--- loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2002/07/03 21:12:38	1.43
+++ loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2002/07/05 16:12:31	1.44
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common routines
 #
-# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.43 2002/07/03 21:12:38 ng Exp $
+# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.44 2002/07/05 16:12:31 bowersj2 Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -428,6 +428,49 @@ END
 
 ###############################################################
 
+
+=item help_open_topic($topic, $stayOnPage, $width, $height)
+
+Returns a string corresponding to an HTML link to the given help $topic, where $topic corresponds to the name of a .tex file in /home/httpd/html/adm/help/tex, with underscores replaced by spaces.
+
+$stayOnPage is a value that will be interpreted as a boolean. If true, the link will not open a new window. If false, the link will open a new window using Javascript. (Default is false.)
+
+$width and $height are optional numerical parameters that will override the width and height of the popped up window, which may be useful for certain help topics with big pictures included.
+
+=cut
+
+sub help_open_topic {
+    my ($topic, $stayOnPage, $width, $height) = @_;
+    $stayOnPage = 0 if (not defined $stayOnPage);
+    $width = 350 if (not defined $width);
+    $height = 400 if (not defined $height);
+    my $filename = $topic;
+    $filename =~ s/ /_/g;
+
+    my $template;
+
+    if (!$stayOnPage)
+    {
+        $template = <<"ENDTEMPLATE";
+<a href="javascript:void(open('/adm/help/${filename}.hlp', 'Help for $topic', 'menubar=0,s
+crollbars=1,width=$width,height=$height'))"><image
+  src="/adm/help/gif/smallHelp.gif"
+  border="0" alt="(Help: $topic)"></a>
+ENDTEMPLATE
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        $template = <<"ENDTEMPLATE";
+<a href="/adm/help/${filename}.hlp"><image
+  src="/adm/help/gif/smallHelp.gif"
+  border="0" alt="(Help: $topic)"></a>
+ENDTEMPLATE
+    }
+
+    return $template;
+
+}
+
 =item csv_translate($text) 
 
 Translate $text to allow it to be output as a 'comma seperated values'