--- loncom/interface/lonparmset.pm	2006/12/05 02:55:53	1.350
+++ loncom/interface/lonparmset.pm	2006/12/14 20:50:25	1.350.2.3
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # Handler to set parameters for assessments
 #
-# $Id: lonparmset.pm,v 1.350 2006/12/05 02:55:53 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: lonparmset.pm,v 1.350.2.3 2006/12/14 20:50:25 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -122,7 +122,10 @@ sub parmval_by_symb {
 # load caches
     &cacheparmhash();
 
-    my $useropt=&Apache::lonnet::get_userresdata($uname,$udom);
+    my $useropt;
+    if ($uname ne '' && $udom ne '') {
+	$useropt = &Apache::lonnet::get_userresdata($uname,$udom);
+    }
 
     my $result='';
     my @outpar=();
@@ -173,7 +176,7 @@ sub parmval_by_symb {
     }
 
 # ------------------------------------------------------ fourth, back to course
-    if (defined($csec)) {
+    if ($csec ne '') {
         if (defined($$courseopt{$seclevel})) {
 	    $outpar[9]=$$courseopt{$seclevel};
 	    $result=9;
@@ -189,7 +192,7 @@ sub parmval_by_symb {
 	}
     }
 # ------------------------------------------------------ fifth, check course group
-    if (defined($cgroup)) {
+    if ($cgroup ne '') {
         if (defined($$courseopt{$grplevel})) {
             $outpar[6]=$$courseopt{$grplevel};
             $result=6;
@@ -206,7 +209,7 @@ sub parmval_by_symb {
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------- fifth, check user
 
-    if (defined($uname)) {
+    if ($uname ne '') {
 	if (defined($$useropt{$courselevel})) {
 	    $outpar[3]=$$useropt{$courselevel};
 	    $result=3;
@@ -269,10 +272,8 @@ sub resetrulescache {
 
 sub rulescache {
     my $id=shift;
-    if ($rulesid ne $env{'request.course.id'}) {
-	%rules=();
-    }
-    unless (defined($rules{$id})) {
+    if ($rulesid ne $env{'request.course.id'}
+	&& !defined($rules{$id})) {
 	my $dom = $env{'course.'.$env{'request.course.id'}.'.domain'};
 	my $crs = $env{'course.'.$env{'request.course.id'}.'.num'};
 	%rules=&Apache::lonnet::dump('parmdefactions',$dom,$crs);
@@ -3835,6 +3836,12 @@ sub parm_change_log {
     $r->print(&Apache::loncommon::end_page());
 }
 
+sub check_for_course_info {
+    my $navmap = Apache::lonnavmaps::navmap->new();
+    return 1 if ($navmap);
+    return 0;
+}
+
 ##################################################
 ##################################################
 
@@ -3878,7 +3885,9 @@ sub handler {
 	(&Apache::lonnet::allowed('opa',$env{'request.course.id'}) ||
 	 &Apache::lonnet::allowed('opa',$env{'request.course.id'}.'/'.
 				  $env{'request.course.sec'}));
-    if ($env{'request.course.id'} &&  $parm_permission) {
+    my $exists = &check_for_course_info();
+
+    if ($env{'request.course.id'} &&  $parm_permission && $exists) {
 
         # Start Page
         &Apache::loncommon::content_type($r,'text/html');
@@ -3948,8 +3957,13 @@ sub handler {
 	}       
     } else {
 # ----------------------------- Not in a course, or not allowed to modify parms
-	$env{'user.error.msg'}=
-	    "/adm/parmset:opa:0:0:Cannot modify assessment parameters";
+	if ($exists) {
+	    $env{'user.error.msg'}=
+		"/adm/parmset:opa:0:0:Cannot modify assessment parameters";
+	} else {
+	    $env{'user.error.msg'}=
+		"/adm/parmset::0:1:Course environment gone, reinitialize the course";
+	}
 	return HTTP_NOT_ACCEPTABLE;
     }
     return OK;