--- loncom/interface/lonhtmlcommon.pm	2010/03/19 22:34:23	1.182.4.13
+++ loncom/interface/lonhtmlcommon.pm	2009/05/11 16:18:53	1.213
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common html routines
 #
-# $Id: lonhtmlcommon.pm,v 1.182.4.13 2010/03/19 22:34:23 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: lonhtmlcommon.pm,v 1.213 2009/05/11 16:18:53 bisitz Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -62,21 +62,6 @@ use Apache::lonlocal;
 use Apache::lonnet;
 use LONCAPA;
 
-sub coursepreflink {
-    my ($text,$category)=@_;
-    if (&Apache::lonnet::allowed('opa',$env{'request.course.id'})) {
-        return '<a href="/adm/courseprefs?phase=display&amp;actions='.$category.'">'.$text.'</a>';
-    } else {
-        return '';
-    }
-}
-
-sub raw_href_to_link {
-    my ($message)=@_;
-    $message=~s/(https?\:\/\/[^\s\'\"\<]+)([\s\<]|$)/<a href="$1"><tt>$1<\/tt><\/a>$2/gi;
-    return $message;
-}
-
 ##############################################
 ##############################################
 
@@ -91,13 +76,13 @@ Successful completion of an operation me
 sub confirm_success {
    my ($message,$failure)=@_;
    if ($failure) {
-      return '<span class="LC_error" style="font-size: inherit;">'."\n"
-            .'<img src="/adm/lonIcons/navmap.wrong.gif" alt="'.&mt('Error').'" /> '."\n"
+      return '<span class="LC_error">'."\n"
+            .'<img src="/adm/lonIcons/navmap.wrong.gif" /> '."\n"
             .$message."\n"
             .'</span>'."\n";
    } else {
       return '<span class="LC_success">'."\n"
-            .'<img src="/adm/lonIcons/navmap.correct.gif" alt="'.&mt('OK').'" /> '."\n"
+            .'<img src="/adm/lonIcons/navmap.correct.gif" /> '."\n"
             .$message."\n"
             .'</span>'."\n";
    }
@@ -145,13 +130,11 @@ sub dragmath_js {
     my ($popup) = @_;
     return <<ENDDRAGMATHJS;
                 <script type="text/javascript">
-                // <![CDATA[
                   function mathedit(textarea, doc) {
                      targetEntry = textarea;
                      targetDoc   = doc;
                      newwin  = window.open("/adm/dragmath/applet/$popup.html","","width=565,height=500,resizable");
                   }
-                // ]]>
                 </script>
 
 ENDDRAGMATHJS
@@ -237,9 +220,6 @@ sub select_recent {
 	unless ($value =~/^error\:/) {
 	    my $escaped = &Apache::loncommon::escape_url($value);
 	    &Apache::loncommon::inhibit_menu_check(\$escaped);
-            if ($area eq 'residx') {
-                next if ((!&Apache::lonnet::allowed('bre',$value)) && (!&Apache::lonnet::allowed('bro',$value)));
-            }
 	    $return.="\n<option value='$escaped'>".
 		&unescape((split(/\&/,$recent{$value}))[1]).
 		'</option>';
@@ -436,8 +416,8 @@ sub date_setter {
         ($tzname,$sec,$min,$hour,$mday,$month,$year) = &get_timedates($currentvalue); 
     }
     unless ($wasdefined) {
+        ($tzname,$sec,$min,$hour,$mday,$month,$year) = &get_timedates($now);
 	if (($defhour) || ($defmin) || ($defsec)) {
-            ($tzname,$sec,$min,$hour,$mday,$month,$year) = &get_timedates($now);
 	    $sec=($defsec?$defsec:0);
 	    $min=($defmin?$defmin:0);
 	    $hour=($defhour?$defhour:0);
@@ -450,7 +430,6 @@ sub date_setter {
     my $result = "\n<!-- $dname date setting form -->\n";
     $result .= <<ENDJS;
 <script type="text/javascript">
-// <![CDATA[
     function $dname\_checkday() {
         var day   = document.$formname.$dname\_day.value;
         var month = document.$formname.$dname\_month.value;
@@ -511,10 +490,9 @@ document.$formname.$dname\_year.value,
         }
 
