--- loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2012/03/14 20:53:50	1.1158
+++ loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2012/08/14 15:45:34	1.1183
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network
 # TCP networking package
 #
-# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.1158 2012/03/14 20:53:50 www Exp $
+# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.1183 2012/08/14 15:45:34 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ use LWP::UserAgent();
 use HTTP::Date;
 use Image::Magick;
 
+
+use Encode;
+
 use vars qw(%perlvar %spareid %pr %prp $memcache %packagetab $tmpdir
             $_64bit %env %protocol %loncaparevs %serverhomeIDs %needsrelease
             %managerstab);
@@ -96,6 +99,8 @@ use Math::Random;
 use File::MMagic;
 use LONCAPA qw(:DEFAULT :match);
 use LONCAPA::Configuration;
+use LONCAPA::lonmetadata;
+use LONCAPA::Lond;
 
 use File::Copy;
 
@@ -1235,6 +1240,7 @@ sub check_loadbalancing {
     my ($is_balancer,$dom_in_use,$homeintdom,$rule_in_effect,
         $offloadto,$otherserver);
     my $lonhost = $perlvar{'lonHostID'};
+    my @hosts = &current_machine_ids();
     my $uprimary_id = &Apache::lonnet::domain($udom,'primary');
     my $uintdom = &Apache::lonnet::internet_dom($uprimary_id);
     my $intdom = &Apache::lonnet::internet_dom($lonhost);
@@ -1261,7 +1267,6 @@ sub check_loadbalancing {
         my $currtargets = $result->{'targets'};
         my $currrules = $result->{'rules'};
         if ($currbalancer ne '') {
-            my @hosts = &current_machine_ids();
             if (grep(/^\Q$currbalancer\E$/,@hosts)) {
                 $is_balancer = 1;
             }
@@ -1349,31 +1354,43 @@ sub check_loadbalancing {
             $offloadto = &this_host_spares($dom_in_use);
         }
     }
-    my $lowest_load = 30000;
-    if (ref($offloadto) eq 'HASH') {
-        if (ref($offloadto->{'primary'}) eq 'ARRAY') {
-            foreach my $try_server (@{$offloadto->{'primary'}}) {
-                ($otherserver,$lowest_load) =
-                    &compare_server_load($try_server,$otherserver,$lowest_load);
+    if ($is_balancer) {
+        my $lowest_load = 30000;
+        if (ref($offloadto) eq 'HASH') {
+            if (ref($offloadto->{'primary'}) eq 'ARRAY') {
+                foreach my $try_server (@{$offloadto->{'primary'}}) {
+                    ($otherserver,$lowest_load) =
+                        &compare_server_load($try_server,$otherserver,$lowest_load);
+                }
             }
-        }
-        my $found_server = ($otherserver ne '' && $lowest_load < 100);
+            my $found_server = ($otherserver ne '' && $lowest_load < 100);
 
-        if (!$found_server) {
-            if (ref($offloadto->{'default'}) eq 'ARRAY') {
-                foreach my $try_server (@{$offloadto->{'default'}}) {
+            if (!$found_server) {
+                if (ref($offloadto->{'default'}) eq 'ARRAY') {
+                    foreach my $try_server (@{$offloadto->{'default'}}) {
+                        ($otherserver,$lowest_load) =
+                            &compare_server_load($try_server,$otherserver,$lowest_load);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        } elsif (ref($offloadto) eq 'ARRAY') {
+            if (@{$offloadto} == 1) {
+                $otherserver = $offloadto->[0];
+            } elsif (@{$offloadto} > 1) {
+                foreach my $try_server (@{$offloadto}) {
                     ($otherserver,$lowest_load) =
                         &compare_server_load($try_server,$otherserver,$lowest_load);
                 }
             }
         }
-    } elsif (ref($offloadto) eq 'ARRAY') {
-        if (@{$offloadto} == 1) {
-            $otherserver = $offloadto->[0];
-        } elsif (@{$offloadto} > 1) {
-            foreach my $try_server (@{$offloadto}) {
-                ($otherserver,$lowest_load) =
-                    &compare_server_load($try_server,$otherserver,$lowest_load);
+        if (($otherserver ne '') && (grep(/^\Q$otherserver\E$/,@hosts))) {
+            $is_balancer = 0;
+            if ($uname ne '' && $udom ne '') {
+                if (($env{'user.name'} eq $uname) && ($env{'user.domain'} eq $udom)) {
+                    
+                    &appenv({'user.loadbalexempt'     => $lonhost,  
+                             'user.loadbalcheck.time' => time});
+                }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1383,7 +1400,9 @@ sub check_loadbalancing {
 sub get_loadbalancer_targets {
     my ($rule_in_effect,$currtargets,$uname,$udom) = @_;
     my $offloadto;
-    if ($rule_in_effect eq '') {
+    if ($rule_in_effect eq 'none') {
+        return [$perlvar{'lonHostID'}];
+    } elsif ($rule_in_effect eq '') {
         $offloadto = $currtargets;
     } else {
         if ($rule_in_effect eq 'homeserver') {
@@ -1401,7 +1420,7 @@ sub get_loadbalancer_targets {
                     }
                 }
             } else {
-                my %servers = &dom_servers($udom);
+                my %servers = &internet_dom_servers($udom);
                 my ($remotebalancer,$remotetargets) = &get_lonbalancer_config(\%servers);
                 if (&hostname($remotebalancer) ne '') {
                     $offloadto = [$remotebalancer];
@@ -1534,16 +1553,13 @@ sub idput {
 
 # ------------------------------dump from db file owned by domainconfig user
 sub dump_dom {
-    my ($namespace,$udom,$regexp,$range)=@_;
-    if (!$udom) {
-        $udom=$env{'user.domain'};
-    }
-    my %returnhash;
-    if ($udom) {
-        my $uname = &get_domainconfiguser($udom);
-        %returnhash = &dump($namespace,$udom,$uname,$regexp,$range);
-    }
-    return %returnhash;
+    my ($namespace, $udom, $regexp) = @_;
+
+    $udom ||= $env{'user.domain'};
+
+    return () unless $udom;
+
+    return &dump($namespace, $udom, &get_domainconfiguser($udom), $regexp);
 }
 
