//check the text value//
function checkitem(item, fdesc) {
  var sendform = true; 
  if (item.value == "" || checkblanks(item.value) == true)  {
   if (fdesc != "") { alert("Please enter " + fdesc + "!");  }
   item.focus();
   sendform = false;
   }
   return sendform;
 }

// following looks for all blanks in a string - typical of checking//
function checkblanks(item)  {
  var isblank = true;
  for (i = 0; i < item.length; i++) {
    if (item.charAt(i) != " ") {
      isblank = false;  }
  } 
  return isblank;
}

// following only checks if first part of input is a number //
function checknum(item,fdesc) {
  var isnum = true;
  if (isNaN(parseFloat(item.value))) {
    isnum = false;
    alert("You need to enter a number for: " + fdesc);
    item.focus();
   }
   return isnum;
}

// following checks for a specific length of a number (e.g., a zip code)
function checklength(item,numdig,fdesc) {
  var sendform = true;
  var ndata = item.value;
  if (ndata.length != numdig)  {
  alert("You need to have " + numdig + " digits in the " + fdesc + "!");
  item.focus();   
 sendform = false;
  }
  return sendform;
}

// following checks for a length as greater or less than
// rel is either "gt" or "lt"
function checklengthrel(item,numdig,fdesc,rel) {
  var sendform = true;
  var ndata = item.value;
  if (rel == "gt" && ndata.length < (numdig + 1))  {
    alert("You need to have MORE than " + numdig + " digits in the " + fdesc + "!");
    item.focus();   
    sendform = false;
  }
  else if (rel == "lt" && ndata.length > numdig)  {
    alert("You need to have LESS than " + numdig + " digits in the " + fdesc + "!");
    item.focus();   
    sendform = false;
  }

  return sendform;
}

function checkdate (item,fdesc) {
  var sendform = true;
   tdate = new Date(item.value);
   if (tdate == "NaN") {
     alert("Please enter the date in the correct format!");
     item.focus();
     sendform = false;
    }
  return sendform;
}

//following only checks for presence of @ and a period  //
//also eliminates bad characters   //
//routine could be adapted for finding anything in a string  //

function checkemail(item) {
  var goodmail = true;
  var addr = item.value;
  var invchar = " /:,;";
  for (i=0; i<invchar.length; i++)  {
	badchar = invchar.charAt(i);
	if (addr.indexOf(badchar,0) > -1)  {
   		goodmail = false;
	}
  }
  atpos = addr.indexOf("@",1);
  if (atpos == -1) {
	goodmail = false;
  }
  else  {
	perpos = addr.indexOf(".",atpos);
	if (perpos == -1)  {
	goodmail = false;
	}
	else  {
		if (perpos + 3 > addr.length)  {
			goodmail = false;
		}
	}
  }
  if (goodmail == false) {
    alert("Email address is not valid!");
    item.focus();
  }
  return goodmail;
}

function checklist(item,fdesc) {
  var sendform = true; 
  if (item.selectedIndex == -1)  {
   alert("Please enter " + fdesc + "!");
   item.focus();
   sendform = false;
   }
   return sendform;
 }

function checkdrop(item,fdesc) {
  var sendform = true; 
  if (item.selectedIndex == 0)  {
   alert("Please enter " + fdesc + "!");
   item.focus();
   sendform = false;
   }
   return sendform;
 }


//check the radio button//
function checkradio(item,fdesc) {
 var sendform = false;
for (i=0; i < item.length; i++) {
  if (item[i].checked) {
     sendform = true;
  }
}
if (sendform == false)  {
  alert("Enter a " + fdesc);
}
  return sendform;
}