--- loncom/interface/lonwhatsnew.pm	2005/12/19 21:39:37	1.39
+++ loncom/interface/lonwhatsnew.pm	2006/10/13 22:03:26	1.63
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# $Id: lonwhatsnew.pm,v 1.39 2005/12/19 21:39:37 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: lonwhatsnew.pm,v 1.63 2006/10/13 22:03:26 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ use Apache::lonuserstate;
 use Apache::Constants qw(:common :http);
 use Time::Local;
 use GDBM_File;
+use lib '/home/httpd/lib/perl/';
+use LONCAPA;
 
 #----------------------------
 # handler
@@ -58,26 +60,36 @@ sub handler {
     my $command = $env{'form.command'};
     my $refpage = $env{'form.refpage'};
 
-    &Apache::loncommon::content_type($r,'text/html');
-    $r->send_http_header;
-    my $crsid = $env{'request.course.id'};
-    $crsid =~ s/_/\//; 
-    if ((!($env{'request.course.id'})) || 
-                             ($env{'request.role'} !~ /\Q$crsid\E$/)) {
-        # Not in a course, or no role in course
-        $env{'user.error.msg'}="/adm/whatsnew::0:0:Cannot display what's new screen";
+    my %checkallowed = ( coursenormalmail => 1,
+			 coursecritmail => 1, );
+    foreach my $perm_check (['whn','whatsnew',1],
+			    ['pch','coursediscussion',1],
+			    ['mgr','handgrading',1],
+			    ['vgr','abovethreshold',1],
+			    ['opa','haserrors',1],
+			    ['mdc','versionchanges',0],
+			    ) {
+	my ($perm,$key,$check_section) = @{ $perm_check };
+	my $scope = $env{'request.course.id'};
+	if (!($checkallowed{$key} = &Apache::lonnet::allowed($perm,$scope))) {
+	    $scope .= '/'.$env{'request.course.sec'};
+	    if ( $check_section ) {
+		$checkallowed{$key} = &Apache::lonnet::allowed($perm,$scope);
+	    }
+	    if ($checkallowed{$key}) {
+		$checkallowed{$key.'_section'} = $env{'request.course.sec'};
+	    }
+	}
+    }
+
+    if ( ! $env{'request.course.fn'} || ! $checkallowed{'whatsnew'}) {
+        # Not in a course, or no whn priv in course
+        $env{'user.error.msg'}="/adm/whatsnew::whn:0:0:Cannot display what's new page";
         return HTTP_NOT_ACCEPTABLE;
     }
 
-    my %checkallowed = (
-             coursediscussion => &Apache::lonnet::allowed('pch',$env{'request.course.id'}),
-             handgrading => &Apache::lonnet::allowed('mgr',$env{'request.course.id'}),
-             abovethreshold => &Apache::lonnet::allowed('vgr',$env{'request.course.id'}),
-             haserrors => &Apache::lonnet::allowed('opa',$env{'request.course.id'}),
-             versionchanges => &Apache::lonnet::allowed('opa',$env{'request.course.id'}),
-             coursenormalmail => 1,
-             coursecritmail => 1,
-    );
+    &Apache::loncommon::content_type($r,'text/html');
+    $r->send_http_header;
 
     $r->print(&display_header($command,\%checkallowed));
 
@@ -85,33 +97,38 @@ sub handler {
     &Apache::lonhtmlcommon::add_breadcrumb
             ({href=>'/adm/whatsnew',
               text=>"Display Action Items"});
-    if (($command eq 'chgthreshold') && (&Apache::lonnet::allowed('vgr',$env{'request.course.id'}))) {
+    if (($command eq 'chgthreshold') && $checkallowed{'abovethreshold'}) {
         &Apache::lonhtmlcommon::add_breadcrumb
             ({href=>'/adm/whatsnew?command=chgthreshold&refpage='.$refpage,
               text=>"Change thresholds"});
         $r->print(&Apache::lonhtmlcommon::breadcrumbs
-            (undef,'Course Action Items','Course_Action_Items_Thresholds'));
-    } elsif (($command eq 'chginterval') && (&Apache::lonnet::allowed('vgr',$env{'request.course.id'}))) {
+            ("What's New?",#'Course_Action_Items_Thresholds'
+	     ));
+    } elsif (($command eq 'chginterval') && $checkallowed{'versionchanges'} ) {
         &Apache::lonhtmlcommon::add_breadcrumb
             ({href=>'/adm/whatsnew?command=chginterval&refpage='.$refpage,
               text=>"Change interval"});
         $r->print(&Apache::lonhtmlcommon::breadcrumbs
-            (undef,'Course Action Items','Course_Action_Items_Intervals'));
-    } elsif (($command eq 'chgdisc') && (&Apache::lonnet::allowed('pch',$env{'request.course.id'}))) {
+            ("What's New?",#'Course_Action_Items_Intervals'
+	     ));
+    } elsif (($command eq 'chgdisc') && $checkallowed{'coursediscussion'}) {
         &Apache::lonhtmlcommon::add_breadcrumb
             ({href=>'/adm/whatsnew?command=chgdisc&refpage='.$refpage,
               text=>"Change discussion display"});
         $r->print(&Apache::lonhtmlcommon::breadcrumbs
-            (undef,'Course Action Items','Course_Action_Items_Intervals'));
+            ("What's New?",#'Course_Action_Items_Intervals'
+	     ));
     } elsif ($command eq 'courseinit') {
         &Apache::lonhtmlcommon::add_breadcrumb
             ({href=>'/adm/whatsnew?command=courseinit&refpage='.$refpage,
               text=>"Course initialization preference"});
         $r->print(&Apache::lonhtmlcommon::breadcrumbs
-            (undef,'Course Action Items','Course_Action_Items_Initialization'));
+            ("What's New?",#'Course_Action_Items_Initialization'
+	     ));
     } else {
         $r->print(&Apache::lonhtmlcommon::breadcrumbs
-            (undef,'Course Action Items','Course_Action_Items_Display'));
+            ("What's New?",#'Course_Action_Items_Display'
+	     ));
     }
     &display_main_box($r,$command,$refpage,\%checkallowed);
     return OK;
@@ -126,7 +143,9 @@ sub handler {
 sub display_main_box {
     my ($r,$command,$refpage,$checkallowed) = @_;
     my $domain=&Apache::loncommon::determinedomain();
-    my $tabbg=&Apache::loncommon::designparm('coordinator.tabbg',$domain);
+    my $function = &Apache::loncommon::get_users_function();
+    my $tabbg=&Apache::loncommon::designparm($function.'.tabbg',$domain);
+    my $lctype = lc(&Apache::loncommon::course_type());
     $r->print('<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"><tr><td width="100%">');
 
     my %threshold_titles = &Apache::lonlocal::texthash (
@@ -136,43 +155,43 @@ sub display_main_box {
     );
 
     my %interval_titles = &Apache::lonlocal::texthash (
-                            -1 => 'since start of course',
+                            -1 => "since start of $lctype",
                        2592000 => 'since last month',
                         604800 => 'since last week',
                          86400 => 'since yesterday',
     );
 
     my %initpage = &Apache::lonlocal::texthash (
-                     firstres => 'first resource in the course',
+                     firstres => "first resource in the $lctype",
                      whatsnew => "what's new? page",
                      userpref => 'your general user preferences',
-                     coursespecific => 'specific setting for this course',
+                     coursespecific => "specific setting for this $lctype",
                    );
     my $cdom = $env{'course.'.$env{'request.course.id'}.'.domain'};
     my $crs = $env{'course.'.$env{'request.course.id'}.'.num'};
 
