function $(id)
{
    return document.getElementById(id);
}

function getStyleObject(objectId)
{
    if(document.getElementById && document.getElementById(objectId))
    {
        return document.getElementById(objectId).style;
    }
    else if (document.all && document.all(objectId))
    {
        return document.all(objectId).style;
    }
    else if (document.layers && document.layers[objectId])
    {
        return document.layers[objectId];
    }
    else
    {
        return false;
    }
}

function changeObjectDisplay(objectId, newVisibility)
{
    var styleObject = getStyleObject(objectId);

    if(styleObject)
    {
        if (newVisibility)
        {
            styleObject.display = '';
        }
        else
        {
            styleObject.display = 'none';
        }
        return true;
    }
    else
    {
        return false;
    }
}

function createAjaxObj()
{
    return window.ActiveXObject ? new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP") : new XMLHttpRequest();
}

function setWaitCursor(flag)
{
    var style;

    if (flag)
    {
        style = 'wait';
    }
    else
    {
        style = 'auto';
    }

    document.body.style.cursor = style;

    obj = document.getElementsByTagName('A');
    for (var i=0;i < obj.length; i++)
    {
        obj[i].style.cursor=style;
    }

    obj = document.getElementsByTagName('INPUT');
    for (var i=0; i < obj.length; i++)
    {
        obj[i].style.cursor = style;
    }
}

function openFrameWindowInMiddle(url, width, height, leftpos, toppos, status, scrollbars, menubar, resizable)
{
    //to show window in middle of the screen
    leftpos = (screen.availWidth - width) / 2;
    toppos = (screen.availHeight - height) / 2;
    window.open(url, "viewdetails", "width=" + width + ",height=" + height + ",left=" + leftpos + ",top=" + toppos + ",status=" + status + ",scrollbars=" + scrollbars + ",resizable=" + resizable + ", menubar=" + menubar);
}