--- loncom/interface/spreadsheet/Spreadsheet.pm	2009/12/16 13:00:53	1.81
+++ loncom/interface/spreadsheet/Spreadsheet.pm	2013/08/09 17:58:15	1.82
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# $Id: Spreadsheet.pm,v 1.81 2009/12/16 13:00:53 bisitz Exp $
+# $Id: Spreadsheet.pm,v 1.82 2013/08/09 17:58:15 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -726,7 +726,7 @@ sub get_values {
 	my @num=($ld..$ud);
 	foreach my $a (@alpha) {
 	    foreach my $n (@num) {
-		if (exists($sheet_values{$a.$n})) {
+		if ((exists($sheet_values{$a.$n})) && ($sheet_values{$a.$n} ne '')) {
 		    push(@values,$sheet_values{$a.$n});
 		}
 	    }
@@ -742,8 +742,10 @@ sub get_values {
         $alpha=qq/[$la-$ua]/;
     }
     my $expression = '^'.$alpha.$num.'$';
-    foreach (grep /$expression/,keys(%sheet_values)) {
-	push(@values,$sheet_values{$_});
+    foreach my $item (grep(/$expression/,keys(%sheet_values))) {
+        unless ($sheet_values{$item} eq '') {
+	    push(@values,$sheet_values{$item});
+        }
     }
     return \@values;
 }