--- loncom/LONCAPA.pm	2006/06/19 10:00:27	1.7
+++ loncom/LONCAPA.pm	2006/06/26 21:19:36	1.8
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network
 # Base routines
 #
-# $Id: LONCAPA.pm,v 1.7 2006/06/19 10:00:27 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: LONCAPA.pm,v 1.8 2006/06/26 21:19:36 foxr Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -40,9 +40,19 @@ my $loncapa_max_wait_time = 13;
 
 require Exporter;
 our @ISA = qw (Exporter);
-our @EXPORT = qw(&add_get_param &escape &unescape &tie_domain_hash &untie_domain_hash &tie_user_hash &untie_user_hash &propath);
+our @EXPORT = qw(&escape_LaTeX &add_get_param &escape &unescape &tie_domain_hash &untie_domain_hash &tie_user_hash &untie_user_hash &propath);
 my %perlvar;
 
+# Escape a LaTeX string of special characters that according to LaTeX line by line
+# pg 9 are: # $ % & \ ^ _ { } ~  These are escaped by prepending a \
+#
+sub escape_LaTeX {
+    my ($string) = @_;
+    $string =~ s/[\#\$\%\&\\^_{}]/\\$&/g;
+    return $string;
+}
+
+
 # Inputs are a url, and a hash ref of
 # form name => value pairs
 # takes care of properly adding the form name elements and values to the