var MSGTIMER = 20;
	var MSGSPEED = 5;
	var MSGOFFSET = 3;
	var MSGHIDE = 3;
	
	// build out the divs, set attributes and call the fade function //
	function inlineMsg(target,string,autohide) {
	  var msg;
	  var msgcontent;
	  if(!document.getElementById('msg')) {
	    msg = document.createElement('div');
	    msg.id = 'msg';
	    msgcontent = document.createElement('div');
	    msgcontent.id = 'msgcontent';
	    document.body.appendChild(msg);
	    msg.appendChild(msgcontent);
	    msg.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=0)';
	    msg.style.opacity = 0;
	    msg.alpha = 0;
	  } else {
	    msg = document.getElementById('msg');
	    msgcontent = document.getElementById('msgcontent');
	  }
	  msgcontent.innerHTML = string;
	  msg.style.display = 'block';
	  var msgheight = msg.offsetHeight;
	  var targetdiv = document.getElementById(target);
	  targetdiv.focus();
	  var targetheight = targetdiv.offsetHeight;
	  var targetwidth = targetdiv.offsetWidth;
	  var topposition = topPosition(targetdiv) - ((msgheight - targetheight) / 2);
	  var leftposition = leftPosition(targetdiv) + targetwidth + MSGOFFSET;
	  msg.style.top = topposition + 'px';
	  msg.style.left = leftposition + 'px';
	  clearInterval(msg.timer);
	  msg.timer = setInterval("fadeMsg(1)", MSGTIMER);
	  if(!autohide) {
	    autohide = MSGHIDE;  
	  }
	  window.setTimeout("hideMsg()", (autohide * 1000));
	}
	
	// hide the form alert //
	function hideMsg(msg) {
	  var msg = document.getElementById('msg');
	  if(!msg.timer) {
	    msg.timer = setInterval("fadeMsg(0)", MSGTIMER);
	  }
	}
	
	// face the message box //
	function fadeMsg(flag) {
	  if(flag == null) {
	    flag = 1;
	  }
	  var msg = document.getElementById('msg');
	  var value;
	  if(flag == 1) {
	    value = msg.alpha + MSGSPEED;
	  } else {
	    value = msg.alpha - MSGSPEED;
	  }
	  msg.alpha = value;
	  msg.style.opacity = (value / 100);
	  msg.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=' + value + ')';
	  if(value >= 99) {
	    clearInterval(msg.timer);
	    msg.timer = null;
	  } else if(value <= 1) {
	    msg.style.display = "none";
	    clearInterval(msg.timer);
	  }
	}
	
	// calculate the position of the element in relation to the left of the browser //
	function leftPosition(target) {
	  var left = 0;
	  if(target.offsetParent) {
	    while(1) {
	      left += target.offsetLeft;
	      if(!target.offsetParent) {
		break;
	      }
	      target = target.offsetParent;
	    }
	  } else if(target.x) {
	    left += target.x;
	  }
	  return left;
	}
	
	// calculate the position of the element in relation to the top of the browser window //
	function topPosition(target) {
	  var top = 0;
	  if(target.offsetParent) {
	    while(1) {
	      top += target.offsetTop;
	      if(!target.offsetParent) {
		break;
	      }
	      target = target.offsetParent;
	    }
	  } else if(target.y) {
	    top += target.y;
	  }
	  return top;
	}
	
	// preload the arrow //
	if(document.images) {
	  arrow = new Image(7,80); 
	  arrow.src = "images/msg_arrow.gif"; 
	}