//sets elements innerHTML = (results from ajax requested file).
var ajaxElementID;

function ajaxSetContents(strFileName, strElementID){
	xmlHttp = getXmlHttpObj();
	if (xmlHttp == null){
  		alert ("Your browser does not support AJAX!");
  		return;
  	} 
	url = strFileName;
	//url = url + "?sid=" + Math.random();
	//creating object property to hold element's ID to use when ajax request is complete.
	ajaxElementID = strElementID;
	xmlHttp.onreadystatechange = stateChanged;
	xmlHttp.open("GET",url,true);
	xmlHttp.send(null);
}

//create HTMLHttpRequest Object
function getXmlHttpObj(){
    var xmlHttp = null;
    try{
        // Firefox, Opera 8.0+, Safari
        xmlHttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
    }
    catch(e){
        // Internet Explorer
        try{
            xmlHttp = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
        }
        catch(e){
            xmlHttp = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
        }
    }
    return xmlHttp;
}

//handles stateChanged
function stateChanged(){ 
    if (xmlHttp.readyState == 4){ 
        $(ajaxElementID).innerHTML=xmlHttp.responseText;
    }
}



//additional tools...
function $(elementID){
    var eID = elementID;
    var element = document.getElementById(eID);
    return element;
}

function trim(inStr){
    var str = inStr;
    var firstChar = str.substring(0,1);
    while(firstChar == ' '){
        str = str.substring(1,(str.length))
        firstChar = str.substring(0,1);    
    }
    var lastChar = str.substring(str.length - 1, str.length);
    while(lastChar == ' '){
        str = str.substring(0,str.length - 1);
        lastChar = str.substring(str.length - 1, str.length);
    }
    return str;
}

function hideEachElement(elementArray){
	var eArr = elementArray;
	if(eArr.length > 0){
		var len = eArr.length;
		for(var i=0;i<len;i++){
			$(eArr[i]).style.display = 'none';
		}
	}
}
			
function showEachElement(elementArray){
	var eArr = elementArray;
	if(eArr.length > 0){
		var len = eArr.length;
		for(var i=0;i<len;i++){
			$(eArr[i]).style.display = 'block';
		}
	}
}