--- loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2010/08/07 19:23:50	1.972
+++ loncom/interface/loncommon.pm	2010/08/08 02:00:38	1.973
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common routines
 #
-# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.972 2010/08/07 19:23:50 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: loncommon.pm,v 1.973 2010/08/08 02:00:38 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -1072,7 +1072,7 @@ END
 
 =pod
 
-=item * &help_open_topic($topic,$text,$stayOnPage,$width,$height)
+=item * &help_open_topic($topic,$text,$stayOnPage,$width,$height,$imgid)
 
 Returns a string corresponding to an HTML link to the given help
 $topic, where $topic corresponds to the name of a .tex file in
@@ -1090,12 +1090,16 @@ a new window using Javascript. (Default
 
 $width and $height are optional numerical parameters that will
 override the width and height of the popped up window, which may
-be useful for certain help topics with big pictures included. 
+be useful for certain help topics with big pictures included.
+
+$imgid is the id of the img tag used for the help icon. This may be
+used in a javascript call to switch the image src.  See 
+lonhtmlcommon::htmlareaselectactive() for an example.
 
 =cut
 
 sub help_open_topic {
-    my ($topic, $text, $stayOnPage, $width, $height) = @_;
+    my ($topic, $text, $stayOnPage, $width, $height, $imgid) = @_;
     $text = "" if (not defined $text);
     $stayOnPage = 0 if (not defined $stayOnPage);
     $width = 350 if (not defined $width);
@@ -1124,10 +1128,13 @@ sub help_open_topic {
     # (Always) Add the graphic
     my $title = &mt('Online Help');
     my $helpicon=&lonhttpdurl("/adm/help/help.png");
+    if ($imgid ne '') {
+        $imgid = ' id="'.$imgid.'"';
+    }
     $template.=' <a target="_top" href="'.$link.'" title="'.$title.'">'
               .'<img src="'.$helpicon.'" border="0"'
               .' alt="'.&mt('Help: [_1]',$topic).'"'
-              .' title="'.$title.'" style="vertical-align:middle;"' 
+              .' title="'.$title.'" style="vertical-align:middle;"'.$imgid 
               .' /></a>';
     if ($text ne "") {	
         $template.='</span>';