function $$(id)
{
	return document.getElementById(id);	
}

function trim(str)
{
	return str.replace(/^\s\s*/,"").replace(/\s\s*$/,"");	
}

function getPosition(e)
{
	var left = e.offsetLeft;
	var top = e.offsetTop;
	while(e = e.offsetParent)
	{
		left += e.offsetLeft;
		top += e.offsetTop;
	}
	return {"left": left, "top": top};
}

function chartest(val)
{
	/*if(char_pattern.test(StrTrim(val)))
		return false;
	else*/
		return true;
}

function checkEmail(object_value)
{	
	email_pattern = /^\w+([-+.']\w+)*@\w+([-.]\w+)*\.\w+([-.]\w+)*$/;
	
	return email_pattern.test(trim(object_value));
}

function checkRequired(obj,msg,name)
{
	if(trim(obj.value)=="")
	{
		msg.innerHTML = "The " + name + " field is a required field.";
		return false;
	}
	
	return true;
}

function checkLen(_min,_max,len)
{
	if(len<_min||len>_max)
		return false;
		
	return true;
}

function showLenMsg(field,_min,_max)
{
	return field + " must be between " + _min + " and " + _max + " characters.";
}

function checkChar(obj,msg,name)
{
	if(!chartest(obj.value))
	{
		msg.innerHTML = "The " + name + " field contains invalid characters.";
		return false;
	}
	
	return true;	
}

function checkSelect(obj,msg,name)
{
	if(obj.selectedIndex == 0)
	{
		msg.innerHTML = "Please choose " + name + ".";
		return false;
	}
	
	return true;
}

function showOK(msg)
{
	msg.innerHTML = "√";
}

function autoFormat(obj)
{
	var strLen = obj.value.length;
	if(strLen==3 || strLen==7)
	{
		obj.value = trim(obj.value) + "-";
	}
}