function trim(s) {
	while (s.substring(0,1) == ' ') {
		s = s.substring(1,s.length);
	}
	while (s.substring(s.length-1,s.length) == ' ') {
		s = s.substring(0,s.length-1);
	}
	return s;
}

function validateDate(s,fmt) {
    rtn = false;
    if ( isDate(trim(s),trim(fmt)) ) {
        rtn = true;
    }
    return rtn;
}

function fnCheckForEmpty(objId) {
    rtn = true;
    var obj = findDom(objId,0);
    if ( trim(obj.value) == "" ) {
        alert(obj.title + " value cannot be blank.  Please correct this prior to continuing.");
        rtn = false;
    }
    return rtn;
    var obj = null;
}

function stringEscape(s) {
    rExp    = /#/gi;
    strVal  = s.replace(rExp,"[pound]");
    return strVal;
}

function fnIsNumeric(strVal) {
    var strValidChars = "0123456789";
    var strChar;
    var blnResult = true;

    if (strVal.length == 0) return false;

    //  test strString consists of valid characters listed above
    for (i = 0; i < strVal.length && blnResult == true; i++) {
        strChar = strVal.charAt(i);
        if (strValidChars.indexOf(strChar) == -1) {
            blnResult = false;
        }
    }
    return blnResult;
}