--- loncom/homework/grades.pm	2022/06/11 14:20:42	1.789
+++ loncom/homework/grades.pm	2022/06/11 14:38:28	1.790
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # The LON-CAPA Grading handler
 #
-# $Id: grades.pm,v 1.789 2022/06/11 14:20:42 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: grades.pm,v 1.790 2022/06/11 14:38:28 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -9611,7 +9611,7 @@ END
                             my @lines = &Apache::lonnet::get_scantronformat_file();
                             my $count = 0;
                             foreach my $line (@lines) {
-                                next if ($line =~ /^#/);
+                                next if (($line =~ /^\#/) || ($line eq ''));
                                 $singleline = $line;
                                 $count ++;
                             }
@@ -9805,6 +9805,7 @@ sub validate_uploaded_scantron_file {
         my %unique_formats;
         my @formatlines = &Apache::lonnet::get_scantronformat_file();
         foreach my $line (@formatlines) {
+            next if (($line =~ /^\#/) || ($line eq ''));
             my @config = split(/:/,$line);
             my $idstart = $config[5];
             my $idlength = $config[6];