--- loncom/interface/lonuserutils.pm	2010/01/14 18:15:31	1.112
+++ loncom/interface/lonuserutils.pm	2010/01/19 18:02:20	1.113
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # Utility functions for managing LON-CAPA user accounts
 #
-# $Id: lonuserutils.pm,v 1.112 2010/01/14 18:15:31 bisitz Exp $
+# $Id: lonuserutils.pm,v 1.113 2010/01/19 18:02:20 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -4833,11 +4833,13 @@ sub setsections_javascript {
                     plch => 'Please choose a different section name.',
                     mnot => 'may not be used as a section name, as it is the name of a course group.',
                     secn => 'Section names and group names must be distinct. Please choose a different section name.',
+                    nonw => 'Section names may only contain letters or numbers.',
                  );                
     $setsection_js .= <<"ENDSECCODE";
 
 function setSections(formname,crstype) {
     var re1 = /^currsec_/;
+    var re2 =/\\W/;
     var groups = new Array($groupslist);
     for (var i=0;i<formname.elements.length;i++) {
         var str = formname.elements[i].name;
@@ -4881,9 +4883,22 @@ function setSections(formname,crstype) {
                     }
                     var newsecs = formname.elements[i+1].value;
                     var numsplit;
+                    var validsecs = new Array();
+                    var badsecs = new Array();
                     if (newsecs != null && newsecs != "") {
                         numsplit = newsecs.split(/,/g);
-                        numsec = numsec + numsplit.length;
+                        for (var i=0; i<numsplit.length; i++) {
+                            if (re2.test(numsplit[i]) == true) {
+                                badsecs.push(numsplit[i]);
+                            } else {
+                                validsecs.push(numsplit[i]);
+                            }
+                        }
+                        if (badsecs.length > 0) {
+                            alert("$alerts{'nonw'}\\n$alerts{'plch'}");
+                            return;
+                        }
+                        numsec = numsec + validsecs.length;
                     }
 
                     if ((role == 'st') && (numsec > 1)) {