--- loncom/interface/lonhtmlcommon.pm	2010/06/10 16:14:34	1.278
+++ loncom/interface/lonhtmlcommon.pm	2010/06/18 09:06:29	1.279
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common html routines
 #
-# $Id: lonhtmlcommon.pm,v 1.278 2010/06/10 16:14:34 bisitz Exp $
+# $Id: lonhtmlcommon.pm,v 1.279 2010/06/18 09:06:29 bisitz Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -940,7 +940,7 @@ Inputs:
 =item $extraInfo A description of the items being iterated over.  Typically
 'student'.
 
-=item $step (optional) counter step. Will be set to default 1 if ommited.
+=item $step (optional) counter step. Will be set to default 1 if ommited. step must be greater than 0 or empty.
 
 =back
 
@@ -1052,9 +1052,7 @@ sub Update_PrgWin {
 # increment progress state
 sub Increment_PrgWin {
     my ($r,$prog_state,$extraInfo,$step)=@_;
-    if ( ($step == 0) || ($step !~ /^\d+(\.\d+)*$/) ) {
-        $step = 1; # default
-    }
+    $step = $step > 0 ? $step : 1;
     $$prog_state{'done'} += $step;
 
     # Catch (max modulo step) <> 0