function checkRegisterForm(register) {
	var why = "";
	
		why += isEmpty(register.first_name.value, "FIRST NAME");
		if (why != "") {
			alert(why);
			register.first_name.focus();
			return false;
		}
		
		why += isEmpty(register.last_name.value, "LAST NAME");
		if (why != "") {
			alert(why);
			register.last_name.focus();
			return false;
		}

		why += checkEmail(register.email.value, "EMAIL");
		if (why != "") {
			alert(why);
			register.email.focus();
			return false;
		}
		
		why += isEmpty(register.password.value, "PASSWORD");
		if (why != "") {
			alert(why);
			register.password.focus();
			return false;
		}
		
		why += isEmpty(register.address.value, "ADDRESS");
		if (why != "") {
			alert(why);
			register.address.focus();
			return false;
		}
		
		why += isEmpty(register.city.value, "CITY");
		if (why != "") {
			alert(why);
			register.city.focus();
			return false;
		}
		
		why += isEmpty(register.post_code.value, "POST CODE");
		if (why != "") {
			alert(why);
			register.post_code.focus();
			return false;
		}
		
		why += isEmpty(register.state.value, "STATE");
		if (why != "") {
			alert(why);
			register.state.focus();
			return false;
		}

				
	return true;
}

function checkSubscribeForm(subscribe) {
	var why = "";
		
		why += isEmpty(subscribe.fname.value, "FIRST NAME");
		if (why != "") {
			alert(why);
			subscribe.fname.focus();
			return false;
		}
		
		why += isEmpty(subscribe.lname.value, "LAST NAME");
		if (why != "") {
			alert(why);
			subscribe.lname.focus();
			return false;
		}
		
		why += checkEmail(subscribe.email.value, "EMAIL");
		if (why != "") {
			alert(why);
			subscribe.email.focus();
			return false;
		}
	
				
	return true;
}


// email

function checkEmail (strng) {
var error="";
if (strng == "") {
   error = "You didn't enter an email address.\n";
}

    var emailFilter=/^.+@.+\..{2,3}$/;
    if (!(emailFilter.test(strng))) { 
       error = "Please enter a valid email address.\n";
    }
    else {
//test email for illegal characters
       var illegalChars= /[\(\)\<\>\,\;\:\\\"\[\]]/
         if (strng.match(illegalChars)) {
          error = "The email address contains illegal characters.\n";
       }
    }
return error;    
}

// non-empty textbox

function isEmpty(strng, fldName) {
var error = "";
  if (strng.length == 0) {
     error = "The " + fldName + " field has not been filled in.\n"
  }
return error;	  
}
// valid selector from dropdown list

function checkDropdown(choice, fldName) {
var error = "";
    if (choice == 0) {
    error = "You didn't choose an option from the " + fldName + " drop-down list.\n";
    }    
return error;
}