     }
-// ]]>
 </script>
 ENDJS
-    $result .= '  <span style="white-space: nowrap;">';
+    $result .= '  <span class="LC_nobreak">';
     my $monthselector = qq{<select name="$dname\_month" $special $state onchange="javascript:$dname\_checkday()" >};
     # Month
     my @Months = qw/January February  March     April   May      June 
@@ -523,23 +501,23 @@ ENDJS
     unshift(@Months,'If you can read this an error occurred');
     if ($includeempty) { $monthselector.="<option value=''></option>"; }
     for(my $m = 1;$m <=$#Months;$m++) {
-        $monthselector .= qq{      <option value="$m"};
-        $monthselector .= ' selected="selected"' if ($m-1 eq $month);
-        $monthselector .= '> '.&mt($Months[$m]).' </option>'."\n";
+        $monthselector .= qq{      <option value="$m" };
+        $monthselector .= "selected " if ($m-1 eq $month);
+        $monthselector .= '> '.&mt($Months[$m]).' </option>';
     }
     $monthselector.= '  </select>';
     # Day
     my $dayselector = qq{<input type="text" name="$dname\_day" $state value="$mday" size="3" $special onchange="javascript:$dname\_checkday()" />};
     # Year
-    my $yearselector = qq{<input type="text" name="$dname\_year" $state value="$year" size="5" $special onchange="javascript:$dname\_checkday()" />};
+    my $yearselector = qq{<input type="year" name="$dname\_year" $state value="$year" size="5" $special onchange="javascript:$dname\_checkday()" />};
     #
     my $hourselector = qq{<select name="$dname\_hour" $special $state >};
     if ($includeempty) { 
         $hourselector.=qq{<option value=''></option>};
     }
     for (my $h = 0;$h<24;$h++) {
-        $hourselector .= qq{<option value="$h"};
-        $hourselector .= ' selected="selected"' if (defined($hour) && $hour == $h);
+        $hourselector .= qq{<option value="$h" };
+        $hourselector .= "selected " if (defined($hour) && $hour == $h);
         $hourselector .= ">";
         my $timest='';
         if ($h == 0) {
@@ -627,7 +605,7 @@ Inputs:
 
 =item $dname
 
-The name passed to &date_setter, which prefixes the form elements.
+The name passed to &datesetter, which prefixes the form elements.
 
 =item $defaulttime
 
@@ -996,21 +974,18 @@ sub Create_PrgWin {
 
 	#the whole function called through timeout is due to issues
 	#in mozilla Read BUG #2665 if you want to know the whole story
-	&r_print($r,'<script type="text/javascript">'."\n".
-        '// <![CDATA['."\n".
+	&r_print($r,'<script type="text/javascript">'.
         "var popwin;
          function openpopwin () {
          popwin=open(\'\',\'popwin\',\'width=400,height=100\');".
         "popwin.document.writeln(\'".$start_page.
               "<h4>".&mt("$heading")."<\/h4>".
-              "<form action= \"\" name=\"popremain\" method=\"post\">".
+              "<form action=\"\" name=\"popremain\" method=\"post\">".
               '<input type="text" size="'.$width.'" name="remaining" value="'.
 	      &mt('Starting').'" /><\\/form>'.$end_page.
               "\');".
         "popwin.document.close();}".
-        "\nwindow.setTimeout(openpopwin,0)\n".
-        '// ]]>'."\n".
-        '</script>');
+        "\nwindow.setTimeout(openpopwin,0)</script>");
 	$prog_state{'formname'}='popremain';
 	$prog_state{'inputname'}="remaining";
     } elsif ($type eq 'inline') {
@@ -1043,14 +1018,10 @@ sub Create_PrgWin {
 # update progress
 sub Update_PrgWin {
     my ($r,$prog_state,$displayString)=@_;
-    &r_print($r,'<script type="text/javascript">'."\n".
-             '// <![CDATA['."\n".
-             $$prog_state{'window'}.'.document.'.
+    &r_print($r,'<script type="text/javascript">'.$$prog_state{'window'}.'.document.'.
 	     $$prog_state{'formname'}.'.'.
 	     $$prog_state{'inputname'}.'.value="'.
-	     $displayString.'";'."\n".
-             '// ]]>'."\n".
-             '</script>');
+	     $displayString.'";</script>');
     $$prog_state{'laststart'}=&Time::HiRes::time();
 }
 
