--- loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2011/07/26 17:14:56	1.1015
+++ loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2011/08/03 18:25:11	1.1016
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common routines
 #
-# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.1015 2011/07/26 17:14:56 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.1016 2011/08/03 18:25:11 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -4456,7 +4456,10 @@ sub designparm {
         return $env{'environment.color.'.$which};
     }
     $domain=&determinedomain($domain);
-    my %domdesign = &get_domainconf($domain);
+    my %domdesign;
+    unless ($domain eq 'public') {
+        %domdesign = &get_domainconf($domain);
+    }
     my $output;
     if ($domdesign{$domain.'.'.$which} ne '') {
         $output = $domdesign{$domain.'.'.$which};
@@ -11343,7 +11346,10 @@ sub init_user_environment {
 	}
 
         my %is_adv = ( is_adv => $env{'user.adv'} );
-        my %domdef = &Apache::lonnet::get_domain_defaults($domain);
+        my %domdef;
+        unless ($domain eq 'public') {
+            %domdef = &Apache::lonnet::get_domain_defaults($domain);
+        }
 
         foreach my $tool ('aboutme','blog','portfolio') {
             $userenv{'availabletools.'.$tool} =