var emptyString = " field is blank. Please enter a "

//	FUNCTION notNull
	function notNull(str)
	{
		if (str.length == 0 )
			return false
		else
		{
			return true
		}
	}
//	FUNCTION END notNull

//	FUNCTION notBlank
	function notBlank(str)
	{
		for (i = 0; i < str.length; i++)
		{
			if (str.charAt(i) != " ")
				return true
		}
		return false
	}
//	FUNCTION END notBlank





//	FUNCTION isValid
//	This function receives a pattern to search for and a string to search.  If the pattern is found
//	then true is returned.
	function isValid(pattern, str)
	{
		return pattern.test(str);
	}
//	FUNCTION END isValid



//	FUNCTION validateString
	function validateString(myfield, message)
	{
		if (notNull(myfield.value)&& notBlank(myfield.value))
			return true
		else
		{
			myfield.focus()
			alert(message )
			return false
		}
	}
//	FUNCTION END validateString