--- loncom/homework/default_homework.lcpm	2002/11/13 23:05:46	1.54
+++ loncom/homework/default_homework.lcpm	2002/11/15 17:06:08	1.55
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA 
 # used by lonxml::xmlparse() as input variable $safeinit to Apache::run::run()
 #
-# $Id: default_homework.lcpm,v 1.54 2002/11/13 23:05:46 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: default_homework.lcpm,v 1.55 2002/11/15 17:06:08 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -240,7 +240,8 @@ sub hinton {
 sub random {
   my ($start,$end,$step)=@_;
   if ( ! $hidden::RANDOMINIT ) {
-    &random_set_seed(1,$external::randomseed);
+    if ($external::randomseed == 0) { $external::randomseed=1; }
+    &random_set_seed(1,int(abs($external::randomseed)));
     &math_random_uniform();
     $hidden::RANDOMINIT=1;
   }