 # ------------------------------------------ get items from domain db files   
@@ -1923,7 +1939,8 @@ sub get_domain_defaults {
     my %domconfig =
          &Apache::lonnet::get_dom('configuration',['defaults','quotas',
                                   'requestcourses','inststatus',
-                                  'coursedefaults','usersessions'],$domain);
+                                  'coursedefaults','usersessions',
+                                  'requestauthor'],$domain);
     if (ref($domconfig{'defaults'}) eq 'HASH') {
         $domdefaults{'lang_def'} = $domconfig{'defaults'}{'lang_def'}; 
         $domdefaults{'auth_def'} = $domconfig{'defaults'}{'auth_def'};
@@ -1942,7 +1959,7 @@ sub get_domain_defaults {
         } else {
             $domdefaults{'defaultquota'} = $domconfig{'quotas'};
         } 
-        my @usertools = ('aboutme','blog','portfolio');
+        my @usertools = ('aboutme','blog','webdav','portfolio');
         foreach my $item (@usertools) {
             if (ref($domconfig{'quotas'}{$item}) eq 'HASH') {
                 $domdefaults{$item} = $domconfig{'quotas'}{$item};
@@ -1954,6 +1971,9 @@ sub get_domain_defaults {
             $domdefaults{$item} = $domconfig{'requestcourses'}{$item};
         }
     }
+    if (ref($domconfig{'requestauthor'}) eq 'HASH') {
+        $domdefaults{'requestauthor'} = $domconfig{'requestauthor'};
+    }
     if (ref($domconfig{'inststatus'}) eq 'HASH') {
         foreach my $item ('inststatustypes','inststatusorder') {
             $domdefaults{$item} = $domconfig{'inststatus'}{$item};
@@ -2157,8 +2177,7 @@ sub getsection {
     # If there is a role which has expired, return it.
     #
     $courseid = &courseid_to_courseurl($courseid);
-    my $extra = &freeze_escape({'skipcheck' => 1});
-    my %roleshash = &dump('roles',$udom,$unam,$courseid,undef,$extra);
+    my %roleshash = &dump('roles',$udom,$unam,$courseid);
     foreach my $key (keys(%roleshash)) {
         next if ($key !~/^\Q$courseid\E(?:\/)*(\w+)*\_st$/);
         my $section=$1;
@@ -2442,7 +2461,7 @@ sub repcopy {
     $filename=~s/\/+/\//g;
     my $londocroot = $perlvar{'lonDocRoot'};
     if ($filename=~m{^\Q$londocroot/adm/\E}) { return 'ok'; }
-    if ($filename=~m{^\Q$londocroot/lonUsers/\E}) { return 'ok'; }
+    if ($filename=~m{^\Q/home/httpd/lonUsers/\E}) { return 'ok'; }
     if ($filename=~m{^\Q$londocroot/userfiles/\E} or
 	$filename=~m{^/*(uploaded|editupload)/}) {
 	return &repcopy_userfile($filename);
@@ -2570,12 +2589,14 @@ sub ssi {
     }
 
     $request->header(Cookie => $ENV{'HTTP_COOKIE'});
-    my $response=$ua->request($request);
+    my $response= $ua->request($request);
+    my $content = $response->content;
+
 
     if (wantarray) {
-	return ($response->content, $response);
+	return ($content, $response);
     } else {
-	return $response->content;
+	return $content;
     }
 }
 
@@ -3032,6 +3053,7 @@ sub finishuserfileupload {
 sub extract_embedded_items {
     my ($fullpath,$allfiles,$codebase,$content) = @_;
     my @state = ();
+    my (%lastids,%related,%shockwave,%flashvars);
     my %javafiles = (
                       codebase => '',
                       code => '',
@@ -3061,10 +3083,30 @@ sub extract_embedded_items {
 		&add_filetype($allfiles,$attr->{'href'},'href');
 	    }
             if (lc($tagname) eq 'script') {
+                my $src;
                 if ($attr->{'archive'} =~ /\.jar$/i) {
                     &add_filetype($allfiles,$attr->{'archive'},'archive');
                 } else {
-                    &add_filetype($allfiles,$attr->{'src'},'src');
+                    if ($attr->{'src'} ne '') {
+                        $src = $attr->{'src'};
+                        &add_filetype($allfiles,$src,'src');
+                    }
+                }
+                my $text = $p->get_trimmed_text();
+                if ($text =~ /\Qswfobject.registerObject(\E([^\)]+)\)/) {
+                    my @swfargs = split(/,/,$1);
+                    foreach my $item (@swfargs) {
+                        $item =~ s/["']//g;
+                        $item =~ s/^\s+//;
+                        $item =~ s/\s+$//;
+                    }
+                    if (($swfargs[0] ne'') && ($swfargs[2] ne '')) {
+                        if (ref($related{$swfargs[0]}) eq 'ARRAY') {
+                            push(@{$related{$swfargs[0]}},$swfargs[2]);
+                        } else {
+                            $related{$swfargs[0]} = [$swfargs[2]];
+                        }
+                    }
                 }
             }
             if (lc($tagname) eq 'link') {
@@ -3077,6 +3119,9 @@ sub extract_embedded_items {
 		foreach my $item (keys(%javafiles)) {
 		    $javafiles{$item} = '';
 		}
+                if ((lc($tagname) eq 'object') && (lc($state[-2]) ne 'object')) {
+                    $lastids{lc($tagname)} = $attr->{'id'};
+                }
 	    }
 	    if (lc($state[-2]) eq 'object' && lc($tagname) eq 'param') {
 		my $name = lc($attr->{'name'});
@@ -3086,12 +3131,22 @@ sub extract_embedded_items {
 			last;
 		    }
 		}
+                my $pathfrom;
 		foreach my $item (keys(%mediafiles)) {
 		    if ($name eq $item) {
-			&add_filetype($allfiles, $attr->{'value'}, 'value');
+                        $pathfrom = $attr->{'value'};
+                        $shockwave{$lastids{lc($state[-2])}} = $pathfrom;
+			&add_filetype($allfiles,$pathfrom,$name);
 			last;
 		    }
 		}
+                if ($name eq 'flashvars') {
+                    $flashvars{$lastids{lc($state[-2])}} = $attr->{'value'};
+                }
+                if ($pathfrom ne '') {
+                    &embedded_dependency($allfiles,\%related,$lastids{lc($state[-2])},
+                                         $pathfrom);
+                }
 	    }
 	    if (lc($tagname) eq 'embed' || lc($tagname) eq 'applet') {
 		foreach my $item (keys(%javafiles)) {
@@ -3106,7 +3161,16 @@ sub extract_embedded_items {
 			last;
 		    }
 		}
+                if (lc($tagname) eq 'embed') {
+                    if (($attr->{'name'} ne '') && ($attr->{'src'} ne '')) {
+                        &embedded_dependency($allfiles,\%related,$attr->{'name'},
+                                             $attr->{'src'});
+                    }
+                }
 	    }
+            if ($t->[4] =~ m{/>$}) {
+                pop(@state);  
+            }
 	} elsif ($t->[0] eq 'E') {
 	    my ($tagname) = ($t->[1]);
 	    if ($javafiles{'codebase'} ne '') {
@@ -3126,6 +3190,23 @@ sub extract_embedded_items {
 	    pop @state;
 	}
     }
+    foreach my $id (sort(keys(%flashvars))) {
+        if ($shockwave{$id} ne '') {
+            my @pairs = split(/\&/,$flashvars{$id});
+            foreach my $pair (@pairs) {
+                my ($key,$value) = split(/\=/,$pair);
+                if ($key eq 'thumb') {
+                    &add_filetype($allfiles,$value,$key);
+                } elsif ($key eq 'content') {
+                    my ($path) = ($shockwave{$id} =~ m{^(.+/)[^/]+$});
+                    my ($ext) = ($value =~ /\.([^.]+)$/);
+                    if ($ext ne '') {
+                        &add_filetype($allfiles,$path.$value,$ext);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
     return 'ok';
 }
 