@@ -1068,7 +1039,7 @@ sub Increment_PrgWin {
     # 
     my $str;
     if ($min == 0 && $sec > 1) {
-        $str = '[_1] seconds';
+        $str = '[_2] seconds';
     } elsif ($min == 1 && $sec > 1) {
         $str = '1 minute [_2] seconds';
     } elsif ($min == 1 && $sec < 2) {
@@ -1103,15 +1074,11 @@ sub Increment_PrgWin {
     if ($user_browser eq 'explorer' && $user_os =~ 'mac') {
         $lasttime = '';
     }
-    &r_print($r,'<script>'."\n".
-             '// <![CDATA['."\n".
-             $$prog_state{'window'}.'.document.'.
+    &r_print($r,'<script>'.$$prog_state{'window'}.'.document.'.
 	     $$prog_state{'formname'}.'.'.
 	     $$prog_state{'inputname'}.'.value="'.
 	     $$prog_state{'done'}.'/'.$$prog_state{'max'}.
-	     ': '.$time_est.' '.&mt('remaining').' '.$lasttime.'";'."\n".
-             '// ]]>'."\n".
-             '</script>');
+	     ': '.$time_est.' '.&mt('remaining').' '.$lasttime.'";'.'</script>');
     $$prog_state{'laststart'}=&Time::HiRes::time();
 }
 
@@ -1119,11 +1086,7 @@ sub Increment_PrgWin {
 sub Close_PrgWin {
     my ($r,$prog_state)=@_;
     if ($$prog_state{'type'} eq 'popup') {
-	&r_print($r,'<script>'."\n".
-                 '// <![CDATA['."\n".
-                 'popwin.close()'."n".
-                 '// ]]>'."\n".
-                 '</script>'."\n");
+	&r_print($r,'<script>popwin.close()</script>'."\n");
     } elsif ($$prog_state{'type'} eq 'inline') {
 	&Update_PrgWin($r,$prog_state,&mt('Done'));
     }
@@ -1154,7 +1117,7 @@ sub crumbs {
     my $output='';
     unless ($noformat) { $output.='<br /><tt><b>'; }
     $output.='<font size="'.$size.'">'.$prefix.'/';
-    if (($env{'user.adv'}) || ($env{'user.author'})) {
+    if ($env{'user.adv'}) {
 	my $path=$prefix.'/';
 	foreach my $dir (split('/',$uri)) {
             if (! $dir) { next; }
@@ -1204,8 +1167,7 @@ sub spellheader {
 
     my $nothing=&javascript_nothing();
     return (<<ENDCHECK);
-<script type="text/javascript">
-// <![CDATA[
+<script type="text/javascript"> 
 //<!-- BEGIN LON-CAPA Internal
 var checkwin;
 
