function trim(s){
	return s.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/, '');
}
function validateEmpty(fld){
	var error = "";
	if(fld.value.length == 0){
		error = "The required field has not been filled in.<br>"
	}
	return error;  
}
function validateNickname(fld){
	var error = "";
	var illegalChars = /\W/; // allow letters, numbers, and underscores
	
	if(fld.value == ""){
		error = "Please enter a Nickname<br>";
	}else if((fld.value.length < 5) || (fld.value.length > 15)){
		error = "Nickname you entered is the wrong length.<br>";
	}else if(illegalChars.test(fld.value)){
		error = "Nickname contains illegal characters.<br>";
	}
	return error;
}
function validatePassword(fld){
    var error = "";
    var illegalChars = /[\W_]/; // allow only letters and numbers 
 
    if(fld.value == ""){
        error = "You didn't enter a password.<br>";
    }else if((fld.value.length < 7) || (fld.value.length > 15)){
        error = "The password is the wrong length. <br>";
    }else if(illegalChars.test(fld.value)){
        error = "The password contains illegal characters.<br>";
    }else if(!((fld.value.search(/(a-z)+/)) && (fld.value.search(/(0-9)+/)))){
        error = "The password must contain at least one numeral.<br>";
    }
	return error;
}  
function validateEmail(fld){
    var error="";
    var tfld = trim(fld.value);  // value of field with whitespace trimmed off
    var emailFilter = /^[^@]+@[^@.]+\.[^@]*\w\w$/ ;
    var illegalChars= /[\(\)\<\>\,\;\:\\\"\[\]]/ ;
   
    if(fld.value == ""){
        error = "You didn't enter an email address.<br>";
    }else if(!emailFilter.test(tfld)){ //test email for illegal characters
        error = "Please enter a valid email address.<br>";
    }else if(fld.value.match(illegalChars)){
        error = "The email address contains illegal characters.<br>";
    }
    return error;
}
function validatePhone(fld) {
    var error = "";
    var stripped = fld.value.replace(/[\(\)\.\-\ ]/g, '');    

	if(fld.value == ""){
        error = "You didn't enter a phone number.<br>";
    }else if(isNaN(parseInt(stripped))){
        error = "The phone number contains illegal characters.<br>";
    }else if(!(stripped.length == 10)){
        error = "The phone number is the wrong length. Make sure you included an area code.<br>";
    }
    return error;
}