function checkEmail (strng) {
var error="";
if (strng == "") {
   error = "Please enter an email address.<br />\n";
}

    var emailFilter=/^.+@.+\..{2,3}$/;
    if (!(emailFilter.test(strng))) { 
       error = "Please enter a valid email address.<br />\n";
    }
    else {
//test email for illegal characters
       var illegalChars= /[\(\)\<\>\,\;\:\\\"\[\]]/
         if (strng.match(illegalChars)) {
          error = "The email address contains illegal characters.<br />\n";
       }
    }
return error;    
}


// phone number - strip out delimiters and check for 10 digits

function checkPhone (strng) {
var error = "";
if (strng == "") {
   error = "Please enter a phone number.<br />\n";
}

var stripped = strng.replace(/[\(\)\.\-\ ]/g, ''); //strip out acceptable non-numeric characters
    if (isNaN(parseInt(stripped))) {
       error = "The phone number contains illegal characters.<br />\n";
  
    }
    if (!(stripped.length == 10)) {
	error = "Please enter your phone number.<br />\n";
    } 
return error;
}


// password - between 6-8 chars, uppercase, lowercase, and numeral

function checkPassword (strng) {
var error = "";
if (strng == "") {
   error = "You did not enter a password.<br />\n";
}

    var illegalChars = /[\W_]/; // allow only letters and numbers
    
    if ((strng.length < 5) || (strng.length > 10)) {
       error = "Your password must be 5-10 characters long.<br />\n";
    }
    else if (illegalChars.test(strng)) {
      error = "Password contains illegal characters.<br />\n";
    } 
return error;    
}


function checkPasswordConfirm (strng, string2) {
	var error = "";
	if (strng != string2) {
	   error = "Your passwords did not match.<br />\n";
	}
	return error;    
}


function checkFirstName (strng) {
var error = "";
if (strng == "") {
   error = "Please enter your name.<br />\n";
}
	return error;    
}


function checkLastName (strng) {
var error = "";
if (strng == "") {
   error = "You did not enter your last name.<br />\n";
}
	return error;    
}

function checkMessage (strng) {
var error = "";
if (strng == "") {
   error = "Please enter a message.<br />\n";
}
	return error;    
}


function checkCourse (strng) {
var error = "";
if (strng == "") {
   error = "Please select a course.<br />\n";
}
	return error;    
}




	function checkp(t)
	{
		var op = '';
		var cp = '';
		var ds = ''

		//alert(t.value);
		var ret =  t.value.replace(/[^0-9]+/g,'');
		var area = ret.substring(0, 3);
		var prefix = ret.substring(3, 6);
		var route = ret.substring(6, 10);

		if(ret.length > 0)
		{
			op = '(';
		}

		if(ret.length > 3)
		{
			cp = ') ';
		}
		if(ret.length > 6)
		{
			ds = '-';
		}

		t.value = op + area + cp + prefix + ds + route + '';
	}