@@ -1216,7 +1178,6 @@ function spellcheckerwindow(string) {
     checkwin.document.close();
 }
 // END LON-CAPA Internal -->
-// ]]>
 </script>
 ENDCHECK
 }
@@ -1290,8 +1251,7 @@ sub htmlareaselectactive {
     my @fields=@_;
     unless (&htmlareabrowser()) { return ''; }
     if (&htmlareablocked()) { return '<br />'.&enablelink(@fields); }
-    my $output='<script type="text/javascript" defer="defer">'.
-               '// <![CDATA[';
+    my $output='<script type="text/javascript" defer="1">';
     my $lang = &htmlarea_lang();
     foreach my $field (@fields) {
 	$output.="
@@ -1304,9 +1264,7 @@ sub htmlareaselectactive {
     oFCKeditor.Config['DefaultLanguage'] = '$lang';
 }";
     }
-    $output.="\nwindow.status='Activated Editfields';\n".
-             '// ]]>'."\n".
-             '</script><br />'.
+    $output.="\nwindow.status='Activated Editfields';\n</script><br />".
 	&disablelink(@fields);
     return $output;
 }
@@ -1345,6 +1303,8 @@ Inputs: $component (the large text on th
         $menulink (boolean, controls whether to include a link to /adm/menu)
         $helplink (if 'nohelp' don't include the orange help link)
         $css_class (optional name for the class to apply to the table for CSS)
+        $no_mt (optional flag, 1 if &mt() is _not_ to be applied to $component
+           when including the text on the right.
 Returns a string containing breadcrumbs for the current page.
 
 =item clear_breadcrumbs
@@ -1370,10 +1330,16 @@ returns: nothing
     my @Crumbs;
     
     sub breadcrumbs {
-        my ($component,$component_help,$menulink,$helplink,$css_class,$no_mt) = @_;
+        my ($component,$component_help,$menulink,$helplink,$css_class,$no_mt, $no_realBreadcrumb) = @_;
         #
 	$css_class ||= 'LC_breadcrumbs';
-        my $Str = "\n".'<table class="'.$css_class.'"><tr><td>';
+        my $Str1 = '<ol id="LC_MenuBreadcrumbs">';
+	
+		if($no_realBreadcrumb){
+			$Str1 = '<ul class="LC_CourseBreadcrumbs">';
+		}
+
+        my $Str = '';
         #
         # Make the faq and bug data cascade
         my $faq = '';
@@ -1389,9 +1355,8 @@ returns: nothing
         if ($menulink) {
             my $description = 'Menu';
             my $no_mt_descr = 0;
-            if ((exists($env{'request.course.id'})) &&
-                ($env{'request.course.id'} ne '') &&
-                ($env{'course.'.$env{'request.course.id'}.'.description'} ne '')) {
+            if (exists($env{'request.course.id'}) && 
+                $env{'request.course.id'} ne '') {
                 $description = 
                     $env{'course.'.$env{'request.course.id'}.'.description'};
                 $no_mt_descr = 1;
@@ -1404,8 +1369,8 @@ returns: nothing
                     no_mt  =>$no_mt_descr,
                 });
         }
-        my $links .= 
-            join($crumbsymbol,
+        my $links .= '<li>'. 
+            join('</li><li>'.$crumbsymbol,
                  map {
                      $faq = $_->{'faq'} if (exists($_->{'faq'}));
                      $bug = $_->{'bug'} if (exists($_->{'bug'}));
@@ -1414,6 +1379,7 @@ returns: nothing
                      if (defined($_->{'target'}) && $_->{'target'} ne '') {
                          $result .= 'target="'.$_->{'target'}.'" ';
                      }
+			# set the possible translation for title 
 		     if ($_->{'no_mt'}) {
 			 $result .='title="'.$_->{'title'}.'">'.
 			     $_->{'text'}.'</a>';
@@ -1423,14 +1389,20 @@ returns: nothing
 		     }
                      $result;
                      } @Crumbs
-                 );
-        $links .= $crumbsymbol if ($links ne '');
+                 ).'</li>';
+#Workaround for edit course. 
+	if(@Crumbs == 0 ){
+		$links .= '<li>' if ($links ne '');
+	} else {
+		$links .= '<li>'.$crumbsymbol if ($links ne '');
+	}
+#should the last Element be translated?
 	if ($last->{'no_mt'}) {
 	    $links .= '<b>'.$last->{'text'}.'</b>';
 	} else {
 	    $links .= '<b>'.&mt($last->{'text'}).'</b>';
 	}
-        #
+	$links .= '</li>';
         my $icons = '';
         $faq = $last->{'faq'} if (exists($last->{'faq'}));
         $bug = $last->{'bug'} if (exists($last->{'bug'}));
@@ -1448,10 +1420,17 @@ returns: nothing
 							 $faq,$bug);
 	}
         #
-        $Str .= $links.'</td>';
+		
+
+		if($no_realBreadcrumb){
+        	$Str1 .= $links.'</ul>';
+		} else {
+        	$Str1 .= $links.'</ol>';		
+		}
         #
         if (defined($component)) {
-            $Str .= '<td class="'.$css_class.'_component">';
+            $Str .= "\n".'<table class="'.$css_class.'">'
+                   .'<tr><td class="'.$css_class.'_component">';
             if ($no_mt) {
                 $Str .= $component;
             } else {
@@ -1460,15 +1439,14 @@ returns: nothing
 	    if ($icons ne '') {
 		$Str .= '&nbsp;'.$icons;
 	    }
-	    $Str .= '</td>';
+	    $Str .= '</td></tr></table>'."\n";
         }
-        $Str .= '</tr></table>'."\n";
         #
         # Return the @Crumbs stack to what we started with
         push(@Crumbs,$last);
         shift(@Crumbs);
-        #
-        return $Str;
+        # Return a table and after that the breadcrumb's line
+        return "$Str\n$Str1";
     }
 
