function getIntegerFieldValue(name)
{
  return (getFieldValue(name)-0);
}

// get the value of a form field, regardless of its type
function getFieldValue(name)
{
  var field=document.mainForm.elements[name];
  if(field.type)
  {
    if(field.type == "select-one")
    {
      return field.options[field.selectedIndex].value;
    }
    else if(field.type == "checkbox")
    {
      if(field.checked)
      {
        return field.value;
      }
      else
      {
        return "";
      }
    }
    else
    {
      return field.value;  // this works for checkbox, input, etc.
    }
  }
  else
  {
    return 0;
  }
}

function checkTextField(field,er)
{
  if(document.mainForm.elements[field].value == "")
  {
    alert(er);
    document.mainForm.elements[field].focus();
    return true;
  }
  return false;
}

function checkCkeckboxField(field,er)
{
  if(!document.mainForm.elements[field].checked)
  {
    alert(er);
    document.mainForm.elements[field].focus();
    return true;
  }
  return false;
}

function checkRadioField(field,er)
{
  for(i=0;i<document.mainForm.elements[field].length;i++)
  {
    if(document.mainForm.elements[field][i].checked) return false;
  }
  alert(er);
  document.mainForm.elements[field][0].focus();
  return true;
}