-    if (($command eq 'chgthreshold') && 
-               (&Apache::lonnet::allowed('vgr',$env{'request.course.id'}))) {
+    if (($command eq 'chgthreshold') 
+	&& $checkallowed->{'abovethreshold'}) {
         &display_threshold_config($r,$refpage,$tabbg,\%threshold_titles,
                                                                    $cdom,$crs);
-    } elsif (($command eq 'chginterval') && 
-               (&Apache::lonnet::allowed('opa',$env{'request.course.id'}))) {
+    } elsif (($command eq 'chginterval') 
+	     && $checkallowed->{'versionchanges'}) {
         &display_interval_config($r,$refpage,\%interval_titles);
-    } elsif (($command eq 'chgdisc') && 
-               (&Apache::lonnet::allowed('pch',$env{'request.course.id'}))) {
+    } elsif (($command eq 'chgdisc') 
+	     && $checkallowed->{'coursediscussion'}) {
         &display_discussion_config($r,$refpage);
     } elsif ($command eq 'courseinit') {
         &courseinit_config($r,$refpage,\%initpage);
     } else {
-        &display_actions_box($r,$command,$refpage,\%threshold_titles,
+        &display_actions_box($r,$tabbg,$command,$refpage,\%threshold_titles,
                         \%interval_titles,\%initpage,$cdom,$crs,$checkallowed);
     }
+    my $end_page = &Apache::loncommon::end_page();
     $r->print(<<END_OF_BLOCK);
   </td>
  </tr>
 </table><br />
-</body>
-</html>
+$end_page
 END_OF_BLOCK
 }
 
@@ -185,8 +204,7 @@ END_OF_BLOCK
 
 sub display_header {
     my ($command,$checkallowed) = @_;
-    my $html=&Apache::lonxml::xmlbegin();
-    my $bodytag=&Apache::loncommon::bodytag('Course Action Items');
+    
     my $scripttag;
     unless ($command eq 'chgthreshold' || $command eq 'chginterval') {
        $scripttag = <<"END";
@@ -199,6 +217,7 @@ function change_display(caller,change) {
 function changeAll(change) {
 END
         foreach my $item (keys(%{$checkallowed})) {
+	    if ($item =~ /_section$/) { next; }
             if ($$checkallowed{$item}) {
                 $scripttag.='document.visible.display_'.$item.'.value=change'.
                             "\n";
@@ -209,14 +228,9 @@ END
 </script>
 ';
     }
-    return(<<ENDHEAD);
-$html
-<head>
-<title>Course Action Items</title>
-$scripttag
-</head>
-$bodytag
-ENDHEAD
+    my $course_type=&Apache::loncommon::course_type();
+    return &Apache::loncommon::start_page($course_type.' Action Items',
+					  $scripttag);
 }
 
 #-------------------------------
@@ -227,19 +241,23 @@ ENDHEAD
 #-------------------------------
                                                                                 
 sub display_actions_box {
-    my ($r,$command,$refpage,$threshold_titles,$interval_titles,$initpage,
-                                                $cdom,$crs,$checkallowed) = @_;
+    my ($r,$tabbg,$command,$refpage,$threshold_titles,$interval_titles,
+                                      $initpage,$cdom,$crs,$checkallowed) = @_;
     my $rowColor1 = "#ffffff";
     my $rowColor2 = "#eeeeee";
 
     my $udom = $env{'user.domain'};
     my $uname = $env{'user.name'};
     my $cid = $env{'request.course.id'};
-
+    my $crstype = &Apache::loncommon::course_type();
+    my $lctype = lc($crstype);
+    my %stulabel = (
+                    'Course' => 'students',
+                    'Group' => 'members',
+                   );
     my %lt = &Apache::lonlocal::texthash(
-                 'yacc' => 'You are accessing an invalid course.',
+                 'yacc' => 'You are accessing an invalid course',
                  'gtfr' => 'Go to first resource',
-                 'pgse' => 'Page set to be displayed after you have selected a role in this course?',
                  'hial' => 'Hide all',
                  'shal' => 'Show all',
     );
@@ -263,15 +281,6 @@ sub display_actions_box {
     my $needitems = 0;
     my $boxcount = 0;
 
-    my $domain=&Apache::loncommon::determinedomain();
-    my $function;
-    if ($env{'request.role'}=~/^(cc|in|ta|ep)/) {
-        $function='coordinator';
-    }
-    if ($env{'request.role'}=~/^(su|dc|ad|li)/) {
-        $function='admin';
-    }
-
     my $result;
     if ($command eq 'newcourseinit') {
         $result = &store_courseinit_setting($uname,$udom,$cid,$initpage);
@@ -284,18 +293,15 @@ sub display_actions_box {
                      );
     my %pagedesc = &Apache::lonlocal::texthash (
                      firstres => 'First resource',
-                     whatsnew => "What's New page",
+                     whatsnew => "What's New? page",
                      userpref => 'user preference',
-                     coursespecific => 'course only',
+                     coursespecific => $lctype.' only',
                      default => 'default',
                    );
 
     my ($initcontrol,$initdisp) = &curr_courseinit();
     my $currinit = $pagedesc{$initdisp}.' ('.$pagedesc{$initcontrol}.')';
 
-    my $pgbg=&Apache::loncommon::designparm($function.'.pgbg',$domain);
-    my $tabbg=&Apache::loncommon::designparm($function.'.tabbg',$domain);
-
     unless ($cid) {
         $r->print('<br /><b><center>'.$lt{'yacc'}.'</center></b><br /><br />');
         return;
@@ -310,13 +316,11 @@ sub display_actions_box {
                   '</a></font><br />');
         }
     }
-    $r->print($lt{'pgse'}.' '.&mt('Currently: [_1]','<i>'.$currinit.'</i>').
-              '<nobr>&nbsp;&nbsp;'.&mt('[_1] for just [_2]','<b>Change</b>',
-              '<a href="/adm/whatsnew?command=courseinit&refpage='.$refpage.
-              '">this course</a>').' '.&mt('or for all [_1].',
-              '<a href="/adm/preferences?action=changecourseinit&refpage='.
-              $refpage.'">your courses</a>').'</nobr><br /><hr />');
-                                                                                        
+    $r->print(&mt('Page set to be displayed after you have selected a role in this '.$lctype).
+              '. <nobr>'.&mt('Currently: <i>[_1]</i>',$currinit).'.&nbsp;&nbsp;'.
+              &mt('<b>Change</b> for just <a href="/adm/whatsnew?command=courseinit&refpage=[_1]">this '.$lctype.'</a>',$refpage).' '.
+              &mt('or for all <a href="/adm/preferences?action=changecourseinit&refpage=[_1]">your courses</a>',$refpage).'</nobr><br /><hr />');
+
     if ($command eq 'reset') {
         $result = &process_reset($cdom,$crs);
     } elsif ($command eq 'update') {
@@ -331,7 +335,7 @@ sub display_actions_box {
 
