function show(object) {
  if (document.getElementById) {
    document.getElementById(object).style.visibility = 'visible';
  }
  else if (document.layers && document.layers[object]) {
    document.layers[object].visibility = 'visible';
  }
  else if (document.all) {
    document.all[object].style.visibility = 'visible';
  }
}

function hide(object) {
  if (document.getElementById) {
    document.getElementById(object).style.visibility = 'hidden';
  }
  else if (document.layers && document.layers[object]) {
    document.layers[object].visibility = 'hidden';
  }
  else if (document.all) {
    document.all[object].style.visibility = 'hidden';
  }
}

function textCounter(field, countfield, maxlimit) {
	if (field.value.length > maxlimit) // if too long...trim it!
		field.value = field.value.substring(0, maxlimit); // otherwise, update 'characters left' counter
	else
		countfield.value = maxlimit - field.value.length;
}