function validateRequired(field, field_name) {
	if(field.value == "") {
		alert("'" + field_name + "' is a required field.");
		field.focus();
	    return false; // bad 
	} 
	return true;
}

function validateRequiredRadio(field, field_name) {
	var counter;
	var radio_choice = false;
	
	for (counter = 0; counter < field.length; counter++) {
		if (field[counter].checked)
			radio_choice = true; 
	}
	if(!radio_choice) {
		alert("'" + field_name + "' is a required field.");
		field[0].focus();
		return false; // bad
	} 
	return true;
}

function validateRequiredDropDown(field, field_name) {
	if (field.options[field.selectedIndex].value == '') {
		alert("'" + field_name + "' is a required field.");
		field.focus();
		return false; // bad
	} 
	return true;
}

function validateMaxLength(field, field_name, maxlength) {
	if(field.value.length > maxlength) {
		alert("'" + field_name + "' may only be " + maxlength + " characters.");
		field.focus();
	    return false; // bad email
	} 
	return true;
}

function validateEmail(field, field_name) {
	var atCounter = 0;
	var dotCounter = 0;
	var atPlace = 0;
	var dotPlace = 0;

	if(field.value == "") {
		return true; 
	} 
	for (x=0; x<field.value.length; x++) {
		var oneChar = field.value.charAt(x);
		if (oneChar == "@") {
			atCounter++;
			atPlace = x;
			}
		if (oneChar == ".") {
			dotCounter++;
			dotPlace = x;
			}
	}
	if (atCounter == 0 || dotCounter == 0 || atPlace > dotPlace || dotPlace- atPlace == 1) {
		alert("The value you entered for '" + field_name + "' is not a valid E-Mail address.");
		field.focus();
	    return false; // bad email
	}
	return true; // good email
}