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

from random import SystemRandom as r
from waeup.sirp.students.catalog import search

def generate_student_id(letter):
    # XXX: using catalog search here might be overkill?
    if letter == '?':
        letter= r().choice('ABCDEFGHKLMNPQRSTUVWXY')
    sid = u"%c%d" % (letter,r().randint(99999,1000000))
    while search(query=sid,searchtype='student_id'):
        sid = u"%c%d" % (letter,r().randint(99999,1000000))
    return sid