function util_GetItem( object_id )
{
	var item;
	
	if(document.getElementById && document.getElementById( object_id ) )
		item = document.getElementById( object_id );
	else if (document.all && document.all( object_id ) )
		item = document.all( object_id );
	else if( document.layers && document.layers[object_id] )
		item = document.layers[object_id];
	
	return item;
}

function util_DisableButton( button_id, text )
{
	var button;
	
	if( (button = util_GetItem( button_id )) != null )
	{
		button.disabled		= true;
		
		if( text )
			button.innerHTML	= "Please wait...";
	}
}

function util_SetVisibility( item_id, new_vis )
{
	var item;
	if( item = util_GetObject( item_id ) )
		util_SetObjectVisibility( item, new_vis )
	else
		alert("error: object '" + item_id + "' not found.");
}
function util_Show( item_id )
{
	util_SetVisibility( item_id, "visible" );
}
function util_Hide( item_id )
{
	util_SetVisibility( item_id, "hidden" );
}

function util_SetObjectVisibility( item, new_vis )
{
	item.style.visibility	= new_vis;
	
	if( new_vis == "hidden" )
		item.style.display = "none";
	else
		item.style.display = "block";
}

function util_SetClass( item_id, class_name )
{ 
	var item;
	
	if( item = util_GetObject( item_id ) )
		item.className	= class_name;
}

function util_GetObject( object_id )
{
	if(document.getElementById && document.getElementById( object_id ) )
		return document.getElementById( object_id );
	else if (document.all && document.all( object_id ) )
		return  document.all( object_id );
	else if( document.layers && document.layers[object_id] )
		return document.layers[object_id];

	return false;
}

function util_SetInnerHtml( item_id, text, append )
{
	var item;
	
	if( item = util_GetObject( item_id ) )
		item.innerHTML = (append ? item.innerHTML + text : text);
}