@@ -3140,6 +3221,21 @@ sub add_filetype {
     }
 }
 
+sub embedded_dependency {
+    my ($allfiles,$related,$identifier,$pathfrom) = @_;
+    if ((ref($allfiles) eq 'HASH') && (ref($related) eq 'HASH')) {
+        if (($identifier ne '') &&
+            (ref($related->{$identifier}) eq 'ARRAY') &&
+            ($pathfrom ne '')) {
+            my ($path) = ($pathfrom =~ m{^(.+/)[^/]+$});
+            foreach my $dep (@{$related->{$identifier}}) {
+                &add_filetype($allfiles,$path.$dep,'object');
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    return;
+}
+
 sub removeuploadedurl {
     my ($url)=@_;	
     my (undef,undef,$udom,$uname,$fname)=split('/',$url,5);    
@@ -3269,6 +3365,7 @@ sub flushcourselogs {
             }
         } else {
             my ($dom,$name) = ($entry=~m{___($match_domain)/($match_name)/(.*)___(\w+)$});
+            if (($dom eq 'uploaded') || ($dom eq 'adm')) { next; }
             my %temphash=($entry => $accesshash{$entry});
             if (&put('nohist_resevaldata',\%temphash,$dom,$name) eq 'ok') {
                 delete $accesshash{$entry};
@@ -3397,31 +3494,37 @@ sub linklog {
     $accesshash{$from.'___'.$to.'___comefrom'}=1;
     $accesshash{$to.'___'.$from.'___goto'}=1;
 }
+
+sub statslog {
+    my ($symb,$part,$users,$av_attempts,$degdiff)=@_;
+    if ($users<2) { return; }
+    my %dynstore=&LONCAPA::lonmetadata::dynamic_metadata_storage({
+            'course'       => $env{'request.course.id'},
+            'sections'     => '"all"',
+            'num_students' => $users,
+            'part'         => $part,
+            'symb'         => $symb,
+            'mean_tries'   => $av_attempts,
+            'deg_of_diff'  => $degdiff});
+    foreach my $key (keys(%dynstore)) {
+        $accesshash{$key}=$dynstore{$key};
+    }
+}
   
 sub userrolelog {
     my ($trole,$username,$domain,$area,$tstart,$tend)=@_;
-    if (($trole=~/^ca/) || ($trole=~/^aa/) ||
-        ($trole=~/^in/) || ($trole=~/^cc/) ||
-        ($trole=~/^ep/) || ($trole=~/^cr/) ||
-        ($trole=~/^ta/) || ($trole=~/^co/)) {
+    if ( $trole =~ /^(ca|aa|in|cc|ep|cr|ta|co)/ ) {
        my (undef,$rudom,$runame,$rsec)=split(/\//,$area);
        $userrolehash
          {$trole.':'.$username.':'.$domain.':'.$runame.':'.$rudom.':'.$rsec}
                     =$tend.':'.$tstart;
     }
-    if (($env{'request.role'} =~ /dc\./) &&
-	(($trole=~/^au/) || ($trole=~/^in/) ||
-	 ($trole=~/^cc/) || ($trole=~/^ep/) ||
-	 ($trole=~/^cr/) || ($trole=~/^ta/) ||
-         ($trole=~/^co/))) {
+    if ($env{'request.role'} =~ /dc\./ && $trole =~ /^(au|in|cc|ep|cr|ta|co)/) {
        $userrolehash
          {$trole.':'.$username.':'.$domain.':'.$env{'user.name'}.':'.$env{'user.domain'}.':'}
                     =$tend.':'.$tstart;
     }
-    if (($trole=~/^dc/) || ($trole=~/^ad/) ||
-        ($trole=~/^li/) || ($trole=~/^li/) ||
-        ($trole=~/^au/) || ($trole=~/^dg/) ||
-        ($trole=~/^sc/)) {
+    if ($trole =~ /^(dc|ad|li|au|dg|sc)/ ) {
        my (undef,$rudom,$runame,$rsec)=split(/\//,$area);
        $domainrolehash
          {$trole.':'.$username.':'.$domain.':'.$runame.':'.$rudom.':'.$rsec}
@@ -3530,8 +3633,7 @@ sub get_my_roles {
     unless (defined($udom)) { $udom=$env{'user.domain'}; }
     my (%dumphash,%nothide);
     if ($context eq 'userroles') {
-        my $extra = &freeze_escape({'skipcheck' => 1});
-        %dumphash = &dump('roles',$udom,$uname,'.',undef,$extra);
+        %dumphash = &dump('roles',$udom,$uname);
     } else {
         %dumphash=
             &dump('nohist_userroles',$udom,$uname);
@@ -3727,18 +3829,32 @@ sub courseiddump {
 
 	    if (($domfilter eq '') ||
 		(&host_domain($tryserver) eq $domfilter)) {
-                my $rep = 
-                  &reply('courseiddump:'.&host_domain($tryserver).':'.
-                         $sincefilter.':'.&escape($descfilter).':'.
-                         &escape($instcodefilter).':'.&escape($ownerfilter).
-                         ':'.&escape($coursefilter).':'.&escape($typefilter).
-                         ':'.&escape($regexp_ok).':'.$as_hash.':'.
-                         &escape($selfenrollonly).':'.&escape($catfilter).':'.
-                         $showhidden.':'.$caller.':'.&escape($cloner).':'.
-                         &escape($cc_clone).':'.$cloneonly.':'.
-                         &escape($createdbefore).':'.&escape($createdafter).':'.
-                         &escape($creationcontext).':'.$domcloner,
-                         $tryserver);
+                my $rep;
+                if (grep { $_ eq $tryserver } current_machine_ids()) {
+                    $rep = LONCAPA::Lond::dump_course_id_handler(
+                        join(":", (&host_domain($tryserver), $sincefilter, 
+                                &escape($descfilter), &escape($instcodefilter), 
+                                &escape($ownerfilter), &escape($coursefilter),
+                                &escape($typefilter), &escape($regexp_ok), 
+                                $as_hash, &escape($selfenrollonly), 
+                                &escape($catfilter), $showhidden, $caller, 
+                                &escape($cloner), &escape($cc_clone), $cloneonly, 
+                                &escape($createdbefore), &escape($createdafter), 
+                                &escape($creationcontext), $domcloner)));
+                } else {
+                    $rep = &reply('courseiddump:'.&host_domain($tryserver).':'.
+                             $sincefilter.':'.&escape($descfilter).':'.
+                             &escape($instcodefilter).':'.&escape($ownerfilter).
+                             ':'.&escape($coursefilter).':'.&escape($typefilter).
+                             ':'.&escape($regexp_ok).':'.$as_hash.':'.
+                             &escape($selfenrollonly).':'.&escape($catfilter).':'.
+                             $showhidden.':'.$caller.':'.&escape($cloner).':'.
+                             &escape($cc_clone).':'.$cloneonly.':'.
+                             &escape($createdbefore).':'.&escape($createdafter).':'.
+                             &escape($creationcontext).':'.$domcloner,
+                             $tryserver);
+                }
+                     
                 my @pairs=split(/\&/,$rep);
                 foreach my $item (@pairs) {
                     my ($key,$value)=split(/\=/,$item,2);
@@ -3880,7 +3996,7 @@ my $cachedtime=();
 sub load_all_first_access {
     my ($uname,$udom)=@_;
     if (($cachedkey eq $uname.':'.$udom) &&
-        (abs($cachedtime-time)<5)) {
+        (abs($cachedtime-time)<5) && (!$env{'form.markaccess'})) {
         return;
     }
     $cachedtime=time;
@@ -3889,10 +4005,11 @@ sub load_all_first_access {
 }
 
