--- loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2006/05/16 18:24:58	1.737
+++ loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2006/05/16 18:50:55	1.738
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network
 # TCP networking package
 #
-# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.737 2006/05/16 18:24:58 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.738 2006/05/16 18:50:55 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -5319,9 +5319,29 @@ sub sort_course_groups { # Sort groups b
 sub packages_tab_default {
     my ($uri,$varname)=@_;
     my (undef,$part,$name)=split(/\./,$varname);
-    my $packages=&metadata($uri,'packages');
-    foreach my $package (split(/,/,$packages)) {
+
+    my (@extension,@specifics,$do_default);
+    foreach my $package (split(/,/,&metadata($uri,'packages'))) {
 	my ($pack_type,$pack_part)=split(/_/,$package,2);
+	if ($pack_type eq 'default') {
+	    $do_default=1;
+	} elsif ($pack_type eq 'extension') {
+	    push(@extension,[$package,$pack_type,$pack_part]);
+	} else {
+	    push(@specifics,[$package,$pack_type,$pack_part]);
+	}
+    }
+    # first look for a package that matches the requested part id
+    foreach my $package (@specifics) {
+	my (undef,$pack_type,$pack_part)=@{$package};
+	next if ($pack_part ne $part);
+	if (defined($packagetab{"$pack_type&$name&default"})) {
+	    return $packagetab{"$pack_type&$name&default"};
+	}
+    }
+    # look for any possible matching non extension_ package
+    foreach my $package (@specifics) {
+	my (undef,$pack_type,$pack_part)=@{$package};
 	if (defined($packagetab{"$pack_type&$name&default"})) {
 	    return $packagetab{"$pack_type&$name&default"};
 	}
@@ -5330,6 +5350,20 @@ sub packages_tab_default {
 	    return $packagetab{$pack_type."_".$pack_part."&$name&default"};
 	}
     }
+    # look for any posible extension_ match
+    foreach my $package (@extension) {
+	my ($package,$pack_type)=@{$package};
+	if (defined($packagetab{"$pack_type&$name&default"})) {
+	    return $packagetab{"$pack_type&$name&default"};
+	}
+	if (defined($packagetab{$package."&$name&default"})) {
+	    return $packagetab{$package."&$name&default"};
+	}
+    }
+    # look for a global default setting
+    if ($do_default && defined($packagetab{"default&$name&default"})) {
+	return $packagetab{"default&$name&default"};
+    }
     return undef;
 }