<!--
// must at least supply something
function notBlank (form,field,message) {
    var target = form.elements[field]
    if (!empty(stripSpaces(target.value))) 
   return true; 
    alert(message);
    target.focus() ;
    return false;
}
// only [0-9] uses isNaN inbuilt function
function numericValue (form,field,message) {
    var target = form.elements[field]
    if (!isNaN(parseInt(target.value))) 
   return true; 
    alert(message);
    target.focus() ;
    return false;
}
// get rid of spaces 
function stripSpaces(inString) {
    while (inString.substring(0,1) == ' ') 
   inString = inString.substring(1);
    return inString;
}
// make sure something exists
function empty(inString) { 
   if (inString.length > 0) 
           return false; 
   else 
   return true; 
}
// -->