 sub get_first_access {
-    my ($type,$argsymb)=@_;
+    my ($type,$argsymb,$argmap)=@_;
     my ($symb,$courseid,$udom,$uname)=&whichuser();
     if ($argsymb) { $symb=$argsymb; }
     my ($map,$id,$res)=&decode_symb($symb);
+    if ($argmap) { $map = $argmap; }
     if ($type eq 'course') {
 	$res='course';
     } elsif ($type eq 'map') {
@@ -3905,7 +4022,7 @@ sub get_first_access {
 }
 
 sub set_first_access {
-    my ($type)=@_;
+    my ($type,$interval)=@_;
     my ($symb,$courseid,$udom,$uname)=&whichuser();
     my ($map,$id,$res)=&decode_symb($symb);
     if ($type eq 'course') {
@@ -3916,9 +4033,22 @@ sub set_first_access {
 	$res=$symb;
     }
     $cachedkey='';
-    my $firstaccess=&get_first_access($type,$symb);
+    my $firstaccess=&get_first_access($type,$symb,$map);
     if (!$firstaccess) {
-	return &put('firstaccesstimes',{"$courseid\0$res"=>time},$udom,$uname);
+        my $start = time;
+	my $putres = &put('firstaccesstimes',{"$courseid\0$res"=>$start},
+                          $udom,$uname);
+        if ($putres eq 'ok') {
+            &put('timerinterval',{"$courseid\0$res"=>$interval},
+                 $udom,$uname); 
+            &appenv(
+                     {
+                        'course.'.$courseid.'.firstaccess.'.$res   => $start,
+                        'course.'.$courseid.'.timerinterval.'.$res => $interval,
+                     }
+                  );
+        }
+        return $putres;
     }
     return 'already_set';
 }
@@ -4510,95 +4640,127 @@ sub update_released_required {
 
 sub privileged {
     my ($username,$domain)=@_;
-    my $rolesdump=&reply("dump:$domain:$username:roles",
-			&homeserver($username,$domain));
-    if (($rolesdump eq 'con_lost') || ($rolesdump eq '') || 
-        ($rolesdump =~ /^error:/)) {
-        return 0;
-    }
-    my $now=time;
-    if ($rolesdump ne '') {
-        foreach my $entry (split(/&/,$rolesdump)) {
-	    if ($entry!~/^rolesdef_/) {
-		my ($area,$role)=split(/=/,$entry);
-		$area=~s/\_\w\w$//;
-		my ($trole,$tend,$tstart)=split(/_/,$role);
-		if (($trole eq 'dc') || ($trole eq 'su')) {
-		    my $active=1;
-		    if ($tend) {
-			if ($tend<$now) { $active=0; }
-		    }
-		    if ($tstart) {
-			if ($tstart>$now) { $active=0; }
-		    }
-		    if ($active) { return 1; }
-		}
-	    }
+
+    my %rolesdump = &dump("roles", $domain, $username) or return 0;
+    my $now = time;
+
+    for my $role (@rolesdump{grep { ! /^rolesdef_/ } keys %rolesdump}) {
+            my ($trole, $tend, $tstart) = split(/_/, $role);
+            if (($trole eq 'dc') || ($trole eq 'su')) {
+                return 1 unless ($tend && $tend < $now) 
+                    or ($tstart && $tstart > $now);
+            }
 	}
-    }
+
     return 0;
 }
 
 # -------------------------------------------------------- Get user privileges
 
 sub rolesinit {
-    my ($domain,$username,$authhost)=@_;
-    my $now=time;
-    my %userroles = ('user.login.time' => $now);
-    my $extra = &freeze_escape({'skipcheck' => 1});
-    my $rolesdump=reply("dump:$domain:$username:roles:.::$extra",$authhost);
-    if (($rolesdump eq 'con_lost') || ($rolesdump eq '') || 
-        ($rolesdump =~ /^error:/)) {
-        return \%userroles;
+    my ($domain, $username) = @_;
+    my %userroles = ('user.login.time' => time);
+    my %rolesdump = &dump("roles", $domain, $username) or return \%userroles;
+
+    # firstaccess and timerinterval are related to timed maps/resources. 
+    # also, blocking can be triggered by an activating timer
+    # it's saved in the user's %env.
+    my %firstaccess = &dump('firstaccesstimes', $domain, $username);
+    my %timerinterval = &dump('timerinterval', $domain, $username);
+    my (%coursetimerstarts, %firstaccchk, %firstaccenv, %coursetimerintervals,
+        %timerintchk, %timerintenv);
+
+    foreach my $key (keys(%firstaccess)) {
+        my ($cid, $rest) = split(/\0/, $key);
+        $coursetimerstarts{$cid}{$rest} = $firstaccess{$key};
+    }
+
+    foreach my $key (keys(%timerinterval)) {
+        my ($cid,$rest) = split(/\0/,$key);
+        $coursetimerintervals{$cid}{$rest} = $timerinterval{$key};
     }
+
     my %allroles=();
-    my %allgroups=();   
+    my %allgroups=();
 
