--- loncom/html/adm/help/ext_examples.library	2004/06/09 13:55:42	1.1
+++ loncom/html/adm/help/ext_examples.library	2006/02/28 23:03:23	1.2
@@ -58,7 +58,26 @@ Other things:
     <td>The solved status of the current part.</td></tr>
 <tr><td>&#36;external::datestatus</td>
     <td><tex>\verb+</tex><display>$external::datestatus</display><tex>+</tex></td>
-    <td>The current status of the problem (CLOSE, CAN_ANSWER, etc.)</td></tr>
+    <td>The current status of the problem 
+	<table>
+	<tr><td>CLOSED</td>
+	    <td>either before opendate or between due and answer date</td></tr>
+	<tr><td>CAN_ANSWER</td></tr>
+	<tr><td>CANNOT_ANSWER</td>
+	    <td>still open but either exhausted tries has the problem correct or has been excused</td></tr>
+	<tr><td>SHOW_ANSWER </td>
+	    <td>after answerdate</td></tr>
+	</table>
+	and some rare states that if they occur the problem isn't shown (you can safely ignore these):
+	<table>
+	<tr><td>NOT_YET_VIEWED</td>
+	    <td>limited view period being used and student hasn't 'checked out' the problem yet</td></tr>
+	<tr><td>INVALID_ACCESS</td>
+	    <td>ip restrictions in effect and user is at a banned IP </td></tr>
+	<tr><td>UNAVAILABLE</td>
+	    <td>network problems are occuring</td></tr>
+	</table>
+
 <tr><td>&#36;external::randomseed</td>
     <td><display>$external::randomseed</display></td>
     <td>The randomseed currently in use.</td></tr>