--- loncom/interface/lonwhatsnew.pm	2005/12/20 15:56:38	1.40
+++ loncom/interface/lonwhatsnew.pm	2005/12/22 03:39:39	1.42
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# $Id: lonwhatsnew.pm,v 1.40 2005/12/20 15:56:38 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: lonwhatsnew.pm,v 1.42 2005/12/22 03:39:39 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -62,10 +62,11 @@ sub handler {
     $r->send_http_header;
     my $crsid = $env{'request.course.id'};
     $crsid =~ s/_/\//; 
-    if ((!($env{'request.course.id'})) || 
-                             ($env{'request.role'} !~ /\Q$crsid\E$/)) {
+    if ((!($env{'request.course.fn'})) || 
+                             (!(&Apache::lonnet::allowed('whn',
+                                                $env{'request.course.id'})))) {
         # Not in a course, or no role in course
-        $env{'user.error.msg'}="/adm/whatsnew::0:0:Cannot display what's new screen";
+        $env{'user.error.msg'}="/adm/whatsnew::whn:0:0:Cannot display what's new page";
         return HTTP_NOT_ACCEPTABLE;
     }
 
@@ -1401,9 +1402,9 @@ sub get_display_settings {
     my ($tmp) = keys(%settings);
     if ($tmp=~ /^(con_lost|error|no_such_host)/i) {
         %settings = ();
-        unless ($tmp eq 'error: 2 tie(GDBM) Failed while attempting dump') {
-            &logthis('Error retrieving whatsnew settings: '.$tmp.' for '.
-                                $uname.':'.$udom.' for course: '.$cid);
+        unless ($tmp =~ /^error: 2 /) {
+            &Apache::lonnet::logthis('Error retrieving whatsnew settings: '.
+            $tmp.' for '.$uname.':'.$udom.' for course: '.$cid);
         }
     }
     return %settings;