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

function CompPass(pass1,pass2)
{
	var error="";
	if(pass1 != pass2)
	{
	error = "Entered passwords did not match. Please re-enter new passwords again.\n";
	}
	return error;
}


function checkUsername (strng) {
var error = "";
var illegalChars = /\W/; // allow letters, numbers, and underscores
if (strng == "") {
   error = "Please enter your username.\n"; 
}
 
return error;     
}

function checkPassword (strng) {
var error = "";
if (strng == "") {
   error = "Please enter your password.\n";
}

return error;      
}

function isBlank(strng, field) {
var error = "";
  if (strng.length == 0) {
     error = "You need to enter something in the " + field + " field.\n"
  }
return error;	  
}

function countit(){
var formcontent=document.theForm.desc.value
document.theForm.wordcount3.value=formcontent.length
}

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

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