Index: includes/display-render.inc
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal-contrib/contributions/modules/panels/includes/display-render.inc,v
retrieving revision 1.5.2.17
diff -u -5 -p -r1.5.2.17 display-render.inc
--- includes/display-render.inc	16 Mar 2010 17:58:33 -0000	1.5.2.17
+++ includes/display-render.inc	1 Jun 2010 19:14:28 -0000
@@ -111,34 +111,46 @@ function panels_render_panes(&$display) 
   ctools_include('content');
 
   $keywords = array();
 
   // First, render all the panes into little boxes. We do this here because
-  // some panes request to be rendered after other panes (primarily so they
-  // can do the leftovers of forms).
+  // some panes request to be rendered after or before other panes (primarily so
+  // they can do the leftovers of forms, or do some early processing that other
+  // panes rely on).
   $panes = array();
   $later = array();
+  $last = array();
 
   foreach ((array) $display->content as $pid => $pane) {
     $pane->shown = !empty($pane->shown); // guarantee this field exists.
     // If the user can't see this pane, do not render it.
     if (!$pane->shown || !panels_pane_access($pane, $display)) {
       continue;
     }
 
-    // If this pane wants to render last, add it to the $later array.
     $content_type = ctools_get_content_type($pane->type);
 
-    if (!empty($content_type['render last'])) {
+    // If this pane wants to be rendered first, render it now. Otherwise move it
+    // to an array for rendering $later, or $last if that was requested.
+    if (!empty($content_type['render first'])) {
+      $panes[$pid] = panels_render_pane_content($display, $pane, $keywords);
+    }
+    elseif (!empty($content_type['render last'])) {
+      $last[$pid] = $pane;
+    }
+    else {
       $later[$pid] = $pane;
-      continue;
     }
+  }
 
+  // Render panes not set to be rendered first or last.
+  foreach ($later as $pid => $pane) {
     $panes[$pid] = panels_render_pane_content($display, $pane, $keywords);
   }
 
-  foreach ($later as $pid => $pane) {
+  // Render panes that want to be rendered last.
+  foreach ($last as $pid => $pane) {
     $panes[$pid] = panels_render_pane_content($display, $pane, $keywords);
   }
 
   // Loop through all panels, put all panes that belong to the current panel
   // in an array, then render the panel. Primarily this ensures that the