     unless ($store_result eq 'ok') { 
         &Apache::lonnet::logthis('Error storing whatsnew settings: '.
-            $store_result.' for '.'user '.$uname.':'.$udom.' in course '.$cid);
+            $store_result.' for '.'user '.$uname.':'.$udom.' in '.$lctype.' '.$cid);
         $result .= &mt('Unable to store visibility settings due to [_1]',
                        $store_result); 
     }
@@ -357,23 +361,27 @@ sub display_actions_box {
     }
 
     my %headings = &Apache::lonlocal::texthash(
-                coursediscussion =>  'Unread course discussion posts',
+                coursediscussion =>  'Unread '.$lctype.' discussion posts',
                 handgrading =>  'Problems requiring handgrading',
                 haserrors => 'Problems with errors',
-                versionchanges => 'Resources in course with version changes '.$interval,
-                coursenormalmail => 'New course messages',
-                coursecritmail => 'New critical messages in course',
+                versionchanges => 'Resources in '.$lctype.' with version changes '.$interval,
+                coursenormalmail => 'New '.$lctype.' messages',
+                coursecritmail => 'New critical messages in '.$lctype,
     );
 
     if ($$checkallowed{'abovethreshold'}) {
         &get_curr_thresholds(\%threshold,$uname,$udom,$cid,$cdom,$crs);
     }
 
-    $headings{'abovethreshold'} = &mt('Problems with av. attempts').' &ge; '.$threshold{'av_attempts'}.' '.&mt('or deg. difficulty').' &ge; '.$threshold{'degdiff'}.'<br /> '.&mt('and total number of students with submissions').' &ge; '.$threshold{'numstudents'};
+    $headings{'abovethreshold'} = 
+	&mt('Problems with av. attempts &ge; [_1] or deg. difficulty &ge; [_2] <br /> and total number of '.$stulabel{$crstype}.' with submissions &ge; [_3]',
+	    $threshold{'av_attempts'},$threshold{'degdiff'},
+	    $threshold{'numstudents'});
 
     my @actionorder = ('handgrading','haserrors','abovethreshold','versionchanges','coursediscussion','coursenormalmail','coursecritmail');
 
     foreach my $key (keys(%{$checkallowed})) {
+	if ($key =~ /_section$/) { next; }
         $show{$key} = 0;
         if ($$checkallowed{$key}) {
             unless ($display_settings{$cid.':'.$key} eq 'hide') {
@@ -395,16 +403,17 @@ sub display_actions_box {
         &getitems(\%unread,\%ungraded,\%bombed,\%triggered,\%changed,\@newdiscussions,\@tograde,\@bombs,\@warnings,$rowColor1,$rowColor2,\%threshold,$cdom,$crs,\%res_title,\%show,$starttime,$countunread);
     }
     if ($show{'coursenormalmail'}) {
-        &getnormalmail(\@newmsgs);
+        $msgcount = &getnormalmail(\@newmsgs);
     }
     if ($show{'coursecritmail'}) {
-        &getcritmail(\@critmsgs);
+        $critmsgcount = &getcritmail(\@critmsgs);
     }
 
     $r->print(qq|<a href="javascript:changeAll('hide');">$lt{'hial'}</a>
      &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="javascript:changeAll('show');">$lt{'shal'}</a>
      <form method="post" name="visible" action="/adm/whatsnew">\n|);
     foreach my $item (keys(%{$checkallowed})) {
+	if ($item =~ /_section$/) { next; }
         if ($$checkallowed{$item}) {
             $r->print('<input type="hidden" name="display_'.$item.'" />'."\n");
         }
@@ -413,12 +422,19 @@ sub display_actions_box {
     $r->print('<input type="hidden" name="refpage" value="'.$refpage.'"></form><br /><table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="4"><tr><td align="left" valign="top" width="45%">');
 
     my $displayed = 0;
-    my $totalboxes = keys(%{$checkallowed});
+    my $totalboxes = 0;
+    foreach my $key (keys(%{$checkallowed})) {
+	if ($key =~ /_section$/) { next; }
+	if ($key eq 'whatsnew' ) { next; } # whatsnew check creates no box
+        if ($$checkallowed{$key}) {
+            $totalboxes ++;
+        }
+    }
     my $halfway = int($totalboxes/2) + $totalboxes%2;
     foreach my $actionitem (@actionorder) {
         if ($$checkallowed{$actionitem}) {
             if ($displayed == $halfway) {
-                $r->print('</td><td width="5%">&nbsp;</td><td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">');
+                $r->print('</td><td width="6%">&nbsp;</td><td align="left" valign="top" width="47%">');
             }
             &display_launcher($r,$actionitem,$refpage,$checkallowed,$tabbg,$rowColor1,$rowColor2,\%show,\%headings,\%res_title,\@tograde,\%ungraded,\@bombs,\%bombed,\%changed,\@warnings,\%triggered,\@newdiscussions,\%unread,$msgcount,\@newmsgs,$critmsgcount,\@critmsgs,$interval,$countunread);
             $displayed ++; 
@@ -518,9 +534,10 @@ sub display_threshold_config {
                                                                                    
 sub display_interval_config {
     my ($r,$refpage,$interval_titles) = @_;
+    my $lctype = lc(&Apache::loncommon::course_type());
     my $current = &get_current($env{'user.name'},$env{'user.domain'},
                                 $env{'request.course.id'},'interval');
-    $r->print('<br />'.&mt('Choose the time window to use for display of version changes for resources in the course.'));
+    $r->print('<br />'.&mt('Choose the time window to use for display of version changes for resources in the '.$lctype.'.'));
     unless ($current eq '') {
         $r->print(' '.&mt('Current value is [_1]','<b>'.
                   $$interval_titles{$current}.'</b>.'));
@@ -555,24 +572,34 @@ sub display_discussion_config {
     if ($current eq '') {
         $current = 'on';
     }
-    my %status = (
-                    on => 'checked="checked"',
-                    off => 'checked="checked"',
-                 );
-    $status{$current} = '';
-    $r->print('<br />'.&mt('Choose whether or not to display a count of the number of new posts for each resource or bulletin board which has unread posts.').'<br />'.&mt('This can increase the time taken to gather data for the [_1] page by a few seconds.',"<i>What's New?</i>").'&nbsp;&nbsp;'.&mt('Currently set to [_1] .'),"<b>$current</b>.");
+    my %opposite = ( 
+                      'on' => 'off',
+                      'off' => 'on',
+                    );
+    $r->print('<script type="text/javascript">
+function toggle_countunread(choice) {
+    if (choice == "unchanged") {
+        document.discussionswitch.command.value = "";
+    }
+    document.discussionswitch.submit();
+}
+</script>');
+    $r->print('<br />'.&mt('Choose whether or not to display a count of the number of new posts for each resource or bulletin board which has unread posts.').'<br />'.&mt('This can increase the time taken to gather data for the [_1] page by a few seconds.',"<i>What's New?</i>").'&nbsp;&nbsp;'.&mt('Currently set to [_1].','<b>'.$current.'</b>'));
     $r->print('<br /><br />
-<form method="post" name="discussionswitch" action="/adm/whatsnew">'.
-&mt('Display of unread post counts?').'&nbsp;
+<form method="post" name="discussionswitch" action="/adm/whatsnew">
 <input type="hidden" name="command" value="newdiscconf" />
 <input type="hidden" name="refpage" value="'.$refpage.'" />
-<input type ="radio" '.$status{'on'}.' name="countunread" value="on">on
-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
-<input type ="radio" '.$status{'off'}.' name="countunread" value="off">off
+<input type="hidden" name="countunread" value="'.$opposite{$current}.'" />
 ');
-    $r->print('<br/><br />
-               <input type="submit" name="display" value="'.
-               &mt('Make changes').'" /></form>');
+    $r->print('<br/>
+               <input type="button" name="display" value="'.
+               &mt('Change to [_1]',$opposite{$current}).'" 
+               onclick="javascript:toggle_countunread('."'change'".')" />
+               &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp&nbsp;&nbsp;
+               <input type="button" name="nochange" value="'.
+               &mt("No change").'" 
+               onclick="javascript:toggle_countunread('."'unchanged'".')" />
+               </form>');
     return;
 }
 
