function submit_form() {
    var error = "";
	var theForm=document.forms[0];
    error += isEmpty(theForm.selName.value,"name");
    error += checkEmail(theForm.selFrom.value);
    error += isEmpty(theForm.selSubject.value,"subject");
    error += isEmpty(theForm.selBody.value,"question");
    if (error != "") {
       alert(error);
    } else {
		theForm.submit();
	}
}

reset_form=function(){
	theForm=document.forms[0];
	theForm.reset();
}


// email

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 {
//test email for illegal characters
       var illegalChars= /[\(\)\<\>\,\;\:\\\"\[\]]/
         if (strng.match(illegalChars)) {
          error = "The email address contains illegal characters.\n";
       }
    }
return error;    
}

// non-empty textbox

function isEmpty(strng,name) {
var error = "";
  if (strng.length == 0) {
     error = "Your "+name+" has not been filled in.\n"
  }
return error;	  
}