function checkID (id) {	
	if (id.value!="") {
		var pattern = /[^0-9A-Za-z]/
		if (id.value.match(pattern)) {
			alert("User ID must contain only letters and numbers.");
			id.focus();
			id.select();
			return false;
		}
		else if (id.value.length <3) {
			alert("User ID must be at least 3 characters long.");
			id.focus();
			id.select();
			return false;
		}
		else {
			return true;
		}
	}
	else {
		return true;
	}
}

function checkPassword (pword) {	
	if (pword.value !="") {
		var pattern = /[^a-zA-Z0-9]/
		if (pword.value.match(pattern)) {
			alert("Password must contain only letters and numbers.");
			pword.focus();
			pword.select();
			return false;
		}
		else if (pword.value.length < 6) {
			alert("Password must be at least 6 characters long.");
			pword.focus();
			pword.select();
			return false;
		}
		else {
			return true;
		}
	}
	else {
		return true;
	}
}

function myemailCheck (emailStr) {
	if (emailStr.value!="") {
    	if (!(emailCheck(emailStr.value))) {	
			alert("Please fill in a valid email address.");
			emailStr.focus();
			emailStr.select();
			return false;
		}
		else {
			return true;
		}
  	}
  	else {
  		return true;
  	}	 
}

function confirmPassword (pword1, pword2) {
	if (pword1.value=="" || pword2.value=="") {
		alert("Please fill in a password.");
		pword1.focus();
		pword1.select();
		return false;
	}
	else if (pword1.value != pword2.value) {
		alert("Password entered incorrectly.  Please try again.");
		pword1.focus();
		pword1.select();
		return false;
	}
	else {
		return true;
	}
}

function mydateCheck (dateStr, today) {
  	if (dateStr.value !="") {
		if (!(dateCheck(dateStr.value, today))) {	
			alert("Please fill in a valid date using the format mm/dd/yyyy.");
			dateStr.focus();
			dateStr.select();
			return false;
		}
		else {
			return true;
		}
  	}
  	else {
  		return true;
  	}	 
}

function checkDates(a, b) {
	/*if ((document.search_ssf==null) 
	&& (document.search_permission==null)) {
		if (a.value!="" && b.value=="") {
			alert("Please fill in a start and an end date.");
			b.focus();
			return false;
		}
		
		if (a.value=="" && b.value!="") {
			alert("Please fill in a start and an end date.");
			a.focus();
			return false;
		}
	}*/
	
	if (a.value!="" && b.value!="") {
		if (!(compareDates(a.value, b.value))) {
			alert("You must enter sequential dates.");
			b.focus();
			return false;
		}
	}
}

function checkDesc(desc) {
	var pattern = /^\s{1,300}$/;
	if (desc.value!="") {
		if (desc.value.length>300) {
			alert("Please limit your description to 300 characters.");
			desc.focus();
			return false;
		}
		else if (desc.value.match(pattern)) {
			alert("Please fill in a description of your injury.");
			desc.focus();
			desc.select();
			return false;
		}
		else {
			return true;
		}
	}
	else {
		return true;
	}
}

function checkSpaces(string) {
	var pattern = /^\s{1,300}$/;
	if (string.value!="") {
		if (string.value.match(pattern)) {
			alert("Please fill in this textbox with the required information.");
			string.focus();
			string.select();
			return false;
		}
		else {
			return true;
		}
	}
	else {
		return true;
	}
}

/*this function ensures the proper formatting of the phone number*/
function myphoneCheck (phoneStr) {
  if (phoneStr.value !="") {
    if (!(phoneCheck(phoneStr.value))) {	
		alert("Please fill in a valid phone number using the format ###-###-####.");
		phoneStr.focus();
		phoneStr.select();
		return false;
	}
	else {
		return true;
	} 
  }
  else {
  	return true;
  } 
}