function getRadioValue (radioButtonOrGroup) {
// this function returns the value of the selected radio button in a group
  var value = null;
  if (radioButtonOrGroup.length) { // group 
    for (var b = 0; b < radioButtonOrGroup.length; b++)
      if (radioButtonOrGroup[b].checked)
        value = radioButtonOrGroup[b].value;
  }
  else if (radioButtonOrGroup.checked)
    value = radioButtonOrGroup.value;
  return value;
}

function MultiDimensionalArray(iRows,iCols) { 
//this function builds and returns a multidimensional array.
var i; 
var j; 
   var a = new Array(iRows); 
   for (i=0; i < iRows; i++) 
   { 
       a[i] = new Array(iCols); 
       for (j=0; j < iCols; j++) 
       { 
           a[i][j] = ""; 
       } 
   } 
   return(a); 
} 

 function doClear(theText) 
 //This function clears the text in the field that is passed to it.
{
     if (theText.value == theText.defaultValue)
 {
         theText.value = ""
     }
 }