--- loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2002/10/01 07:09:05	1.287
+++ loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2002/10/01 07:59:33	1.288
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network
 # TCP networking package
 #
-# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.287 2002/10/01 07:09:05 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.288 2002/10/01 07:59:33 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -2763,9 +2763,9 @@ sub EXT {
 	    $filename=$ENV{'request.filename'};
 	}
 	my $metadata=&metadata($filename,$spacequalifierrest);
-	if ($metadata) { return $metadata; }
+	if (defined($metadata)) { return $metadata; }
 	$metadata=&metadata($filename,'parameter_'.$spacequalifierrest);
-	if ($metadata) { return $metadata; }
+	if (defined($metadata)) { return $metadata; }
 
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------ Cascade up
 	unless ($space eq '0') {
@@ -2773,11 +2773,11 @@ sub EXT {
 	    if ($id) {
 		my $partgeneral=&EXT('resource.'.$part.'.'.$qualifierrest,
 				     $symbparm,$udom,$uname);
-		if ($partgeneral) { return $partgeneral; }
+		if (defined($partgeneral)) { return $partgeneral; }
 	    } else {
 		my $resourcegeneral=&EXT('resource.0.'.$qualifierrest,
 					 $symbparm,$udom,$uname);
-		if ($resourcegeneral) { return $resourcegeneral; }
+		if (defined($resourcegeneral)) { return $resourcegeneral; }
 	    }
 	}
 
@@ -2806,6 +2806,11 @@ sub metadata {
     my ($uri,$what,$liburi,$prefix,$depthcount)=@_;
 
     $uri=&declutter($uri);
+    # if it is a non metadata possible uri return quickly
+    if (($uri eq '') || ($uri =~ m|^/*adm/|) || ($uri =~ m|/$|) ||
+	($uri =~ m|/.meta$|)) {
+	return '';
+    }
     my $filename=$uri;
     $uri=~s/\.meta$//;
 #