--- loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2003/11/10 15:15:08	1.148
+++ loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2003/11/10 16:33:57	1.149
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common routines
 #
-# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.148 2003/11/10 15:15:08 www Exp $
+# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.149 2003/11/10 16:33:57 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -2366,6 +2366,32 @@ sub add_to_env {
 
 =pod
 
+=item * get_env_multiple($name) 
+
+gets $name from the %ENV hash, it seemlessly handles the cases where multiple
+values may be defined and end up as an array ref.
+
+returns an array of values
+
+=cut
+
+sub get_env_multiple {
+    my ($name) = @_;
+    my @values;
+    if (defined($ENV{$name})) {
+        # exists is it an array
+        if (ref($ENV{$name})) {
+            @values=@{ $ENV{$name} };
+        } else {
+            $values[0]=$ENV{$name};
+        }
+    }
+    return(@values);
+}
+
+
+=pod
+
 =back 
 
 =head1 CSV Upload/Handling functions