--- loncom/xml/londefdef.pm	2007/03/22 22:34:23	1.361
+++ loncom/xml/londefdef.pm	2007/04/06 10:33:37	1.363
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # Tags Default Definition Module 
 #
-# $Id: londefdef.pm,v 1.361 2007/03/22 22:34:23 foxr Exp $
+# $Id: londefdef.pm,v 1.363 2007/04/06 10:33:37 foxr Exp $
 # 
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
@@ -1987,12 +1987,17 @@ sub start_table {
 	    }
 	} else {
 	    $Apache::londefdef::table[-1]{'forcedtablewidth'} = 1;
-	}
+        }
+	# This stuff looks a bit hokey..
+	# Percentage width is actually given as an absolute width..
+	# so what's the difference?
+	#
 	if ($TeXwidth=~/%/) {
 	    $Apache::londefdef::table[-1]{'percent'}=1;
 	    $TeXwidth=~/(\d+)/;
             $Apache::londefdef::table[-1]{'width'}=$1*$textwidth/100;
 	} else {
+	    $Apache::londefdef::table[-1]{'forcedtablewidth'} = 1; #  may or may not need this?
 	    $Apache::londefdef::table[-1]{'width'}=$TeXwidth;
 	}
         #  In the end, however the table width cannot be wider than $textwidth...
@@ -2000,7 +2005,6 @@ sub start_table {
 	if ($Apache::londefdef::table[-1]{'width'} > $textwidth) {
 	    $Apache::londefdef::table[-1]{'width'} = $textwidth;
 	}
-
         #table's border
 	my $border = &Apache::lonxml::get_param('border',$parstack,$safeeval); 
         my $permission=&Apache::lonxml::get_param('TeXDropEmptyColumns',$parstack,$safeeval,undef,0);
@@ -2141,6 +2145,7 @@ sub end_table {
 	    $space_neeeded=$space_neeeded+$max_len[$jn];
 	}
 	if ($space_neeeded<=$available_space) {
+
 	    for (my $jn=0;$jn<=$#max_len;$jn++) {
 		if ($fwidth[$jn]==0) {
 		    $fwidth[$jn]=$max_len[$jn];
@@ -2225,7 +2230,7 @@ sub end_table {
 	    }
 	}
         #use all available width if it is defined in % or as TeXwidth
-        if (($Apache::londefdef::table[-1]{'percent'}==1) || ($Apache::londefdef::table[-1]{'forcetablewidth'}==1)) {
+        if (($Apache::londefdef::table[-1]{'percent'}==1) || ($Apache::londefdef::table[-1]{'forcedtablewidth'}==1)) {
 	    my $current=0; 
 	    for (my $i=0;$i<=$#fwidth;$i++) {  
 		$current+=$fwidth[$i];