-    if ($rolesdump ne '') {
-        foreach my $entry (split(/&/,$rolesdump)) {
-	  if ($entry!~/^rolesdef_/) {
-            my ($area,$role)=split(/=/,$entry);
-	    $area=~s/\_\w\w$//;
-            my ($trole,$tend,$tstart,$group_privs);
-	    if ($role=~/^cr/) { 
-		if ($role=~m|^(cr/$match_domain/$match_username/[a-zA-Z0-9]+)_(.*)$|) {
-		    ($trole,my $trest)=($role=~m|^(cr/$match_domain/$match_username/[a-zA-Z0-9]+)_(.*)$|);
-		    ($tend,$tstart)=split('_',$trest);
-		} else {
-		    $trole=$role;
-		}
-            } elsif ($role =~ m|^gr/|) {
-                ($trole,$tend,$tstart) = split(/_/,$role);
-                next if ($tstart eq '-1');
-                ($trole,$group_privs) = split(/\//,$trole);
-                $group_privs = &unescape($group_privs);
-	    } else {
-		($trole,$tend,$tstart)=split(/_/,$role);
-	    }
-	    my %new_role = &set_arearole($trole,$area,$tstart,$tend,$domain,
-					 $username);
-	    @userroles{keys(%new_role)} = @new_role{keys(%new_role)};
-            if (($tend!=0) && ($tend<$now)) { $trole=''; }
-            if (($tstart!=0) && ($tstart>$now)) { $trole=''; }
-            if (($area ne '') && ($trole ne '')) {
-		my $spec=$trole.'.'.$area;
-		my ($tdummy,$tdomain,$trest)=split(/\//,$area);
-		if ($trole =~ /^cr\//) {
-                    &custom_roleprivs(\%allroles,$trole,$tdomain,$trest,$spec,$area);
-                } elsif ($trole eq 'gr') {
-                    &group_roleprivs(\%allgroups,$area,$group_privs,$tend,$tstart);
-		} else {
-                    &standard_roleprivs(\%allroles,$trole,$tdomain,$spec,$trest,$area);
-		}
+    for my $area (grep { ! /^rolesdef_/ } keys %rolesdump) {
+        my $role = $rolesdump{$area};
+        $area =~ s/\_\w\w$//;
+
+        my ($trole, $tend, $tstart, $group_privs);
+
+        if ($role =~ /^cr/) {
+        # Custom role, defined by a user 
+        # e.g., user.role.cr/msu/smith/mynewrole
+            if ($role =~ m|^(cr/$match_domain/$match_username/[a-zA-Z0-9]+)_(.*)$|) {
+                $trole = $1;
+                ($tend, $tstart) = split('_', $2);
+            } else {
+                $trole = $role;
             }
-          }
+        } elsif ($role =~ m|^gr/|) {
+        # Role of member in a group, defined within a course/community
+        # e.g., user.role.gr/msu/04935610a19ee4a5fmsul1/leopards
+            ($trole, $tend, $tstart) = split(/_/, $role);
+            next if $tstart eq '-1';
+            ($trole, $group_privs) = split(/\//, $trole);
+            $group_privs = &unescape($group_privs);
+        } else {
+        # Just a normal role, defined in roles.tab
+            ($trole, $tend, $tstart) = split(/_/,$role);
+        }
+
+        my %new_role = &set_arearole($trole,$area,$tstart,$tend,$domain,
+                 $username);
+        @userroles{keys(%new_role)} = @new_role{keys(%new_role)};
+
+        # role expired or not available yet?
+        $trole = '' if ($tend != 0 && $tend < $userroles{'user.login.time'}) or 
+            ($tstart != 0 && $tstart > $userroles{'user.login.time'});
+
+        next if $area eq '' or $trole eq '';
+
+        my $spec = "$trole.$area";
+        my ($tdummy, $tdomain, $trest) = split(/\//, $area);
+
+        if ($trole =~ /^cr\//) {
+        # Custom role, defined by a user
+            &custom_roleprivs(\%allroles,$trole,$tdomain,$trest,$spec,$area);
+        } elsif ($trole eq 'gr') {
+        # Role of a member in a group, defined within a course/community
+            &group_roleprivs(\%allgroups,$area,$group_privs,$tend,$tstart);
+            next;
+        } else {
+        # Normal role, defined in roles.tab
+            &standard_roleprivs(\%allroles,$trole,$tdomain,$spec,$trest,$area);
+        }
+
+        my $cid = $tdomain.'_'.$trest;
+        unless ($firstaccchk{$cid}) {
+            if (ref($coursetimerstarts{$cid}) eq 'HASH') {
+                foreach my $item (keys(%{$coursetimerstarts{$cid}})) {
+                    $firstaccenv{'course.'.$cid.'.firstaccess.'.$item} = 
+                        $coursetimerstarts{$cid}{$item}; 
+                }
+            }
+            $firstaccchk{$cid} = 1;
+        }
+        unless ($timerintchk{$cid}) {
+            if (ref($coursetimerintervals{$cid}) eq 'HASH') {
+                foreach my $item (keys(%{$coursetimerintervals{$cid}})) {
+                    $timerintenv{'course.'.$cid.'.timerinterval.'.$item} =
+                       $coursetimerintervals{$cid}{$item};
+                }
+            }
+            $timerintchk{$cid} = 1;
         }
-        my ($author,$adv) = &set_userprivs(\%userroles,\%allroles,\%allgroups);
-        $userroles{'user.adv'}    = $adv;
-	$userroles{'user.author'} = $author;
-        $env{'user.adv'}=$adv;
     }
-    return \%userroles;  
+
+    @userroles{'user.author', 'user.adv'} = &set_userprivs(\%userroles,
+        \%allroles, \%allgroups);
+    $env{'user.adv'} = $userroles{'user.adv'};
+
+    return (\%userroles,\%firstaccenv,\%timerintenv);
 }
 
 sub set_arearole {
@@ -4932,23 +5094,50 @@ sub del {
 
 # -------------------------------------------------------------- dump interface
 
+sub unserialize {
+    my ($rep, $escapedkeys) = @_;
+
+    return {} if $rep =~ /^error/;
+
+    my %returnhash=();
+	foreach my $item (split /\&/, $rep) {
+	    my ($key, $value) = split(/=/, $item, 2);
+	    $key = unescape($key) unless $escapedkeys;
+	    next if $key =~ /^error: 2 /;
+	    $returnhash{$key} = Apache::lonnet::thaw_unescape($value);
+	}
+    #return %returnhash;
+    return \%returnhash;
+}        
+
+# see Lond::dump_with_regexp
+# if $escapedkeys hash keys won't get unescaped.
 sub dump {
-    my ($namespace,$udomain,$uname,$regexp,$range,$extra)=@_;
+    my ($namespace,$udomain,$uname,$regexp,$range,$escapedkeys)=@_;
     if (!$udomain) { $udomain=$env{'user.domain'}; }
     if (!$uname) { $uname=$env{'user.name'}; }
     my $uhome=&homeserver($uname,$udomain);
+
+    my $reply;
+    if (grep { $_ eq $uhome } current_machine_ids()) {
+        # user is hosted on this machine
+        $reply = LONCAPA::Lond::dump_with_regexp(join(":", ($udomain,
+                    $uname, $namespace, $regexp, $range)), $loncaparevs{$uhome});
+        return %{unserialize($reply, $escapedkeys)};
+    }
     if ($regexp) {
 	$regexp=&escape($regexp);
     } else {
 	$regexp='.';
     }
-    my $rep=&reply("dump:$udomain:$uname:$namespace:$regexp:$range:$extra",$uhome);
+    my $rep=&reply("dump:$udomain:$uname:$namespace:$regexp:$range",$uhome);
     my @pairs=split(/\&/,$rep);
     my %returnhash=();
     if (!($rep =~ /^error/ )) {
 	foreach my $item (@pairs) {
 	    my ($key,$value)=split(/=/,$item,2);
-	    $key = &unescape($key);
+        $key = unescape($key) unless $escapedkeys;
+        #$key = &unescape($key);
 	    next if ($key =~ /^error: 2 /);
 	    $returnhash{$key}=&thaw_unescape($value);
 	}
@@ -4961,23 +5150,9 @@ sub dump {
 
