"""General helper functions for the student section.
"""

import random
from waeup.sirp.students.catalog import search

def generate_student_id(letter):
    r = random
    if letter == '?':
        letter= r.choice('ABCDEFGHKLMNPQRSTUVWXY')
    sid = "%c%d" % (letter,r.randint(99999,1000000))
    while search(query=sid,searchtype='student_id'):
        sid = "%c%d" % (letter,r.randint(99999,1000000))
    return sid