--- loncom/xml/lonxml.pm	2004/10/05 18:54:49	1.340
+++ loncom/xml/lonxml.pm	2004/10/05 20:18:29	1.341
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # XML Parser Module 
 #
-# $Id: lonxml.pm,v 1.340 2004/10/05 18:54:49 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: lonxml.pm,v 1.341 2004/10/05 20:18:29 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -1028,6 +1028,7 @@ sub parstring {
     unless ($_=~/\W/) {
       my $val=$token->[2]->{$_};
       $val =~ s/([\%\@\\\"\'])/\\$1/g;
+      $val =~ s/^(\$\d)/\\$1/;
       #if ($val =~ m/^[\%\@]/) { $val="\\".$val; }
       $temp .= "my \$$_=\"$val\";";
     }
@@ -1477,7 +1478,7 @@ sub get_param_var {
   } elsif ( $args !~ /my \$\Q$param\E=\"/ ) { return undef; }
   my $value=&Apache::run::run("{$args;".'return $'.$param.'}',$safeeval); #'
   &Apache::lonxml::debug("first run is $value");
-  if ($value =~ /^[\$\@\%]\w+$/) {
+  if ($value =~ /^[\$\@\%][a-zA-Z_]\w*$/) {
       &Apache::lonxml::debug("doing second");
       my @result=&Apache::run::run("return $value",$safeeval,1);
       if (!defined($result[0])) {