 sub dumpstore {
    my ($namespace,$udomain,$uname,$regexp,$range)=@_;
-   if (!$udomain) { $udomain=$env{'user.domain'}; }
-   if (!$uname) { $uname=$env{'user.name'}; }
-   my $uhome=&homeserver($uname,$udomain);
-   if ($regexp) {
-       $regexp=&escape($regexp);
-   } else {
-       $regexp='.';
-   }
-   my $rep=&reply("dump:$udomain:$uname:$namespace:$regexp:$range",$uhome);
-   my @pairs=split(/\&/,$rep);
-   my %returnhash=();
-   foreach my $item (@pairs) {
-       my ($key,$value)=split(/=/,$item,2);
-       next if ($key =~ /^error: 2 /);
-       $returnhash{$key}=&thaw_unescape($value);
-   }
-   return %returnhash;
+   # same as dump but keys must be escaped. They may contain colon separated
+   # lists of values that may themself contain colons (e.g. symbs).
+   return &dump($namespace, $udomain, $uname, $regexp, $range, 1);
 }
 
 # -------------------------------------------------------------- keys interface
@@ -5003,7 +5178,15 @@ sub currentdump {
    $sdom     = $env{'user.domain'}       if (! defined($sdom));
    $sname    = $env{'user.name'}         if (! defined($sname));
    my $uhome = &homeserver($sname,$sdom);
-   my $rep=reply('currentdump:'.$sdom.':'.$sname.':'.$courseid,$uhome);
+   my $rep;
+
+   if (grep { $_ eq $uhome } current_machine_ids()) {
+       $rep = LONCAPA::Lond::dump_profile_database(join(":", ($sdom, $sname, 
+                   $courseid)));
+   } else {
+       $rep = reply('currentdump:'.$sdom.':'.$sname.':'.$courseid,$uhome);
+   }
+
    return if ($rep =~ /^(error:|no_such_host)/);
    #
    my %returnhash=();
@@ -5501,10 +5684,15 @@ sub usertools_access {
                       unofficial => 1,
                       community  => 1,
                  );
+    } elsif ($context eq 'requestauthor') {
+        %tools = (
+                      requestauthor => 1,
+                 );
     } else {
         %tools = (
                       aboutme   => 1,
                       blog      => 1,
+                      webdav    => 1,
                       portfolio => 1,
                  );
     }
@@ -5519,25 +5707,32 @@ sub usertools_access {
         if ($action ne 'reload') {
             if ($context eq 'requestcourses') {
                 return $env{'environment.canrequest.'.$tool};
+            } elsif ($context eq 'requestauthor') {
+                return $env{'environment.canrequest.author'};
             } else {
                 return $env{'environment.availabletools.'.$tool};
             }
         }
     }
 
-    my ($toolstatus,$inststatus);
+    my ($toolstatus,$inststatus,$envkey);
+    if ($context eq 'requestauthor') {
+        $envkey = $context; 
+    } else {
+        $envkey = $context.'.'.$tool;
+    }
 