@@ -589,13 +616,14 @@ sub courseinit_config {
     my ($control,$current) = &curr_courseinit();
     my @chgstate = ('userpref','coursespecific');
     my @chgentry = ('firstres','whatsnew');
+    my $lctype = lc(&Apache::loncommon::course_type());
     my %lt = &Apache::lonlocal::texthash(
-                             'chwp' => 'Choose which page will be displayed when you enter this course after selecting a role.',
+                             'chwp' => "Choose which page will be displayed when you enter this $lctype after selecting a role.",
                              'cuva' => 'Current value is determined by',
                              'anis' => 'and is set to display',
                              'padc' => 'Page display controlled by',
-                             'chce' => 'Choose course entry',
-                             'moce' => 'Modify course entry',
+                             'chce' => 'Choose '.$lctype.' entry',
+                             'moce' => 'Modify '.$lctype.' entry',
     );
     $r->print(<<"END"); 
 <br />$lt{'chwp'}
@@ -605,17 +633,27 @@ $$initpage{$current}</b>.<br /><br />
 <form method="post" name="courseinitswitch" action="/adm/whatsnew">
 <input type="hidden" name="command" value="newcourseinit" />
 <input type="hidden" name="refpage" value="$refpage" />
-$lt{'padc'}&nbsp;&nbsp;
+$lt{'padc'}:&nbsp;&nbsp;
 END
     foreach my $choice (@chgstate) {
-        $r->print('<nobr><input type="radio" name="courseinit_control" value="'.
-                   $choice.'"/>'.$$initpage{$choice}.'&nbsp;&nbsp;</nobr>');
+        my $chkstring;
+        if ($choice eq $control) {
+            $chkstring = ' checked="checked" ';
+        }  
+        $r->print('<nobr><label><input type="radio" name="courseinit_control" value="'.
+                   $choice.'"'.$chkstring.'/>'.$$initpage{$choice}.
+                   '&nbsp;&nbsp;</label></nobr>');
     }
     $r->print('<br /><br />'.&mt('If').' '.$$initpage{'coursespecific'}.
-              '<br />'.$lt{'chce'}." \n");
+              ' - <br />'.$lt{'chce'}.": \n");
     foreach my $choice (@chgentry) {
-        $r->print('<nobr><input type="radio" name="courseinit_page" value="'.
-                  $choice.'"/>'.$$initpage{$choice}.'&nbsp;&nbsp;</nobr>');
+        my $chkstring;
+        if (($choice eq $current) && ($control eq 'coursespecific')) {
+            $chkstring = ' checked="checked" ';
+        }
+        $r->print('<nobr><label><input type="radio" name="courseinit_page" value="'.
+                  $choice.'"'.$chkstring.'/>'.$$initpage{$choice}.
+                  '&nbsp;&nbsp;</label></nobr>');
     }
     $r->print('<br /><br /><input type="submit" name="display" value="'.
                $lt{'moce'}.'" /></form>');
@@ -625,17 +663,19 @@ END
 sub curr_courseinit {
     my $current = &get_current($env{'user.name'},$env{'user.domain'},
                                 $env{'request.course.id'},'courseinit');
-    my %userenv = &Apache::lonnet::get('environment',['course_init_display']);
     my $control;
-    if ($current eq '') {
+    if ($current) {
+        $control = 'coursespecific';
+    } else {
         $control = 'userpref';
-        if (exists($userenv{'firstres'})) {
-            $current = 'firstres';
-        } else {
+        my %userenv = &Apache::lonnet::get('environment',
+                                                      ['course_init_display']);
+        if (exists($userenv{'course_init_display'})) {
+            $current = $userenv{'course_init_display'};
+        }
+        unless ($current) {
             $current = 'whatsnew';
         }
-    } else {
-        $control = 'coursespecific';
     }
     return ($control,$current);
 }
@@ -647,7 +687,7 @@ sub display_launcher {
                           $critmsgcount,$critmsgs,$interval,$countunread) = @_;
 
     if ($$checkallowed{$action}) {
-        &start_box($r,$tabbg,$show,$headings,$action,$refpage);
+        &start_box($r,$tabbg,$show,$headings,$action,$refpage,$action);
         if ($$show{$action}) {
             if ($action eq 'handgrading') {    # UNGRADED ITEMS
                 &display_handgrade($r,$tograde,$rowColor1,$rowColor2,
@@ -661,7 +701,7 @@ sub display_launcher {
 
             } elsif ($action eq 'abovethreshold') { # DEGDIFF/AV. TRIES TRIGGERS
                 &display_abovethreshold($r,$refpage,$warnings,$triggered,
-                                             $res_title,$rowColor1,$rowColor2);
+					$res_title);
             } elsif ($action eq 'coursediscussion') { # UNREAD COURSE DISCUSSION
                 &display_coursediscussion($r,$newdiscussions,$unread,
                                 $countunread,$res_title,$rowColor1,$rowColor2);
@@ -686,7 +726,6 @@ sub getitems {
     # force retrieve Resource to seed the part id cache we'll need it later
     my @allres=$navmap->retrieveResources(undef,
                      sub {if ($_[0]->is_problem) { $_[0]->parts();} return 1;});
-    my %lastreadtime;
     my %resourcetracker;
     my $discussiontime;
 
@@ -695,23 +734,11 @@ sub getitems {
         &checkversions($cdom,$crs,$navmap,$changed,$starttime);
     }
 
-    if ($$show{'coursediscussion'}) {   
-        my %lastread = &Apache::lonnet::dump('nohist_'.
-                        $env{'request.course.id'}.'_discuss',
-                        $env{'user.domain'},$env{'user.name'},'lastread');
-        foreach my $key (keys(%lastread)) {
-            my $newkey = $key;
-            $newkey =~ s/_lastread$//;
-            $lastreadtime{$newkey} = $lastread{$key};
-        }
-    }
- 
     if ($$show{'abovethreshold'}) {
         %resourcetracker =  &Apache::lonnet::dump('nohist_resourcetracker',
                                                                    $cdom,$crs);
     }
 
