">*</span><#t/>
     </#if>
     <#if parameters.tooltip??>
@@ -109,10 +109,10 @@ ${parameters.label?html}<#t/>
     </td>
     <td class="tdCheckboxInput">
 
-<#if labelpos?default("") != 'top'>
-                	<#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/simple/checkbox.ftl" />
+<#if (labelpos!"") != 'top'>
+ <#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/simple/checkbox.ftl" />
 </#if>                    
-<#if labelpos?default("") != 'top' && labelpos?default("") != 'left'>
+<#if (labelpos!"") != 'top' && (labelpos!"") != 'left'>
 <#if parameters.label??> <label<#t/>
 <#if parameters.id??>
  for="${parameters.id?html}"<#rt/>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/control.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/control.ftl
index 2761ac3b8..06cb89ecb 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/control.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/control.ftl
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 -->
-<table class="${parameters.cssClass?default('wwFormTable')?html}"<#rt/>
+<table class="${parameters.cssClass!'wwFormTable'?html}"<#rt/>
 <#if parameters.cssStyle??> style="${parameters.cssStyle?html}"<#rt/>
 </#if>
 >
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/controlfooter.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/controlfooter.ftl
index ef3f3caef..16d4a107b 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/controlfooter.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/controlfooter.ftl
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 -->
-${parameters.after?if_exists}<#t/>
+${parameters.after!}<#t/>
     </td><#lt/>
 </tr>
-<#if parameters.errorposition?default("top") == 'bottom'>
+<#if (parameters.errorposition!"top") == 'bottom'>
 <#assign hasFieldErrors = parameters.name?? && fieldErrors?? && fieldErrors[parameters.name]??/>
 <#if hasFieldErrors>
 <#list fieldErrors[parameters.name] as error>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/controlheader-core.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/controlheader-core.ftl
index 5835a8434..302442d03 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/controlheader-core.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/controlheader-core.ftl
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 	This will be done if ActionSupport is used.
 -->
 <#assign hasFieldErrors = parameters.name?? && fieldErrors?? && fieldErrors[parameters.name]??/>
-<#if parameters.errorposition?default("top") == 'top'>
+<#if (parameters.errorposition!"top") == 'top'>
 <#if hasFieldErrors>
 <#list fieldErrors[parameters.name] as error>
 <tr errorFor="${parameters.id}">
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 	then give the label it's own row in the table
 -->
 <tr>
-<#if labelpos?default("") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"") == 'top'>
     <td class="tdLabelTop" colspan="2"><#rt/>
 <#else>
     <td class="tdLabel"><#rt/>
@@ -62,20 +62,20 @@
         class="label"<#t/>
 </#if>
     ><#t/>
-<#if parameters.required?default(false) && parameters.requiredPosition?default("right") != 'right'>
+<#if parameters.required!false && parameters.requiredPosition!"right" != 'right'>
         <span class="required">*</span><#t/>
 </#if>
 ${parameters.label?html}<#t/>
-<#if parameters.required?default(false) && parameters.requiredPosition?default("right") == 'right'>
+<#if parameters.required!false && parameters.requiredPosition!"right" == 'right'>
  <span class="required">*</span><#t/>
 </#if>
-${parameters.labelseparator?default(":")?html}<#t/>
+${parameters.labelseparator!":"?html}<#t/>
 <#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/${parameters.expandTheme}/tooltip.ftl" />
 </label><#t/>
 </#if>
     </td><#lt/>
 <#-- add the extra row -->
-<#if labelpos?default("") == 'top'>
+<#if (labelpos!"") == 'top'>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 </#if>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/form-close.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/form-close.ftl
index d783454b8..aca423665 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/form-close.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/form-close.ftl
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 <#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/${parameters.expandTheme}/control-close.ftl" />
 <#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/simple/form-close.ftl" />
 <#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/${parameters.expandTheme}/form-close-validate.ftl" />
-<#if parameters.focusElement?if_exists != "">
+<#if parameters.focusElement??>
 <script type="text/javascript">
     StrutsUtils.addOnLoad(function() {
         var element = document.getElementById("${parameters.focusElement?html}");
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/form-validate.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/form-validate.ftl
index 6597f4eb6..32556ca77 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/form-validate.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/form-validate.ftl
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 -->
-<#if parameters.validate?default(false) == true>
+<#if parameters.validate!false == true>
 	<script type="text/javascript" src="${base}/struts/xhtml/validation.js"></script>
 	<script type="text/javascript" src="${base}/struts/utils.js"></script>
 	<#if parameters.onsubmit??>
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/form.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/form.ftl
index 5a686ddb1..cce99cc03 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/form.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/form.ftl
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@
 -->
 <#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/${parameters.expandTheme}/form-validate.ftl" />
 <#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/${parameters.expandTheme}/form-common.ftl" />
-<#if (parameters.validate?default(false))>
-  onreset="${parameters.onreset?default('clearErrorMessages(this);clearErrorLabels(this);')}"
+<#if (parameters.validate!false)>
+  onreset="${parameters.onreset!'clearErrorMessages(this);clearErrorLabels(this);'}"
 <#else>
   <#if parameters.onreset??>
   onreset="${parameters.onreset?html}"
diff --git a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/tooltip.ftl b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/tooltip.ftl
index 74938a841..862500f87 100644
--- a/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/tooltip.ftl
+++ b/core/src/main/resources/template/xhtml/tooltip.ftl
@@ -27,12 +27,12 @@
       <#else><#t/>
       	src='<@s.url value="/struts/tooltip.gif" includeParams="none" encode="false" />'
       </#if><#t/>
-      <#if parameters.jsTooltipEnabled?default('false') == 'true'>
+      <#if (parameters.jsTooltipEnabled!'false') == 'true'>
           onmouseover="domTT_activate(this, event, 'content', '${parameters.tooltip}'<#t/>
           <#if parameters.tooltipDelay??><#t/>
           	<#t/>,'delay', '${parameters.tooltipDelay}'<#t/>
           </#if><#t/>
-          <#t/>,'styleClass', '${parameters.tooltipCssClass?default("StrutsTTClassic")}'<#t/>
+          <#t/>,'styleClass', '${parameters.tooltipCssClass!"StrutsTTClassic"}'<#t/>
           <#t/>)" />
       <#else>
       	title="${parameters.tooltip?html}"
diff --git a/plugins/config-browser/src/main/resources/config-browser/showConfig.ftl b/plugins/config-browser/src/main/resources/config-browser/showConfig.ftl
index 34987a17f..400d63650 100644
--- a/plugins/config-browser/src/main/resources/config-browser/showConfig.ftl
+++ b/plugins/config-browser/src/main/resources/config-browser/showConfig.ftl
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 	<tr><td>Action name:</td><td>${actionName}</td></tr>
 	<tr><td>Namespace:</td><td> ${namespace}</td></tr>
 	<tr><td>Action class:</td><td> ${config.className}</td></tr>
-	<tr><td>Action method:</td><td> <#if config.methodName?exists>${config.methodName}</#if></td></tr>
+	<tr><td>Action method:</td><td> <#if config.methodName??>${config.methodName}</#if></td></tr>
 	<tr><td>Parameters:</td><td> <#list config.params?keys as p>
 		${p}
 	</#list></td></tr>