--- loncom/interface/Attic/lonspreadsheet.pm	2002/08/12 18:21:42	1.99
+++ loncom/interface/Attic/lonspreadsheet.pm	2002/08/16 18:25:24	1.100
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# $Id: lonspreadsheet.pm,v 1.99 2002/08/12 18:21:42 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: lonspreadsheet.pm,v 1.100 2002/08/16 18:25:24 matthew Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -768,6 +768,14 @@ sub expandnamed {
         }
         if ($#matches == 0) {
             $returnvalue = '$c{\''.$matches[0].'\'}';
+        } elsif ($#matches > 0) {
+            # more than one match.  Look for a concise one
+            $returnvalue =  "'non-unique parameter name : $expression'";
+            foreach (@matches) {
+                if (/^$expression$/) {
+                    $returnvalue = '$c{\''.$_.'\'}';
+                }
+            }
         } else {
             $returnvalue =  "'bad parameter name : $expression'";
         }