-    my $warningnum = 0;
     foreach my $resource (@allres) {
         my $result = '';
         my $applies = 0;
@@ -726,8 +753,8 @@ sub getitems {
 
 # Check if there are unread discussion postings
         if ($$show{'coursediscussion'}) {
-            &check_discussions($cdom,$crs,$resource,$symb,$ressymb,$title,
-                                                      $newdiscussions,$unread);
+            &check_discussions($resource,$symb,$ressymb,$title,
+			       $newdiscussions,$unread,$countunread);
         }
 
 # Check for ungraded problems
@@ -745,78 +772,31 @@ sub getitems {
 
 # Maxtries and degree of difficulty for problem parts, unless handgradeable
         if ($$show{'abovethreshold'}) {  
-            &check_thresholds($resource,$symb,\%resourcetracker,$triggered,
-                       $threshold,$warnings,$warningnum,$rowColor1,$rowColor2);
+            &check_thresholds($resource,$symb,\%resourcetracker,
+			      $triggered,$threshold,$warnings);
         }
 
     }
-    my $hasdiscussion = @{$newdiscussions};
-    if ($$show{'coursediscussion'} && $hasdiscussion) { # Get time of last post; 
-        $discussiontime = $navmap->{DISCUSSION_TIME};
-        foreach my $ressymb (@{$newdiscussions}) {
-            $$unread{$ressymb}{'lastpost'} = $$discussiontime{$ressymb};
-        }
-        if ($countunread eq 'on') { #Get count of unread postings for each resource 
-            my $discussiondata = $navmap->get_discussion_data();
-            foreach my $ressymb (@{$newdiscussions}) {
-                &get_discussions($cdom,$crs,$discussiondata,$ressymb,
-                                                       $unread,\%lastreadtime);
-            }
-        }
-    }
 }
 
 sub check_discussions {
-    my ($cdom,$crs,$resource,$symb,$ressymb,$title,$newdiscussions,
-                                                                 $unread) = @_;
-    if ($resource->hasDiscussion()) {
-        %{$$unread{$ressymb}} = ();
-        $$unread{$ressymb}{'title'} = $title;
-        $$unread{$ressymb}{'symb'} = $symb;
-        push(@{$newdiscussions}, $ressymb);
-    }
-}
+    my ($resource,$symb,$ressymb,$title,$newdiscussions,$unread,
+	$countunread) = @_;
 
-sub get_discussions {
-    my ($cdom,$crs,$discussiondata,$ressymb,$unread,$lastreadtime) = @_;
-    my $prevread = 0;
-    my $unreadcount = 0;
-    if (defined($$lastreadtime{$ressymb})) {
-        $prevread = $$lastreadtime{$ressymb};
-    }
-    my $version = $$discussiondata{'version:'.$ressymb};
-    if ($version) {
-        my $hiddenflag = 0;
-        my $deletedflag = 0;
-        my ($hidden,$deleted);
-        for (my $id=$version; $id>0; $id--) {
-            my $vkeys=$$discussiondata{$id.':keys:'.$ressymb};
-            my @keys=split(/:/,$vkeys);
-            if (grep/^hidden$/,@keys) {
-                unless ($hiddenflag) {
-                    $hidden = $$discussiondata{$id.':'.$ressymb.':hidden'};
-                    $hiddenflag = 1;
-                }
-            } elsif (grep/^deleted$/,@keys) {
-                unless ($deletedflag) {
-                    $deleted = $$discussiondata{$id.':'.$ressymb.':deleted'};
-                    $deletedflag = 1;
-                }
-            } else {
-                unless (($hidden =~/\.$id\./) || ($deleted =~/\.$id\./)) {
-                    if ($prevread <$$discussiondata{$id.':'.$ressymb.':timestamp'}) {
-                        $unreadcount ++;
-                        $$unread{$ressymb}{$unreadcount} = $id.': '.
-                                 $$discussiondata{$id.':'.$ressymb.':subject'};
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        $$unread{$ressymb}{'unreadcount'} = $unreadcount;
+    if (!$resource->hasDiscussion()) { return; }
+
+    %{$$unread{$ressymb}} = ();
+    $$unread{$ressymb}{'title'} = $title;
+    $$unread{$ressymb}{'symb'} = $symb;
+    push(@{$newdiscussions}, $ressymb);
+    
+    $$unread{$ressymb}{'lastpost'} = $resource->last_post_time();
+    
+    if ($countunread eq 'on') {
+	$$unread{$ressymb}{'unreadcount'} = $resource->unread_discussion();
     }
 }
 
-
 sub check_handgraded {
     my ($resource,$symb,$title,$cdom,$cnum,$ungraded,$tograde) = @_;
     if ($resource->is_problem()) {
@@ -848,7 +828,7 @@ sub check_bombed {
         my @bombs = split(/,/, $errors);
         my $errorcount = scalar(@bombs);
         my $errorlink = '<a href="/adm/email?display='.
-                        &Apache::lonnet::escape($bombs[0]).'">'.
+                        &escape($bombs[0]).'">'.
                         $title.'</a>';
         $$bombed{$symb}{errorcount} = $errorcount;
         $$bombed{$symb}{errorlink} = $errorlink;
@@ -857,8 +837,7 @@ sub check_bombed {
 }
 
