--- loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2005/09/14 21:25:52	1.273
+++ loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2005/09/16 16:01:18	1.274
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common routines
 #
-# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.273 2005/09/14 21:25:52 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.274 2005/09/16 16:01:18 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -2946,6 +2946,60 @@ sub get_users_function {
 
 =pod
 
+=item check_user_status
+
+Determines current status of supplied role for a
+specific user. Roles can be active, previous or future.
+
+Inputs: 
+user's domain, user's username, course's domain,
+course's number, optional section/group.
+
+Outputs:
+role status: active, previous or future. 
+
+=cut
+
+sub check_user_status {
+    my ($udom,$uname,$cdom,$crs,$role,$secgrp) = @_;
+    my %userinfo = &Apache::lonnet::dump('roles',$udom,$uname);
+    my @uroles = keys %userinfo;
+    my $srchstr;
+    my $active_chk = 'none';
+    if (@uroles > 0) {
+        if (($role eq 'cc') || ($secgrp eq '') || (!defined($secgrp))) {
+            $srchstr = '/'.$cdom.'/'.$crs.'_'.$role;
+        } else {
+            $srchstr = '/'.$cdom.'/'.$crs.'/'.$secgrp.'_'.$role;         }
+        if (grep/^$srchstr$/,@uroles) {
+            my $role_end = 0;
+            my $role_start = 0;
+            $active_chk = 'active';
+            if ($userinfo{$srchstr} =~ m/^($role)_(\d+)/) {
+                $role_end = $2;
+                if ($userinfo{$srchstr} =~ m/^($role)_($role_end)_(\d+)$/) {
+                    $role_start = $3;
+                }
+            }
+            if ($role_start > 0) {
+                if (time < $role_start) {
+                    $active_chk = 'future';
+                }
+            }
+            if ($role_end > 0) {
+                if (time > $role_end) {
+                    $active_chk = 'previous';
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    return $active_chk;
+}
+
+###############################################
+
+=pod
+
 =item get_sections
 
 Determines all the sections for a course including
@@ -2998,6 +3052,8 @@ sub get_sections {
     return $numsections;
 }
 
+###############################################
+
 
 sub get_posted_cgi {
     my $r=shift;