--- loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2005/04/07 08:15:41	1.259
+++ loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2005/05/26 20:49:23	1.262
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common routines
 #
-# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.259 2005/04/07 08:15:41 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.262 2005/05/26 20:49:23 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -687,6 +687,7 @@ sub help_open_menu {
   "<table bgcolor='#773311' cellspacing='1' cellpadding='1' border='0'><tr>".
   "<td bgcolor='#886622'><a href=\"$link\"><font color='#FFFFFF' size='2'>$text</font></a>";
     }
+    my $nothing=&Apache::lonhtmlcommon::javascript_nothing();
     my $html=&Apache::lonxml::xmlbegin();
     my $helpicon=&lonhttpdurl("/adm/lonIcons/helpgateway.gif");
     $template .= <<"ENDTEMPLATE";
@@ -698,7 +699,7 @@ function helpMenu(target) {
     if (target == 'open') {
         var newWindow = null;
         try {
-            newWindow =  window.open("/adm/rat/empty.html","helpmenu","HEIGHT=$height,WIDTH=$width,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes" )
+            newWindow =  window.open($nothing,"helpmenu","HEIGHT=$height,WIDTH=$width,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes" )
         }
         catch(error) {
             writeHelp(caller);
@@ -2975,8 +2976,9 @@ sub get_posted_cgi {
     my $r=shift;
 
     my $buffer;
-    
-    $r->read($buffer,$r->header_in('Content-length'),0);
+    if ($r->header_in('Content-length')) {
+	$r->read($buffer,$r->header_in('Content-length'),0);
+    }
     unless ($buffer=~/^(\-+\w+)\s+Content\-Disposition\:\s*form\-data/si) {
 	my @pairs=split(/&/,$buffer);
 	my $pair;