 sub check_thresholds {
-    my ($resource,$symb,$resourcetracker,$triggered,$threshold,$warnings,
-                                       $warningnum,$rowColor1,$rowColor2) = @_;
+    my ($resource,$symb,$resourcetracker,$triggered,$threshold,$warnings) = @_;
 # Compile maxtries and degree of difficulty for problem parts, unless handgradeable
     my @parts = @{$resource->parts()};
     my %stats;
@@ -869,6 +848,9 @@ sub check_thresholds {
         if ($resource->handgrade($part) eq 'yes') {
             next;
         }
+        if ($resource->is_survey($part)) {
+            next;
+        }
         %{$stats{$part}} = ();
         my ($attempts,$users,$corrects,$degdiff,$av_attempts);
         if (exists($$resourcetracker{$symb."\0".$part."\0attempts"})) {
@@ -900,38 +882,31 @@ sub check_thresholds {
         }
     }
     if ($warning) {
-        if ($warningnum %2 == 1) {
-            $rowColor = $rowColor1;
-        } else {
-            $rowColor = $rowColor2;
-        }
         $$triggered{$symb}{title} = $resource->title;
+        my $partcount = 0;
+        @{$$triggered{$symb}{text}} = ();
         foreach my $part (@parts) {
             if (exists($stats{$part}{users})) {
-                my $resetname = 'reset_'.&Apache::lonnet::escape($symb."\0".$part);
-                my $resettitle = 'title_'.&Apache::lonnet::escape($symb."\0".$part);
-                if ($$triggered{$symb}{numparts}) {
-                    $$triggered{$symb}{text} .= '<tr bgcolor="'.$rowColor.'">'."\n";
-                }
+                my $resetname = 'reset_'.&escape($symb."\0".$part);
+                my $resettitle = 'title_'.&escape($symb."\0".$part);
                 if (@parts > 1) {
-                    $$triggered{$symb}{text} .= '
-                     <td align="right"><small>part - '.$part.'<small></td>';
+                    $$triggered{$symb}{text}[$partcount] = '
+                     <td>part - '.$part.'</td>';
                 } else {
-                    $$triggered{$symb}{text} .= '
-                     <td align="right"><small>single part</small></td>';
+                    $$triggered{$symb}{text}[$partcount] = '
+                     <td>single part</td>';
                 }
-                $$triggered{$symb}{text} .= '
-                     <td align="right"><small>'.$stats{$part}{users}.'</small></td>
-                     <td align="right"><small>'.$stats{$part}{attempts}.'</small></td>
-                     <td align="right"><small>'.$stats{$part}{degdiff}.'</small></td>
-                     <td align="right"><small>'.$lastreset{$part}.'</small></td>
-                     <td align="right"><small><input type="checkbox" name="'.$resetname.'" /><input type="hidden" name="'.$resettitle.'" value="'.&Apache::lonnet::escape($$triggered{$symb}{title}).'" /></td>
-                    </tr>';
-                $$triggered{$symb}{numparts} ++;
+                $$triggered{$symb}{text}[$partcount] .= '
+                     <td>'.$stats{$part}{users}.'</td>
+                     <td>'.$stats{$part}{attempts}.'</td>
+                     <td>'.$stats{$part}{degdiff}.'</td>
+                     <td>'.$lastreset{$part}.'</td>
+                     <td><input type="checkbox" name="'.$resetname.'" /><input type="hidden" name="'.$resettitle.'" value="'.&escape($$triggered{$symb}{title}).'" /></td>';
+                $partcount ++;
             }
+            $$triggered{$symb}{numparts} = $partcount;
         }
         push(@{$warnings},$symb);
-        $warningnum ++;
     }
 }
 
@@ -942,7 +917,7 @@ sub get_curr_thresholds {
                                                      $uname,$cid.':threshold');
     my $thresholdcount = 0;
     my ($tmp) = %thresholdsettings;
-    unless ($tmp =~ /^Error/) {
+    unless ($tmp =~ /^(con_lost|error|no_such_host)/i) {
         foreach my $item (keys %{$threshold}) { 
             if (exists($thresholdsettings{$cid.':threshold_'.$item})) {
                 $$threshold{$item} = 
@@ -957,7 +932,7 @@ sub get_curr_thresholds {
     my %coursesettings = &Apache::lonnet::dump('environment',
                                               $cdom,$crs,'internal.threshold');
     my ($temp) = %coursesettings;
-    unless ($temp =~ /^Error/) {  
+    unless ($temp =~ /^(con_lost|error|no_such_host)/i) {  
         foreach my $item (keys %{$threshold}) {
             unless (exists($thresholdsettings{$cid.':threshold_'.$item})) {
                 if (exists($coursesettings{'internal.threshold_'.$item})) {
@@ -976,10 +951,7 @@ sub get_current {
     my %settings = &Apache::lonnet::dump('nohist_whatsnew',$udom,$uname,$cid.
                                                                 ':'.$caller);
     my ($tmp) = %settings;
-    if ($tmp =~ /^Error/) {
-        &logthis('Error retrieving '.$caller.' setting from nohist_whatsnew for '.
-                                                 $uname.";".$udom.' in '.$cid);
-    } else {
+    unless ($tmp =~ /^(con_lost|error|no_such_host)/i) {
         $currvalue = $settings{$cid.':'.$caller};
     }
     return $currvalue;
@@ -999,8 +971,8 @@ sub process_reset {
     my %titles = ();
     foreach my $key (keys(%env)) {
         next if ($key !~ /^form\.reset_(.+)$/);
-        my $title = &Apache::lonnet::unescape($env{'form.title_'.$1});
-        my $reset_item = &Apache::lonnet::unescape($1);
+        my $title = &unescape($env{'form.title_'.$1});
+        my $reset_item = &unescape($1);
         my %curr_aggregates = &Apache::lonnet::dump('nohist_resourcetracker',$dom,$crs,$reset_item);
         my %aggregates = ();
         my ($symb,$part) = split(/\0/,$reset_item);
@@ -1058,7 +1030,7 @@ sub getnormalmail {
 
     my @messages = sort(&Apache::lonnet::getkeys('nohist_email'));
     foreach my $message (@messages) {
-	my $msgid=&Apache::lonnet::escape($message);
+	my $msgid=&escape($message);
         my ($sendtime,$shortsubj,$fromname,$fromdom,$status,$fromcid)=
             &Apache::lonmsg::unpackmsgid($msgid);
         if (($fromcid) && ($fromcid eq $env{'request.course.id'})) {
@@ -1070,7 +1042,6 @@ sub getnormalmail {
                     if ($shortsubj eq '') {
                         $shortsubj = &mt('No subject');
                     }
-                    $shortsubj = &Apache::lonnet::unescape($shortsubj);
                     push(@{$newmsgs}, {
                         msgid    => $msgid,
                         sendtime => $sendtime,
@@ -1102,7 +1073,6 @@ sub getcritmail {
                 if ($shortsubj eq '') {
                     $shortsubj = &mt('No subject');
                 }
-                $shortsubj = &Apache::lonnet::unescape($shortsubj);
                 push(@{$critmsgs}, {
                         msgid    => $msgid,
                         sendtime => $sendtime,
@@ -1121,10 +1091,7 @@ sub checkversions {
     my ($cdom,$crs,$navmap,$changed,$starttime) = @_;
     my %changes=&Apache::lonnet::dump('versionupdate',$cdom,$crs);
     my ($tmp) = keys(%changes);
-    if ($tmp =~/^error\:/) {
-        &Apache::lonnet::logthis('Error retrieving version update information: '.
-        $tmp.' for '.$cdom.'_'.$crs.' in whatsnew');
-    } else {
+    unless ($tmp =~ /^(con_lost|error|no_such_host)/i) {
         if (keys(%changes) > 0) {
             foreach my $key (sort(keys(%changes))) {
                 if ($changes{$key} > $starttime) {
@@ -1179,7 +1146,7 @@ sub display_handgrade {
             }
             my ($map,$id,$url)=&Apache::lonnet::decode_symb($res);
             my $linkurl=&Apache::lonnet::clutter($url);
-            $linkurl .= '?symb='.&Apache::lonnet::escape($res);
+            $linkurl .= '?symb='.&escape($res);
                                                                                
