function launch( url, name, w, h ) {
	yOffset = 23;
	xOffset = 23;
    pop = window.open( url,name,"width="+w+",height="+h+",status=1,resizable=1,menubar=0,toolbar=0,directories=0,location=0,scrollbars=1,top="+yOffset+",left="+xOffset );
	pop.focus();
}
function nav( sel ){
	url = document.drop_nav.drop.options[document.drop_nav.drop.selectedIndex].value;
	if( url.indexOf('feature') > 0 ){
		yOffset = 23;
		xOffset = 23;
	    pop = window.open( url,"feature","width=800,height=600,status=1,resizable=1,menubar=0,toolbar=0,directories=0,location=0,scrollbars=1,top="+yOffset+",left="+xOffset );
		pop.focus();
	}else{
		window.location=url;
	}
}
function CheckRequired(which){
	var pass=true
	for (i=0;i<which.length;i++){
		var tempobj=which.elements[i]
		if (tempobj.name.substring(0,8)=="required"){	
			if (((tempobj.type=="text"||tempobj.type=="textarea"||tempobj.type=="radio"||tempobj.type=="file")&&tempobj.value=='')||(tempobj.type.toString().charAt(0)=="s"&&tempobj.selectedIndex<=0)){
				pass=false
				break
			}
		}
	}
	if (!pass){
		alert("One or more of the required elements are not completed. Please complete them, then submit again!")
		return false
	}
	else{
		//	rename the form elements taking out 'required'
		for (i=0;i<which.length;i++){
			var tempobj=which.elements[i]
			if (tempobj.name.substring(0,8)=="required"){
				tempobj.name = tempobj.name.substring(8,tempobj.name.length);
			}
		}
		return true
	}		
}

/*
   name - name of the cookie
   value - value of the cookie
   [expires] - expiration date of the cookie
     (defaults to end of current session)
   [path] - path for which the cookie is valid
     (defaults to path of calling document)
   [domain] - domain for which the cookie is valid
     (defaults to domain of calling document)
   [secure] - Boolean value indicating if the cookie transmission requires
     a secure transmission
   * an argument defaults when it is assigned null as a placeholder
   * a null placeholder is not required for trailing omitted arguments
*/

function setCookie(name, value, expires, path, domain, secure) {
  var curCookie = name + "=" + escape(value) +
      ((expires) ? "; expires=" + expires.toGMTString() : "") +
      ((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") +
      ((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") +
      ((secure) ? "; secure" : "");
  document.cookie = curCookie;
}


/*
  name - name of the desired cookie
  return string containing value of specified cookie or null
  if cookie does not exist
*/

function getCookie(name) {
  var dc = document.cookie;
  var prefix = name + "=";
  var begin = dc.indexOf("; " + prefix);
  if (begin == -1) {
    begin = dc.indexOf(prefix);
    if (begin != 0) return null;
  } else
    begin += 2;
  var end = document.cookie.indexOf(";", begin);
  if (end == -1)
    end = dc.length;
  return unescape(dc.substring(begin + prefix.length, end));
}


/*
   name - name of the cookie
   [path] - path of the cookie (must be same as path used to create cookie)
   [domain] - domain of the cookie (must be same as domain used to
     create cookie)
   path and domain default if assigned null or omitted if no explicit
     argument proceeds
*/

function deleteCookie(name, path, domain) {
  if (getCookie(name)) {
    document.cookie = name + "=" +
    ((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") +
    ((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") +
    "; expires=Thu, 01-Jan-70 00:00:01 GMT";
  }
}

// date - any instance of the Date object
// * hand all instances of the Date object to this function for "repairs"

function fixDate(date) {
  var base = new Date(0);
  var skew = base.getTime();
  if (skew > 0)
    date.setTime(date.getTime() - skew);
}