function checkEmail (strng) 
{
	var error="";
	if (strng == "") {
		error = "You didn't enter an email address.\n";
	}

    var emailFilter=/^.+@.+\..{2,3}$/;
    if (!(emailFilter.test(strng))) { 
       error = "Please enter a valid email address.\n";
    }
    else {
       var illegalChars= /[\(\)\<\>\,\;\:\\\"\[\]]/
			if (strng.match(illegalChars)) {
			error = "The email address contains illegal characters.\n";
		}
    }
	return error;    
}

function checkPhone (strng) {
	var error = "";
	if (strng == "") {
		error = "You didn't enter a phone number.\n";
	}

	var stripped = strng.replace(/[\(\)\.\-\ ]/g, ''); //strip out acceptable non-numeric characters
	if (isNaN(parseInt(stripped))) {
		error = "The phone number contains illegal characters.";  
	}
	if (!(stripped.length == 10)) {
		error = "The phone number is the wrong length. Make sure you included an area code.\n";
	} 
	return error;
}


function isEmpty(strng) {
	var error = "";
	if (strng.length == 0) {
		error = "The mandatory text area has not been filled in.\n"
	}
	return error;	  
}


function checkDropdown(choice) {
    var error = "";
    if (choice == 0) {
       error = "You didn't choose an option from the drop-down list.\n";
    }    
return error;
}