             $r->print('<tr bgcolor="'.$rowColor.'"><td><a href="'.$linkurl.'"><small>'.$$ungraded{$res}{title}.'</small></a></td><td align="right"><small>'.$$ungraded{$res}{count}.'</small></td></tr>');
             $rowNum ++;
@@ -1217,7 +1184,7 @@ sub display_haserrors {
 }
 
 sub display_abovethreshold {
-    my ($r,$refpage,$warnings,$triggered,$res_title,$rowColor1,$rowColor2) = @_;
+    my ($r,$refpage,$warnings,$triggered,$res_title) = @_;
     my %lt = &Apache::lonlocal::texthash(
                  reso => 'Resource',
                  part => 'Part',
@@ -1229,34 +1196,47 @@ sub display_abovethreshold {
                  rese => 'Reset counters to 0',
                  nopr => 'No problems satisfy threshold criteria',
     );
-    my $rowColor; 
-    my $warningnum = 0;
     if (@{$warnings} > 0) {
         @{$warnings} = sort { &cmp_title($a,$b,$res_title) } @{$warnings};
         $r->print('<form name="reset_tracking" method="post" action="/adm/whatsnew">'.
                 ' <input type="hidden" name="command" value="reset" />'."\n".
                 ' <input type="hidden" name="refpage" value="'.$refpage.'" />'.
                 "\n");
-        $r->print('<tr bgcolor="#cccccc"><td><b><small>'.$lt{'reso'}.'</small></b></td><td align="right"><b><small>'.$lt{'part'}.'</small></b></td><td align="right"><b><small>'.$lt{'nust'}.'</small></b></td><td align="right"><b><small>'.$lt{'avat'}.'</small></b></td><td align="right"><b><small>'.$lt{'dedi'}.'</small></b></td><td align="right"><b><small>'.$lt{'lare'}.'</small></b></td><td align="right"><b><small>'.$lt{'reco'}.'</small></b></td></tr>');
+        $r->print('<tr class="LC_info_row">'.
+		  '<td class="LC_first_item">'.$lt{'reso'}.'</td>'.
+		  '<td>'.$lt{'part'}.'</td><td>'.$lt{'nust'}.'</td>'.
+		  '<td>'.$lt{'avat'}.'</td><td>'.$lt{'dedi'}.'</td>'.
+		  '<td>'.$lt{'lare'}.'</td><td>'.$lt{'reco'}.'</td></tr>');
+	my $row;
         foreach my $res (@{$warnings}) {
-            if ($warningnum %2 == 1) {
-                $rowColor = $rowColor1;
-            } else {
-                $rowColor = $rowColor2;
-            }
+	    $row++;
             my ($map,$id,$url)=&Apache::lonnet::decode_symb($res);
             my $linkurl=&Apache::lonnet::clutter($url);
             my $rowspan;
             if ($$triggered{$res}{numparts} > 1) {
                 $rowspan = 'rowspan="'.$$triggered{$res}{numparts}.'"';
             }
-            $linkurl .= '?symb='.&Apache::lonnet::escape($res);
-            $r->print('<tr bgcolor="'.$rowColor.'"><td '.$rowspan.'><a href="'.$linkurl.'"><small>'.$$triggered{$res}{title}.'</small></a></td>'.$$triggered{$res}{text});
-            $warningnum ++;
+            $linkurl .= '?symb='.&escape($res);
+            my $css_class = $row%2?'LC_odd_row':'';
+            $r->print('<tr class="'.$css_class.'">'.
+		      '<td class="LC_first_item" '.$rowspan.'><a href="'.$linkurl.'">'.
+		      $$triggered{$res}{title}.'</a></td>');
+                      if (ref($$triggered{$res}{text}) eq 'ARRAY') {
+		          $r->print($$triggered{$res}{text}[0]);
+                      }
+                      $r->print('</tr>');
+            if (ref($$triggered{$res}{text}) eq 'ARRAY') {
+                if (@{$$triggered{$res}{text}} > 1) {
+                    for (my $i=1; $i<@{$$triggered{$res}{text}}; $i++) {
+                        $r->print('<tr class="'.$css_class.'">'.
+                                  $$triggered{$res}{text}[$i].'</tr>');
+                    }
+                }
+            }
         }
-        $r->print('<tr bgcolor="#cccccc"><td colspan="7" align="right"><br /><b><small><input type="submit" name="counters" value="'.$lt{'rese'}.'" /></form>');
+        $r->print('<tr class="LC_info_row"><td colspan="7"><br /><input type="submit" name="counters" value="'.$lt{'rese'}.'" /></td></tr></form>');
     } else {
-        $r->print('<tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff"><br /><center><b><i><small>'.$lt{'nopr'}.'</small></i></b></center><br /></td></tr>');
+        $r->print('<tr class="LC_empty_row"><td>'.$lt{'nopr'}.'</td></tr>');
     }
 }
 
@@ -1284,7 +1264,7 @@ sub display_versionchanges {
             }
             my ($map,$id,$url)=&Apache::lonnet::decode_symb($item);
             my $linkurl=&Apache::lonnet::clutter($url);
-            $linkurl .= '?symb='.&Apache::lonnet::escape($item);
+            $linkurl .= '?symb='.&escape($item);
 
             $r->print('<tr bgcolor="'.$rowColor.'"><td><small><a href="'.$linkurl.'">'.$$res_title{$item}.'</a></small></td><td><small>'.$$changed{$item}{'revdate'}.'</small></td><td><small>'.$$changed{$item}{'current'}.'</small></td><td><small>'.$$changed{$item}{'version'}.'</small></td></tr>');
             $changenum ++;
@@ -1298,11 +1278,12 @@ sub display_versionchanges {
 sub display_coursediscussion {
     my ($r,$newdiscussions,$unread,$countunread,$res_title,$rowColor1,
                                                               $rowColor2) = @_;
+    my $lctype = lc(&Apache::loncommon::course_type());
     my %lt = &Apache::lonlocal::texthash(
                 'loca' => 'Location',
                 'type' => 'Type',
                 'numn' => 'Number of new posts',
-                'noun' => 'No unread posts in course discussions',
+                'noun' => 'No unread posts in '.$lctype.' discussions',
                 'tmlp' => 'Time of last post', 
     );
     my $rowColor;
@@ -1356,6 +1337,7 @@ sub display_coursediscussion {
 sub display_coursenormalmail {
     my ($r,$msgcount,$newmsgs,$rowColor1,$rowColor2) = @_;
     my $rowColor;
+    my $lctype = lc(&Apache::loncommon::course_type());
     if ($msgcount > 0) {
         $r->print('<tr bgcolor="#cccccc"><td><b><small>'.&mt('Number').'</small></b></td><td><b><small>'.&mt('Subject').'</small></b></td><td><b><small>'.&mt('Sender').'</small></b></td><td><b><small>'.&mt('Date/Time').'</small></b></td></tr>');
         my $rowNum = 0;
@@ -1371,13 +1353,14 @@ sub display_coursenormalmail {
             $mailcount ++;
         }
     } else {
-        $r->print('<tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" width="100%"><center><br /><b><i><small>'.&mt('No new course messages').'</small></i></b><br /><br /></center></td></tr>');
+        $r->print('<tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" width="100%"><center><br /><b><i><small>'.&mt('No new '.$lctype.' messages').'</small></i></b><br /><br /></center></td></tr>');
     }
 }
 
 sub display_coursecritmail {
     my ($r,$critmsgcount,$critmsgs,$rowColor1,$rowColor2) = @_;
     my $rowColor;
+    my $lctype = lc(&Apache::loncommon::course_type());
     if ($critmsgcount > 0) {
         $r->print('<tr bgcolor="#cccccc"><td><b><small>'.&mt('Number').'</small></b></td><td><b><small>'.&mt('Subject').'</small></b></td><td><b><small>'.&mt('Sender').'</small></b></td><td><b><small>'.&mt('Date/Time').'</small></b></td></tr>');
         my $rowNum = 0;
@@ -1393,7 +1376,7 @@ sub display_coursecritmail {
             $mailcount ++;
         }
     } else {
-        $r->print('<tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" width="100%"><center><br /><b><i><small>'.&mt('No unread critical messages in course').'</small></i></b><br /><br /></center></td></tr>');
+        $r->print('<tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" width="100%"><center><br /><b><i><small>'.&mt('No unread critical messages in '.$lctype).'</small></i></b><br /><br /></center></td></tr>');
     }
 }
 
