--- loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2006/08/17 22:35:52	1.445
+++ loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2006/08/18 20:24:54	1.446
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common routines
 #
-# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.445 2006/08/17 22:35:52 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.446 2006/08/18 20:24:54 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -5921,6 +5921,15 @@ sub lonhttpdurl {
     return 'http://'.$ENV{'SERVER_NAME'}.':'.$lonhttpd_port.$url;
 }
 
+sub absolute_url {
+    my ($host_name) = @_;
+    my $protocol = ($ENV{'SERVER_PORT'} == 443?'https://':'http://');
+    if ($host_name eq '') {
+	$host_name = $ENV{'SERVER_NAME'};
+    }
+    return $protocol.$host_name;
+}
+
 sub connection_aborted {
     my ($r)=@_;
     $r->print(" ");$r->rflush();