function createRequestObject() {  
       var httpObj;       
       if(window.XMLHttpRequest){  
          // Firefox, Safari, Opera...  
          httpObj = new XMLHttpRequest();  
       } else if(window.ActiveXObject) {  
          	// Internet Explorer 5+  
			try {
			     httpObj = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
			} catch (e) {
			    try {
			     httpObj = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
			    } catch (e) {}
			}           
       } else {  
          // There is an error creating the object,  
          // just as an old browser is being used.  
          alert('Problem creating the XMLHttpRequest object');  
       }        
       return httpObj;  
}

function swapLoadImg(target, file){
	if (document.getElementById(target).src){
		document.getElementById(target).src = file;
	}
}

// concat string from form
function getFormVals(form){
	// loop over field values for search form to get the most current values
	var formObj = form;
	var str = '';	
	var exempt = new Array();
	
	// loop over elemnts and disable
 	for(var i=0;i < formObj.elements.length;i++){
 		var allow = true;
 		
 		// current field
		var field = formObj.elements[i];	
		
 		// loop over list of exempt field and see if current field is allowed
 		for (var a=0; a <= exempt.length; a++){
 			if (field.name == exempt[a]){
 				allow = false;
 				break;
 			}
 		}				
		// bypass method field, determine field type
		if (field.name != 'method' && allow){						
			switch(field.type){
				case "text":
					str += field.name + "=" + escape(field.value) + "&";
					break;
				case "hidden":
					str += field.name + "=" + escape(field.value) + "&";
					break;
				case "checkbox":
					var cBox = new Array();					
					// loop over cbox and add to array if checked					
					for (var c=0; c < formObj[field.name].length; c++){	
						var group = formObj[field.name];
						var chx = group[c];						
						if (chx.checked){							
							cBox.push(chx.value);							
						}						
					}
					// exempt the rest of the cbox's in group
					exempt.push(field.name);					
					str += field.name + "=" + cBox.join(',') + "&";					
					break;
				case "select-one":
					str += field.name + "=" + field.options[field.selectedIndex].value + "&";
					break;
			}	
		}
	}
	
	return str;
	
}

function xmlToString(xObj){
	var xStr = "";
	// serialize xml object to string, depending on browser	
	if(window.XMLHttpRequest){  
		var serializer = new XMLSerializer();
		xStr = serializer.serializeToString(xObj);
	} else if(window.ActiveXObject) {
		// ie
		xStr = xObj.xml;		
	} else {
		alert('Error encounter while serializing xml response.');
	}	
	return xStr;
}