--- loncom/interface/lonhtmlcommon.pm	2009/11/04 17:51:26	1.238
+++ loncom/interface/lonhtmlcommon.pm	2009/11/06 18:32:42	1.240
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # a pile of common html routines
 #
-# $Id: lonhtmlcommon.pm,v 1.238 2009/11/04 17:51:26 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: lonhtmlcommon.pm,v 1.240 2009/11/06 18:32:42 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -1815,16 +1815,22 @@ sub course_custom_roles {
 
 # topic_bar
 #
-# Generates a div containing a numbered (static image) followed by a title
-# with a background color defined in the corresponding CSS: LC_topic_bar
-#
+# Generates a div containing an (optional) numbered (static) image followed by a 
+# title with a background color defined in the corresponding CSS: LC_topic_bar
+# Inputs:
+# 1. number to display (corresponding static image should exist).
+#    img tag will be included if arg is an integer in the range 1 to 9. 
+# 2. title text to display.
+# Outputs - a scalar containing html mark-up for the div.
+
 sub topic_bar {
     my ($imgnum,$title) = @_;
-    return '<div class="LC_topic_bar">'
-          .'<img src="/res/adm/pages/bl_step'.$imgnum.'.gif"'
-          .' alt="'.&mt('Step [_1]',$imgnum).'" />'
-          .' '.$title
-          .'</div>';
+    my $imgtag;
+    if ($imgnum =~ /^[1-9]$/) {
+        $imgtag = '<img src="/res/adm/pages/bl_step'.$imgnum.'.gif"'. 
+                  ' alt="'.&mt('Step [_1]',$imgnum).'" /> ';
+    }
+    return '<div class="LC_topic_bar">'.$imgtag.$title.'</div>';
 }
 
 ##############################################