     sub clear_breadcrumbs {
@@ -1613,16 +1591,12 @@ ENDTWO
 
 sub role_select_row {
     my ($roles,$title,$css_class,$show_separate_custom,$cdom,$cnum) = @_;
-    my $crstype = 'Course';
-    if ($cdom ne '' && $cnum ne '') {
-        $crstype = &Apache::loncommon::course_type($cdom.'_'.$cnum);
-    }
     my $output;
     if (defined($title)) {
         $output = &row_title($title,$css_class);
     }
     $output .= qq|
-                                  <select name="roles" multiple="multiple" >\n|;
+                                  <select name="roles" multiple="multiple">\n|;
     foreach my $role (@$roles) {
         my $plrole;
         if ($role eq 'ow') {
@@ -1641,7 +1615,7 @@ sub role_select_row {
                 $plrole = &mt('Custom Role');
             }
         } else {
-            $plrole=&Apache::lonnet::plaintext($role,$crstype);
+            $plrole=&Apache::lonnet::plaintext($role);
         }
         if (($role ne 'cr') || (!$show_separate_custom)) {
             $output .= '  <option value="'.$role.'">'.$plrole.'</option>';
@@ -1656,18 +1630,17 @@ sub role_select_row {
 
 sub course_select_row {
     my ($title,$formname,$totcodes,$codetitles,$idlist,$idlist_titles,
-	$css_class,$crstype) = @_;
+	$css_class) = @_;
     my $output = &row_title($title,$css_class);
-    $output .= &course_selection($formname,$totcodes,$codetitles,$idlist,$idlist_titles,$crstype);
+    $output .= &course_selection($formname,$totcodes,$codetitles,$idlist,$idlist_titles);
     $output .= &row_closure();
     return $output;
 }
 
