--- loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2009/03/26 14:59:10	1.779
+++ loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2009/03/27 02:14:43	1.780
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common routines
 #
-# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.779 2009/03/26 14:59:10 bisitz Exp $
+# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.780 2009/03/27 02:14:43 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -7017,6 +7017,8 @@ If the user's status includes multiple t
 the largest default quota which applies to the user determines the
 default quota returned.
 
+=back
+
 =cut
 
 ###############################################
@@ -7565,8 +7567,57 @@ sub get_institutional_codes {
 
 =pod
 
+=head1 Slot Helpers
+
+=over 4
+
+=item * sorted_slots()
+
+Sorts an array of slot names in order of slot start time (earliest first). 
+
+Inputs:
+
+=over 4
+
+slotsarr  - Reference to array of unsorted slot names.
+
+slots     - Reference to hash of hash, where outer hash keys are slot names.
+
 =back
 
+Returns:
+
+=over 4
+
+sorted   - An array of slot names sorted by the start time of the slot.
+
+=back
+
+=back
+
+=cut
+
+
+sub sorted_slots {
+    my ($slotsarr,$slots) = @_;
+    my @sorted;
+    if ((ref($slotsarr) eq 'ARRAY') && (ref($slots) eq 'HASH')) {
+        @sorted =
+            sort {
+                     if (ref($slots->{$a}) && ref($slots->{$b})) {
+                         return $slots->{$a}{'starttime'} <=> $slots->{$b}{'starttime'}
+                     }
+                     if (ref($slots->{$a})) { return -1;}
+                     if (ref($slots->{$b})) { return 1;}
+                     return 0;
+                 } @{$slotsarr};
+    }
+    return @sorted;
+}
+
+
+=pod
+
 =head1 HTTP Helpers
 
 =over 4