@@ -1409,11 +1392,12 @@ sub get_display_settings {
     my ($uname,$udom,$cid) = @_;
     my %settings = &Apache::lonnet::dump('nohist_whatsnew',$udom,$uname,$cid); 
     my ($tmp) = keys(%settings);
-    if ($tmp=~/^error:/) {
+    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 /) {
+	    my $lctype = lc(&Apache::loncommon::course_type());
+            &Apache::lonnet::logthis('Error retrieving whatsnew settings: '.
+            $tmp.' for '.$uname.':'.$udom.' for '.$lctype.': '.$cid);
         }
     }
     return %settings;
@@ -1424,6 +1408,7 @@ sub store_display_settings {
     my %whatsnew_settings;
     my $result;
     foreach my $key (keys(%{$checkallowed})) {
+	if ($key =~ /_section$/) { next; }
         if (exists($env{'form.display_'.$key})) {
             unless ($env{'form.display_'.$key} eq '') {
                 $whatsnew_settings{$cid.':'.$key} = $env{'form.display_'.$key};
@@ -1452,8 +1437,9 @@ sub store_interval_setting {
                   '<b>'.$$interval_titles{$env{'form.interval'}}.'</b><br />');
 
         } else {
+	    my $lctype = lc(&Apache::loncommon::course_type());
             &Apache::lonnet::logthis('Error storing whatsnew interval setting'.
-                     ' '.$outcome.' for '.$uname.':'.$udom.' in course '.$cid);
+                ' '.$outcome.' for '.$uname.':'.$udom.' in '.$lctype.' '.$cid);
             $result = &mt('Unable to set interval to [_1] due to [_2].',
                          '<b>'.$$interval_titles{$env{'form.interval'}}.'</b>',
                          '<tt>'.$outcome.'</tt>.<br />');
@@ -1475,8 +1461,9 @@ sub store_discussion_setting {
                   '<b>'.$env{'form.countunread'}.'</b><br />');
                                                                                   
         } else {
+	    my $lctype = lc(&Apache::loncommon::course_type());
             &Apache::lonnet::logthis('Error storing whatsnew countunread setting'.
-                     ' '.$outcome.' for '.$uname.':'.$udom.' in course '.$cid);
+                ' '.$outcome.' for '.$uname.':'.$udom.' in '.$lctype.' '.$cid);
             $result = &mt('Unable to set "number unread posts display" to [_1]'.
                           ' due to [_2].',
                          '<b>'.$env{'form.countunread'}.'</b>',
@@ -1503,27 +1490,27 @@ sub store_courseinit_setting {
             }
         }
         if ($page_control) {
+	    my $lctype = lc(&Apache::loncommon::course_type());
             my $outcome = &Apache::lonnet::put('nohist_whatsnew',
                                            \%courseinit_settings,$udom,$uname);
             if ($outcome eq 'ok') {
                 if ($page_control eq 'global preferences') {
-                    $result = &mt('Page displayed after role selection in course now set by [_1]',"<b>user's global preferences</b>.");
+                    $result = &mt("Page displayed after role selection in $lctype now set by <b>user's global preferences</b>.");
                 } else {
-                    $result = &mt('Page displayed after role selection in this course set to [_1]','<b>'.$$initpage{$env{'form.courseinit_page'}}.'</b>.');
+                    $result = &mt('Page displayed after role selection in this '.$lctype.' set to <b>[_2]</b>',$lctype,$$initpage{$env{'form.courseinit_page'}});
                 }
             } else {
                 &Apache::lonnet::logthis('Error storing whatsnew courseinit '.
                                          'setting: '.$outcome.' for '.$uname.
-                                                 ':'.$udom.' in course '.$cid);
+                                         ':'.$udom.' in '.$lctype.' '.$cid);
                 if ($page_control eq 'global preferences') {
                     $result = &mt('Unable to set control of page display to [_1]'.
                           ' due to [_2].',
                          '<b>'.$page_control.'</b>',
                          '<tt>'.$outcome.'</tt>.<br />');
                 } else {
-                    $result = &mt('Unable to set page display, after role selection, for this course to [_1] due to [_2].',
-                         '<b>'.$$initpage{$env{'form.courseinit_page'}}.'</b>',
-                         '<tt>'.$outcome.'</tt>.<br />');
+                    $result = &mt('Unable to set page display, after role selection, for this '.$lctype.' to <b>[_2]</b> due to <tt>[_3]</tt>.<br />',
+                         $$initpage{$env{'form.courseinit_page'}},$outcome);
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -1538,7 +1525,7 @@ sub start_box {
                        chin => 'Change interval?',
                        chop => 'Change options?',
     );
-    my $showhide;
+    my ($showhide,$class);
     if ($$show{$caller}) {
         $showhide = '<b><a href="javascript:change_display(document.visible.'.
                                'display_'.$caller.",'hide'".');">Hide</a></b>';
@@ -1564,25 +1551,32 @@ sub start_box {
                </td>
               </tr>');
      if (($caller eq 'abovethreshold') && ($$show{$caller})) {
-         $r->print('
+         if ($$show{$caller}) {
+             $r->print('
               <tr>
                 <td bgcolor="'.$tabbg.'" align="right"><a href="/adm/whatsnew?command=chgthreshold&refpage='.$refpage.'"><b><small>'.$lt{'chth'}.'</small></b></a></td>
               </tr>');
+         }
+	 $class='class="LC_whatsnew"';
      } elsif (($caller eq 'versionchanges') && ($$show{$caller})) {
-         $r->print('
+         if ($$show{$caller}) {
+             $r->print('
               <tr>
                 <td bgcolor="'.$tabbg.'" align="right"><a href="/adm/whatsnew?command=chginterval&refpage='.$refpage.'"><b><small>'.$lt{'chin'}.'</small></b></a></td>
               </tr>');
+         }
      } elsif ($caller eq 'coursediscussion') {
-         $r->print('
+         if ($$show{$caller}) {
+             $r->print('
               <tr>
                 <td bgcolor="'.$tabbg.'" align="right"><a href="/adm/whatsnew?command=chgdisc&refpage='.$refpage.'"><b><small>'.$lt{'chop'}.'</small></b></a></td>
               </tr>');
+         }
      }
-     $r->print('
+    $r->print('
               <tr>
                <td bgcolor="#ffffff">
-                <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%">
+                <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" '.$class.'>
 ');
     return;
 }