 sub course_selection {
-    my ($formname,$totcodes,$codetitles,$idlist,$idlist_titles,$crstype) = @_;
+    my ($formname,$totcodes,$codetitles,$idlist,$idlist_titles) = @_;
     my $output = qq|
 <script type="text/javascript">
-// <![CDATA[
     function coursePick (formname) {
         for  (var i=0; i<formname.coursepick.length; i++) {
             if (formname.coursepick[i].value == 'category') {
@@ -1690,22 +1663,11 @@ sub course_selection {
             formname.courselist = '';
         }
     }
-// ]]>
 </script>
     |;
-
-    my ($allcrs,$pickspec);
-    if ($crstype eq 'Community') {
-        $allcrs = &mt('All communities');
-        $pickspec = &mt('Pick specific communities:');
-    } else {
-        $allcrs = &mt('All courses');
-        $pickspec = &mt('Pick specific course(s):');
-    }
-
     my $courseform='<b>'.&Apache::loncommon::selectcourse_link
-                     ($formname,'pickcourse','pickdomain','coursedesc','',1,$crstype).'</b>';
-        $output .= '<input type="radio" name="coursepick" value="all" onclick="coursePick(this.form)" />'.$allcrs.'<br />';
+                     ($formname,'pickcourse','pickdomain','coursedesc','',1).'</b>';
+        $output .= '<input type="radio" name="coursepick" value="all" onclick="coursePick(this.form)" />'.&mt('All courses').'<br />';
     if ($totcodes > 0) {
         my $numtitles = @$codetitles;
         if ($numtitles > 0) {
@@ -1750,7 +1712,7 @@ sub course_selection {
             $output .= '</tr></table><br />';
         }
     }
-    $output .= '<input type="radio" name="coursepick" value="specific" onclick="coursePick(this.form);opencrsbrowser('."'".$formname."','dccourse','dcdomain','coursedesc','','1'".')" />'.$pickspec.' '.$courseform.'&nbsp;&nbsp;<input type="text" value="0" size="4" name="coursetotal" /><input type="hidden" name="courselist" value="" />selected.<br />'."\n";
+    $output .= '<input type="radio" name="coursepick" value="specific" onclick="coursePick(this.form);opencrsbrowser('."'".$formname."','dccourse','dcdomain','coursedesc','','1'".')" />'.&mt('Pick specific course(s):').' '.$courseform.'&nbsp;&nbsp;<input type="text" value="0" size="4" name="coursetotal" /><input type="hidden" name="courselist" value="" />selected.<br />'."\n";
     return $output;
 }
 
@@ -1805,6 +1767,7 @@ sub email_default_row {
 
 sub submit_row {
     my ($title,$cmd,$submit_text,$css_class) = @_;
+    $submit_text = &mt($submit_text);
     my $output = &row_title($title,$css_class,'LC_pick_box_submit');
     $output .= qq|
              <br />
@@ -1846,7 +1809,8 @@ sub topic_bar {
     return '
 <div class="LC_topic_bar">
     <img alt="'.&mt('Step [_1]',$imgnum).
-              '" src="/res/adm/pages/bl_step'.$imgnum.'.gif" />&nbsp;'.$title.'
+              ' "src="/res/adm/pages/bl_step'.$imgnum.'.gif" />&nbsp;
+    <span>'.$title.'</span>
 </div>
 ';
 }
@@ -1983,7 +1947,7 @@ sub set_form_elements {
             $values{$name}[$i] =~ s/([\r\n\f]+)/\\n/g;
             $values{$name}[$i] =~ s/"/\\"/g;
         }
-        if (($$elements{$name} eq 'text') || ($$elements{$name} eq 'hidden')) {
+        if ($$elements{$name} eq 'text') {
             my $numvalues = @{$values{$name}};
             if ($numvalues > 1) {
                 my $valuestring = join('","',@{$values{$name}});
@@ -2018,8 +1982,6 @@ sub set_form_elements {
                     $output .= qq|
       if (courseForm.elements['$name'].value == "$value") {
           courseForm.elements['$name'].checked = true;
-      } else {
-          courseForm.elements['$name'].checked = false;
       }|;
                 }
             }
@@ -2061,7 +2023,6 @@ sub set_form_elements {
         }
     }
     $output .= "
-    return;
 }\n";
     return $output;
 }
@@ -2103,7 +2064,108 @@ END
     return $scripttag;
 }
 
