--- loncom/localize/lonlocal.pm	2006/04/20 04:30:23	1.39
+++ loncom/localize/lonlocal.pm	2006/08/28 14:26:25	1.41
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # Localization routines
 #
-# $Id: lonlocal.pm,v 1.39 2006/04/20 04:30:23 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: lonlocal.pm,v 1.41 2006/08/28 14:26:25 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -264,6 +264,9 @@ sub gettimezone {
 
 sub locallocaltime {
     my $thistime=shift;
+    if (!defined($thistime) || $thistime eq '') {
+	return &mt('Never');
+    }
     if ((&current_language=~/^en/) || (!$lh)) {
 	return ''.localtime($thistime).&gettimezone($thistime);
     } else {
@@ -342,6 +345,21 @@ sub transstatic {
     $$strptr=~s/MT\{([^\}]*)\}/&mt($1)/gse;
 }
 
+=pod 
+
+=item * mt_escape
+
+mt_escape takes a string reference and escape the [] in there so mt
+will leave them as is and not try to expand them
+
+=cut
+
+sub mt_escape {
+    my ($str_ref) = @_;
+    $$str_ref =~s/~/~~/g;
+    $$str_ref =~s/([\[\]])/~$1/g;
+}
+
 1;
 
 __END__