function $(id)
{
    return document.getElementById(id);
}

function onMouseOver(obj) {
    obj.style.background = "#ffffff";
}

function onMouseOut(obj) {
    obj.style.background = "#eaeaea";
}

function textCounter(field,cntfield,maxlimit) {
field=document.getElementById(field);
cntfield=document.getElementById(cntfield);
if (field.value.length > maxlimit) // if too long...trim it!
field.value = field.value.substring(0, maxlimit);
// otherwise, update 'characters left' counter
else
cntfield.value = maxlimit - field.value.length;
}

c_t_flag=1;
function clear_text(ta)
{
    if(c_t_flag)
    {
        ta.innerHTML='';
        c_t_flag=0;
    }
}