Index: lams_common/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/util/WebUtil.java
===================================================================
RCS file: /usr/local/cvsroot/lams_common/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/util/WebUtil.java,v
diff -u -r1.16 -r1.17
--- lams_common/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/util/WebUtil.java	6 Jun 2006 06:05:17 -0000	1.16
+++ lams_common/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/util/WebUtil.java	4 Oct 2006 08:13:01 -0000	1.17
@@ -331,7 +331,9 @@
     public static ToolAccessMode readToolAccessModeParam(HttpServletRequest request, String param_mode,boolean optional)
     {
         String mode = readStrParam(request, param_mode,optional);
-        if(mode.equals(ToolAccessMode.AUTHOR.toString()))
+        if (mode == null) {
+        	return null;
+        } else if(mode.equals(ToolAccessMode.AUTHOR.toString()))
             return ToolAccessMode.AUTHOR;
         else if(mode.equals(ToolAccessMode.LEARNER.toString()))
             return ToolAccessMode.LEARNER;