--- loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2006/08/17 22:35:52	1.445
+++ loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2006/09/05 20:42:18	1.449
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common routines
 #
-# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.445 2006/08/17 22:35:52 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.449 2006/09/05 20:42:18 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -729,9 +729,7 @@ sub update_help_link {
     my $banner_link = "/adm/helpmenu?page=banner&topic=$topic&component_help=$component_help&faq=$faq&bug=$bug&origurl=$origurl&stamp=$timestamp&stayonpage=$stayOnPage";
     my $output .= <<"ENDOUTPUT";
 <script type="text/javascript">
-// <!-- BEGIN LON-CAPA Internal
 banner_link = '$banner_link';
-// END LON-CAPA Internal -->
 </script>
 ENDOUTPUT
     return $output;
@@ -2109,6 +2107,9 @@ sub noteswrapper {
 
 sub aboutmewrapper {
     my ($link,$username,$domain,$target)=@_;
+    if (!defined($username)  && !defined($domain)) {
+        return;
+    }
     return '<a href="/adm/'.$domain.'/'.$username.'/aboutme"'.
 	($target?' target="$target"':'').' title="'.&mt('View this users personal page').'">'.$link.'</a>';
 }
@@ -2139,7 +2140,9 @@ sub track_student_link {
         $target = '';
     }
     if ($start) { $link.='&amp;start='.$start; }
-    return qq{<a href="$link" title="$title" $target>$linktext</a>};
+    
+    return qq{<a href="$link" title="$title" $target>$linktext</a>}.
+	&help_open_topic('View_recent_activity');
 }
 
 =pod
@@ -3181,6 +3184,7 @@ sub standard_css {
 
     my $border = ($env{'browser.type'} eq 'explorer') ? '0px 2px 0px 2px'
 	                                              : '0px 3px 0px 4px';
+
     return <<END;
 h1, h2, h3, th { font-family: $sans }
 a:focus { color: red; background: yellow } 
@@ -5921,6 +5925,15 @@ sub lonhttpdurl {
     return 'http://'.$ENV{'SERVER_NAME'}.':'.$lonhttpd_port.$url;
 }
 
+sub absolute_url {
+    my ($host_name) = @_;
+    my $protocol = ($ENV{'SERVER_PORT'} == 443?'https://':'http://');
+    if ($host_name eq '') {
+	$host_name = $ENV{'SERVER_NAME'};
+    }
+    return $protocol.$host_name;
+}
+
 sub connection_aborted {
     my ($r)=@_;
     $r->print(" ");$r->rflush();