--- loncom/interface/lonmeta.pm	2007/01/16 07:36:10	1.200
+++ loncom/interface/lonmeta.pm	2007/01/19 14:23:23	1.201
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # Metadata display handler
 #
-# $Id: lonmeta.pm,v 1.200 2007/01/16 07:36:10 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: lonmeta.pm,v 1.201 2007/01/19 14:23:23 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -631,14 +631,14 @@ sub prettyinput {
                 if ($meta_options{$item}) {
                     push(@cur_values_inst,$item);
                 } else {
-                    if ($item ne 'Not Specified') {
+                    if ($item ne '') {
                         $cur_values_stu .= $item.',';
                     }
                 }
             }
             my @key_order = sort(keys(%meta_options));
-            unshift (@key_order,'Not Specified');
-            $meta_options{'Not Specified'} = 'Not Specified';
+            unshift (@key_order,'');
+            $meta_options{''} = 'Not specified';
             $meta_options{'select_form_order'} = \@key_order;
         } else {
             $cur_values_stu = $value;
@@ -1340,8 +1340,15 @@ ENDEDIT
         my $row_alt = 1;
         foreach my $field_name (@fields) {
             if (defined($env{'form.new_'.$field_name})) {
-                $Apache::lonpublisher::metadatafields{$field_name}=
-                    join(',',&Apache::loncommon::get_env_multiple('form.new_'.$field_name));
+                my @values = &Apache::loncommon::get_env_multiple('form.new_'.$field_name);
+                my $newvalue = '';
+                foreach my $item (@values) {
+                    if ($item ne '') {
+                        $newvalue .= $item.',';
+                    }
+                }
+                $newvalue =~ s/,$//; 
+                $Apache::lonpublisher::metadatafields{$field_name}=$newvalue;
             }
             if ($Apache::lonpublisher::metadatafields{'courserestricted'} ne 'none'
 		&& exists($env{$Apache::lonpublisher::metadatafields{'courserestricted'}.'.metadata.'.$field_name.'.options'})) {