--- loncom/interface/lonhelper.pm	2010/03/10 21:25:50	1.179
+++ loncom/interface/lonhelper.pm	2010/05/24 09:21:18	1.180
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # .helper XML handler to implement the LON-CAPA helper
 #
-# $Id: lonhelper.pm,v 1.179 2010/03/10 21:25:50 droeschl Exp $
+# $Id: lonhelper.pm,v 1.180 2010/05/24 09:21:18 foxr Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -3289,6 +3289,10 @@ package Apache::lonhelper::string;
 string elements provide a string entry field for the user. string elements
 take the usual 'variable' and 'nextstate' parameters. string elements
 also pass through 'maxlength' and 'size' attributes to the input tag.
+Since you could have multiple strings in a helper state, each with its own
+validator, all but the last string should have
+noproceed='1' so that _all_ validators are evaluated before the next
+state can be reached.
 
 string honors the defaultvalue tag, if given.
 
@@ -3308,6 +3312,7 @@ BEGIN {
 
 sub new {
     my $ref = Apache::lonhelper::element->new();
+    $ref->{'PROCEED'} = 1;      # By default postprocess goes to next state.
     bless($ref);
 }
 
@@ -3324,20 +3329,33 @@ sub start_string {
     $paramHash->{'nextstate'} = $token->[2]{'nextstate'};
     $paramHash->{'maxlength'} = $token->[2]{'maxlength'};
     $paramHash->{'size'} = $token->[2]{'size'};
-
     return '';
 }
 
 sub end_string {
     my ($target,$token,$tagstack,$parstack,$parser,$safeeval,$style)=@_;
 
+
     if ($target ne 'helper') {
         return '';
     }
-    Apache::lonhelper::string->new();
+    my $state = Apache::lonhelper::string->new();
+
+
+    if(&Apache::lonxml::get_param('noproceed', $parstack, $safeeval, undef, 1)) {
+	$state->noproceed();
+    }
+
+   
+
     return '';
 }
 
+sub noproceed() {
+    my $self = shift;
+    $self->{PROCEED}  = 0;
+}
+
 sub render {
     my $self = shift;
     my $result = '';
@@ -3381,7 +3399,7 @@ sub postprocess {
 	}
     }
 
-    if (defined($self->{'nextstate'})) {
+    if (defined($self->{'nextstate'}) && $self->{PROCEED}) {
         $helper->changeState($self->{'nextstate'});
     }