--- loncom/interface/lonhelper.pm	2005/02/22 11:43:05	1.98
+++ loncom/interface/lonhelper.pm	2005/02/22 22:56:08	1.99
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # .helper XML handler to implement the LON-CAPA helper
 #
-# $Id: lonhelper.pm,v 1.98 2005/02/22 11:43:05 foxr Exp $
+# $Id: lonhelper.pm,v 1.99 2005/02/22 22:56:08 foxr Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -2011,8 +2011,10 @@ BUTTONS
                    HTML::Entities::encode($raw_name,"<>&\"'");
 	    if($option_vars) {
 		foreach my $option_var (@$option_vars) {
+		    my $var_value = "\|\|\|" . $helper->{VARS}->{$option_var} . 
+			"\|\|\|";
 		    my $checked ="";
-		    if($helper->{VARS}->{$option_var} =~ /$raw_name/) {
+		    if($var_value =~ /\Q|||$raw_name|||\E/) {
 			$checked = "checked";
 		    }
 		    $col .=