var help_win='';
function open_help ( help_panel, x, y ) {
	help_win=window.open(help_panel,'login_help','height='+y+',width='+x+',left=0,top=0');
}

function close_help () {
	if ( help_win != '' ) { help_win.close(); }
}

function open_panel (panel, x, y) {
	panel_win=window.open(panel, 'panel','height='+y+',width='+x+',left=0,top=0,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes');
}

function open_panel_scroll (panel, x, y) {
	panel_win=window.open(panel, 'panel','height='+y+',width='+x+',left=0,top=0,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes');
}

function limit_num_characters ( id, max_char ) {
	var tbox = document.getElementById(id);
	var v = tbox.value;

	if ( v.length > max_char ) {
		tbox.value = v.substring(0, max_char);
		alert ( 'You cannot enter more than ' + max_char + ' characters' );
	}
}