var request = null;

function createRequest(){
  try {
    request = new XMLHttpRequest();
  } catch (trymicrosoft){
    try {
      request = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
    } catch (othermicrosoft) {
      try {
        request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
      } catch (failed) {
        request = null;
      }
    }
  }

  if(request == null){
    alert("Error creating request object.");
  }

}

function getIt(what){
  return document.getElementById(what);
}

function checkConfirm(msg, target){
  if(confirm(msg))
    window.location.href = target;
  else
    return false;
}

function textIn(id, text){
  var daInput = document.getElementById(id);
  if(daInput.value == '')
    daInput.value = text;
  return true;
}

function textOut(id, text){
  var daInput = document.getElementById(id);
  if(daInput.value == text)
    daInput.value = '';
  return true;
}

function bookmarkMe(title, url){
  if(window.sidebar)
    window.sidebar.addPanel(title, url, "");
  else
    window.external.AddFavorite(url, title)
}