--- loncom/interface/lonsearchcat.pm	2001/03/15 19:22:09	1.24
+++ loncom/interface/lonsearchcat.pm	2001/03/15 19:34:37	1.28
@@ -430,12 +430,22 @@ END
     return OK;
 }
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------- see if a field is filled
+sub filled {
+    if (/\S/) {
+	return 1;
+    }
+    else {
+	return 0;
+    }
+}
+
 # --------------------------------------------------- Performing a basic search
 sub basicsearch {
     my ($r,$envhash)=@_;
     my %ENV=%{$envhash};
 
-    unless (length($ENV{'form.basicexp'}) {
+    unless (&filled($ENV{'form.basicexp'})) {
 	&output_blank_field_error($r);
 	return OK;
     }