     if (($udom eq $env{'user.domain'}) && ($uname eq $env{'user.name'}) &&
          ($action ne 'reload')) {
-        $toolstatus = $env{'environment.'.$context.'.'.$tool};
+        $toolstatus = $env{'environment.'.$envkey};
         $inststatus = $env{'environment.inststatus'};
     } else {
         if (ref($userenvref) eq 'HASH') {
-            $toolstatus = $userenvref->{$context.'.'.$tool};
+            $toolstatus = $userenvref->{$envkey};
             $inststatus = $userenvref->{'inststatus'};
         } else {
-            my %userenv = &userenvironment($udom,$uname,$context.'.'.$tool,'inststatus');
-            $toolstatus = $userenv{$context.'.'.$tool};
+            my %userenv = &userenvironment($udom,$uname,$envkey,'inststatus');
+            $toolstatus = $userenv{$envkey};
             $inststatus = $userenv{'inststatus'};
         }
     }
@@ -5603,7 +5798,7 @@ sub usertools_access {
             }
         }
     } else {
-        if ($context eq 'tools') {
+        if (($context eq 'tools') && ($tool ne 'webdav')) {
             $access = 1;
         } else {
             $access = 0;
@@ -5979,7 +6174,12 @@ sub allowed {
         if ($match) {
             if ($env{'user.priv.'.$env{'request.role'}.'./'}
                   =~/\Q$priv\E\&([^\:]*)/) {
-                $thisallowed.=$1;
+                my @blockers = &has_comm_blocking($priv,$symb,$uri);
+                if (@blockers > 0) {
+                    $thisallowed = 'B';
+                } else {
+                    $thisallowed.=$1;
+                }
             }
         } else {
             my $refuri = $env{'httpref.'.$orguri} || $env{'httpref.'.$ver_orguri};
@@ -5990,7 +6190,12 @@ sub allowed {
                     $refuri=&declutter($refuri);
                     my ($match) = &is_on_map($refuri);
                     if ($match) {
-                        $thisallowed='F';
+                        my @blockers = &has_comm_blocking($priv,$symb,$refuri);
+                        if (@blockers > 0) {
+                            $thisallowed = 'B';
+                        } else {
+                            $thisallowed='F';
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -6042,7 +6247,17 @@ sub allowed {
            $statecond=$cond;
            if ($env{'user.priv.'.$env{'request.role'}.'./'.$courseprivid}
                =~/\Q$priv\E\&([^\:]*)/) {
-               $thisallowed.=$1;
+               my $value = $1;
+               if ($priv eq 'bre') {
+                   my @blockers = &has_comm_blocking($priv,$symb,$uri);
+                   if (@blockers > 0) {
+                       $thisallowed = 'B';
+                   } else {
+                       $thisallowed.=$value;
+                   }
+               } else {
+                   $thisallowed.=$value;
+               }
                $checkreferer=0;
            }
        }
@@ -6070,7 +6285,17 @@ sub allowed {
               my $refstatecond=$cond;
               if ($env{'user.priv.'.$env{'request.role'}.'./'.$courseprivid}
                   =~/\Q$priv\E\&([^\:]*)/) {
-                  $thisallowed.=$1;
+                  my $value = $1;
+                  if ($priv eq 'bre') {
+                      my @blockers = &has_comm_blocking($priv,$symb,$refuri);
+                      if (@blockers > 0) {
+                          $thisallowed = 'B';
+                      } else {
+                          $thisallowed.=$value;
+                      }
+                  } else {
+                      $thisallowed.=$value;
+                  }
                   $uri=$refuri;
                   $statecond=$refstatecond;
               }
@@ -6229,6 +6454,164 @@ sub allowed {
     }
    return 'F';
 }
+
+sub get_comm_blocks {
+    my ($cdom,$cnum) = @_;
+    if ($cdom eq '' || $cnum eq '') {
+        return unless ($env{'request.course.id'});
+        $cnum = $env{'course.'.$env{'request.course.id'}.'.num'};
+        $cdom = $env{'course.'.$env{'request.course.id'}.'.domain'};
+    }
+    my %commblocks;
+    my $hashid=$cdom.'_'.$cnum;
+    my ($blocksref,$cached)=&is_cached_new('comm_block',$hashid);
+    if ((defined($cached)) && (ref($blocksref) eq 'HASH')) {
+        %commblocks = %{$blocksref};
+    } else {
+        %commblocks = &Apache::lonnet::dump('comm_block',$cdom,$cnum);
+        my $cachetime = 600;
+        &do_cache_new('comm_block',$hashid,\%commblocks,$cachetime);
+    }
+    return %commblocks;
+}
+
+sub has_comm_blocking {
+    my ($priv,$symb,$uri,$blocks) = @_;
+    return unless ($env{'request.course.id'});
+    return unless ($priv eq 'bre');
+    return if ($env{'user.priv.'.$env{'request.role'}} =~/evb\&([^\:]*)/);
+    my %commblocks;
+    if (ref($blocks) eq 'HASH') {
+        %commblocks = %{$blocks};
+    } else {
+        %commblocks = &get_comm_blocks();
+    }
+    return unless (keys(%commblocks) > 0);
+    if (!$symb) { $symb=&symbread($uri,1); }
+    my ($map,$resid,undef)=&decode_symb($symb);
+    my %tocheck = (
+                    maps      => $map,
+                    resources => $symb,
+                  );
+    my @blockers;
+    my $now = time;
+    my $navmap = Apache::lonnavmaps::navmap->new();
+    foreach my $block (keys(%commblocks)) {
+        if ($block =~ /^(\d+)____(\d+)$/) {
+            my ($start,$end) = ($1,$2);
+            if ($start <= $now && $end >= $now) {
+                if (ref($commblocks{$block}{'blocks'}) eq 'HASH') {
+                    if (ref($commblocks{$block}{'blocks'}{'docs'}) eq 'HASH') {
+                        if (ref($commblocks{$block}{'blocks'}{'docs'}{'maps'}) eq 'HASH') {
+                            if ($commblocks{$block}{'blocks'}{'docs'}{'maps'}{$map}) {
+                                unless (grep(/^\Q$block\E$/,@blockers)) {
+                                    push(@blockers,$block);
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                        if (ref($commblocks{$block}{'blocks'}{'docs'}{'resources'}) eq 'HASH') {
+                            if ($commblocks{$block}{'blocks'}{'docs'}{'resources'}{$symb}) {
+                                unless (grep(/^\Q$block\E$/,@blockers)) {  
+                                    push(@blockers,$block);
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        } elsif ($block =~ /^firstaccess____(.+)$/) {
+            my $item = $1;
+            my @to_test;
+            if (ref($commblocks{$block}{'blocks'}) eq 'HASH') {
+                if (ref($commblocks{$block}{'blocks'}{'docs'}) eq 'HASH') {
+                    my $check_interval;
+                    if (&check_docs_block($commblocks{$block}{'blocks'}{'docs'},\%tocheck)) {
+                        my @interval;
+                        my $type = 'map';
+                        if ($item eq 'course') {
+                            $type = 'course';
+                            @interval=&EXT("resource.0.interval");
+                        } else {
+                            if ($item =~ /___\d+___/) {
+                                $type = 'resource';
+                                @interval=&EXT("resource.0.interval",$item);
+                                if (ref($navmap)) {                        
+                                    my $res = $navmap->getBySymb($item); 
+                                    push(@to_test,$res);
+                                }
+                            } else {
+                                my $mapsymb = &symbread($item,1);
+                                if ($mapsymb) {
+                                    if (ref($navmap)) {
+                                        my $mapres = $navmap->getBySymb($mapsymb);
+                                        @to_test = $mapres->retrieveResources($mapres,undef,0,1);
+                                        foreach my $res (@to_test) {
+                                            my $symb = $res->symb();
+                                            next if ($symb eq $mapsymb);
+                                            if ($symb ne '') {
+                                                @interval=&EXT("resource.0.interval",$symb);
+                                                last;
+                                            }
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                        if ($interval[0] =~ /\d+/) {
+                            my $first_access;
+                            if ($type eq 'resource') {
+                                $first_access=&get_first_access($interval[1],$item);
+                            } elsif ($type eq 'map') {
+                                $first_access=&get_first_access($interval[1],undef,$item);
+                            } else {
+                                $first_access=&get_first_access($interval[1]);
+                            }
+                            if ($first_access) {
+                                my $timesup = $first_access+$interval[0];
+                                if ($timesup > $now) {
+                                    foreach my $res (@to_test) {
+                                        if ($res->is_problem()) {
+                                            if ($res->completable()) {
+                                                unless (grep(/^\Q$block\E$/,@blockers)) {
+                                                    push(@blockers,$block);
+                                                }
+                                                last;
+                                            }
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    return @blockers;
+}
+
+sub check_docs_block {
+    my ($docsblock,$tocheck) =@_;
+    if ((ref($docsblock) ne 'HASH') || (ref($tocheck) ne 'HASH')) {
+        return;
+    }
+    if (ref($docsblock->{'maps'}) eq 'HASH') {
+        if ($tocheck->{'maps'}) {
+            if ($docsblock->{'maps'}{$tocheck->{'maps'}}) {
+                return 1;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    if (ref($docsblock->{'resources'}) eq 'HASH') {
+        if ($tocheck->{'resources'}) {
+            if ($docsblock->{'resources'}{$tocheck->{'resources'}}) {
+                return 1;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    return;
+}
+
 #
 #   Removes the versino from a URI and
 #   splits it in to its filename and path to the filename.
@@ -6964,8 +7347,7 @@ sub get_users_groups {
     } else {  
         $grouplist = '';
         my $courseurl = &courseid_to_courseurl($courseid);
-        my $extra = &freeze_escape({'skipcheck' => 1});
-        my %roleshash = &dump('roles',$udom,$uname,$courseurl,undef,$extra);
+        my %roleshash = &dump('roles',$udom,$uname,$courseurl);
         my $access_end = $env{'course.'.$courseid.
                               '.default_enrollment_end_date'};
         my $now = time;
@@ -7137,6 +7519,41 @@ sub assignrole {
                             }
                         }
                     }
+                } elsif ($context eq 'requestauthor') {
+                    if (($udom eq $env{'user.domain'}) && ($uname eq $env{'user.name'}) && 
+                        ($url eq '/'.$udom.'/') && ($role eq 'au')) {
+                        if ($env{'environment.requestauthor'} eq 'automatic') {
+                            $refused = '';
+                        } else {
+                            my %domdefaults = &get_domain_defaults($udom);
+                            if (ref($domdefaults{'requestauthor'}) eq 'HASH') {
+                                my $checkbystatus;
+                                if ($env{'user.adv'}) { 
+                                    my $disposition = $domdefaults{'requestauthor'}{'_LC_adv'};
+                                    if ($disposition eq 'automatic') {
+                                        $refused = '';
+                                    } elsif ($disposition eq '') {
+                                        $checkbystatus = 1;
+                                    } 
+                                } else {
+                                    $checkbystatus = 1;
+                                }
+                                if ($checkbystatus) {
+                                    if ($env{'environment.inststatus'}) {
+                                        my @inststatuses = split(/,/,$env{'environment.inststatus'});
+                                        foreach my $type (@inststatuses) {
+                                            if (($type ne '') &&
+                                                ($domdefaults{'requestauthor'}{$type} eq 'automatic')) {
+                                                $refused = '';
+                                            }
+                                        }
+                                    } elsif ($domdefaults{'requestauthor'}{'default'} eq 'automatic') {
+                                        $refused = '';
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
                 }
                 if ($refused) {
                     &logthis('Refused assignrole: '.$udom.' '.$uname.' '.$url.
@@ -7778,13 +8195,16 @@ sub generate_coursenum {
 }
 