+##############################################
+##############################################
+
+# generate_menu
+#
+# Generates html markup for a menu. 
+#
+# Inputs:
+# An array of following structure:
+#   ({	categorytitle => 'Categorytitle',
+#	items => [
+#		    {	
+#           linktext    =>	'Text to be displayed',
+#			url	        =>	'URL the link is pointing to, i.e. /adm/site?action=dosomething',
+#			permission  =>	'Contains permissions as returned from lonnet::allowed(),
+#					         must evaluate to true in order to activate the link',
+#			icon        =>  'icon filename',
+#			alttext	    =>	'alt text for the icon',
+#			help	    =>	'Name of the corresponding helpfile',
+#			linktitle   =>	'Description of the link (used for title tag)'
+#		    },
+#		    ...
+#		]
+#   }, 
+#   ...
+#   )
+#
+# Outputs: A scalar containing the html markup for the menu.
+
+# ---- Remove when done ----
+# This routine is part of the redesign of LON-CAPA and it's 
+# subject to change during this project.
+# Don't rely on its current functionality as it might be 
+# changed or removed.
+# --------------------------
+sub generate_menu {
+    my @menu = @_;
+
+    # usage: $wrap->(element, content, {attribute => value,...});
+    # output: content enclosed in html conform tags
+    my $wrap = sub {
+        return
+            qq|<$_[0]|
+          . join( '', map { qq| $_="${$_[2]}{$_}"| } keys %{ $_[2] } )
+          . ($_[1] ? qq|>$_[1]</$_[0]>| : qq|/>|). "\n";
+    };
+    
+    # subs for specific html elements
+    my $h3  = sub { return $wrap->( "h3",  @_ ) };
+    my $div = sub { return $wrap->( "div", @_ ) };
+    my $ul  = sub { return $wrap->( "ul",  @_ ) };
+    my $li  = sub { return $wrap->( "li",  @_ ) };
+    my $a   = sub { return $wrap->( "a",   @_ ) };
+    my $img = sub { return $wrap->( "img", @_ ) };
+    
+    my @categories; # each element represents the entire markup for a category
+   
+    foreach my $category (@menu) {
+        my @links;  # contains the links for the current $category
+        foreach my $link (@{$$category{items}}) {
+            next unless $$link{permission};
+            
+            # create the markup for the current $link and push it into @links.
+            # each entry consists of an image and a text optionally followed 
+            # by a help link.
+            push @links, $li->(
+                        $a->(
+                            $img->("", {
+                                class => "LC_noBorder LC_middle",
+                                src   => "/res/adm/pages/$$link{icon}",
+                                alt   => mt(defined($$link{alttext}) ?
+                                $$link{alttext} : $$link{linktext})
+                            }), {
+                            href  => $$link{url},
+                            title => mt($$link{linktitle})
+                            }).
+                        $a->(mt($$link{linktext}), {
+                            href  => $$link{url},
+                            title => mt($$link{linktitle}),
+                            class => "LC_menubuttons_link"
+                            }).
+                         (defined($$link{help}) ? 
+                         Apache::loncommon::help_open_topic($$link{help}) : ''),
+                         {class => "LC_menubuttons_inline_text"});
+        }
+
+        # wrap categorytitle in <h3>, concatenate with 
+        # joined and in <ul> tags wrapped @links
+        # and wrap everything in an enclosing <div> and push it into
+        # @categories
+        # such that each element looks like:
+        # <div><h3>title</h3><ul><li>...</li>...</ul></div>
+        # the category won't be added if there aren't any links
+        push @categories, 
+            $div->($h3->(mt($$category{categorytitle}), {class=>"LC_hcell"}).
+            $ul->(join('' ,@links),  {class =>"LC_ListStyleNormal" }),
+            {class=>"LC_ContentBoxSpecial LC_400Box"}) if scalar(@links);
+    }
 
+    # wrap the joined @categories in another <div> (column layout)
+    return $div->(join('', @categories), {class => "LC_columnSection"});
+}
 
 1;