function limitText(limitField, limitCount, limitNum) {
	if (limitField.value.length > limitNum) {
		limitField.value = limitField.value.substring(0, limitNum);
	} else {
		document.getElementById(limitCount).innerHTML = limitNum - limitField.value.length;
	}
}

function extractValue(takeFrom, delim){
	var temp;
	//pulls the "data" out from inside delim, which is marked with <> and </> around it
	takeFrom= rightString(takeFrom, '<' + delim + '>');
	temp= leftString(takeFrom, '</' + delim + '>');	
	return temp;	
}


function makeUniqueURL(uri) 
{
 //makes a url unique, this prevents caching
  var timestamp = new Date();
  var uniqueURI = uri+ (uri.indexOf("?") > 0 ? "&" : "?")+ "timestamp="+ timestamp.getTime();
  return uniqueURI;
}

function trim(str)
{

while(''+str.charAt(0)==' ')
str=str.substring(1,str.length);
while(''+str.charAt(str.length-1)==' ')
str=str.substring(0,str.length-1);
return str;
}