 sub is_course {
-    my ($cdom,$cnum) = @_;
-    my %courses = &courseiddump($cdom,'.',1,'.','.',$cnum,undef,
-				undef,'.');
-    if (exists($courses{$cdom.'_'.$cnum})) {
-        return 1;
-    }
-    return 0;
+    my ($cdom, $cnum) = scalar(@_) == 1 ? 
+         ($_[0] =~ /^($match_domain)_($match_courseid)$/)  :  @_;
+
+    return unless $cdom and $cnum;
+
+    my %courses = &courseiddump($cdom, '.', 1, '.', '.', $cnum, undef, undef,
+        '.');
+
+    return unless exists($courses{$cdom.'_'.$cnum});
+    return wantarray ? ($cdom, $cnum) : $cdom.'_'.$cnum;
 }
 
 sub store_userdata {
@@ -9404,6 +9824,10 @@ sub gettitle {
 	}
 	$title=~s/\&colon\;/\:/gs;
 	if ($title) {
+# Remember both $symb and $title for dynamic metadata
+            $accesshash{$symb.'___crstitle'}=$title;
+            $accesshash{&declutter($map).'___'.&declutter($url).'___usage'}=time;
+# Cache this title and then return it
 	    return &do_cache_new('title',$key,$title,600);
 	}
 	$urlsymb=$url;
@@ -9479,6 +9903,41 @@ sub devalidate_slots_cache {
     &devalidate_cache_new('allslots',$hashid);
 }
 
+sub get_coursechange {
+    my ($cdom,$cnum) = @_;
+    if ($cdom eq '' || $cnum eq '') {
+        return unless ($env{'request.course.id'});
+        $cnum = $env{'course.'.$env{'request.course.id'}.'.num'};
+        $cdom = $env{'course.'.$env{'request.course.id'}.'.domain'};
+    }
+    my $hashid=$cdom.'_'.$cnum;
+    my ($change,$cached)=&is_cached_new('crschange',$hashid);
+    if ((defined($cached)) && ($change ne '')) {
+        return $change;
+    } else {
+        my %crshash;
+        %crshash = &get('environment',['internal.contentchange'],$cdom,$cnum);
+        if ($crshash{'internal.contentchange'} eq '') {
+            $change = $env{'course.'.$cdom.'_'.$cnum.'.internal.created'};
+            if ($change eq '') {
+                %crshash = &get('environment',['internal.created'],$cdom,$cnum);
+                $change = $crshash{'internal.created'};
+            }
+        } else {
+            $change = $crshash{'internal.contentchange'};
+        }
+        my $cachetime = 600;
+        &do_cache_new('crschange',$hashid,$change,$cachetime);
+    }
+    return $change;
+}
+
+sub devalidate_coursechange_cache {
+    my ($cnum,$cdom)=@_;
+    my $hashid=$cnum.':'.$cdom;
+    &devalidate_cache_new('crschange',$hashid);
+}
+
 # ------------------------------------------------- Update symbolic store links
 
 sub symblist {
@@ -9623,7 +10082,11 @@ sub deversion {
 sub symbread {
     my ($thisfn,$donotrecurse)=@_;
     my $cache_str='request.symbread.cached.'.$thisfn;
-    if (defined($env{$cache_str})) { return $env{$cache_str}; }
+    if (defined($env{$cache_str})) {
+        if (($thisfn) || ($env{$cache_str} ne '')) {
+            return $env{$cache_str};
+        }
+    }
 # no filename provided? try from environment
     unless ($thisfn) {
         if ($env{'request.symb'}) {
@@ -10183,7 +10646,7 @@ sub repcopy_userfile {
     my ($file)=@_;
     my $londocroot = $perlvar{'lonDocRoot'};
     if ($file =~ m{^/*(uploaded|editupload)/}) { $file=&filelocation("",$file); }
-    if ($file =~ m{^\Q$londocroot/lonUsers/\E}) { return 'ok'; }
+    if ($file =~ m{^\Q/home/httpd/lonUsers/\E}) { return 'ok'; }
     my ($cdom,$cnum,$filename) = 
 	($file=~m|^\Q$perlvar{'lonDocRoot'}\E/+userfiles/+($match_domain)/+($match_name)/+(.*)|);
     my $uri="/uploaded/$cdom/$cnum/$filename";
@@ -10440,6 +10903,7 @@ sub declutter {
     $thisfn=~s|^adm/wrapper/||;
     $thisfn=~s|^adm/coursedocs/showdoc/||;
     $thisfn=~s/^res\///;
+    $thisfn=~s/^priv\///;
     unless (($thisfn =~ /^ext/) || ($thisfn =~ /\.(page|sequence)___\d+___ext/)) {
         $thisfn=~s/\?.+$//;
     }
@@ -11358,7 +11822,13 @@ B<idput($udom,%ids)>: store away a list
 
 =item *
 X<rolesinit()>
-B<rolesinit($udom,$username,$authhost)>: get user privileges
+B<rolesinit($udom,$username)>: get user privileges.
+returns user role, first access and timer interval hashes
+
+=item *
+X<privileged()>
+B<privileged($username,$domain)>: returns a true if user has a
+privileged and active role (i.e. su or dc), false otherwise.
 
 =item *
 X<getsection()>
@@ -11651,6 +12121,19 @@ createcourse($udom,$description,$url,$co
 
 generate_coursenum($udom,$crstype) : get a unique (unused) course number in domain $udom for course type $crstype (Course or Community).
 
+=item *
+
+is_course($courseid), is_course($cdom, $cnum)
+
+Accepts either a combined $courseid (in the form of domain_courseid) or the
+two component version $cdom, $cnum. It checks if the specified course exists.
+
+Returns:
+    undef if the course doesn't exist, otherwise
+    in scalar context the combined courseid.
+    in list context the two components of the course identifier, domain and 
+    courseid.    
+
 =back
 
 =head2 Resource Subroutines