function validate_form(theform){
	var counter;
	var formElements = document[theform].elements;
	var proceed;
	var msg = '';
	var extra = '';
	
	for (i=0; i<formElements.length; i++) {
	   var clName = formElements[i].className;
	   if(clName == "required"){
		  myName = formElements[i].name;
		  if (document[theform][myName].value == '') {
			 s = myName.replace("_"," ");
			 msg += s;
			 //changeClass(myName, 'alertMe');
			 msg = 'Please make sure all required fields are properly completed. Errors have been marked in red';
		  }else{
			 if(myName == "repassword"){ 
			    if(document[theform].password.value != document[theform].repassword.value){
					msg ="The passwords entered didn't match";
					//changeClass('password', 'alertMe')
					//changeClass('repassword', 'alertMe')
				}
			 }
			// changeClass(myName, 'preField');
		  }
	   }
	}
	if (msg != '') {
		alert(msg);
		//mylegend = document.getElementById('thelegend');
		//mylegend.innerHTML = "Please fix the items in red";
		return false;
	}else{
       return true;  
	}
}
	
function changeClass(who, which){
   pos = who.indexOf("-");
   len = who.length;
   if(pos >=1){
	   newidentitiy = who.substr(0, pos);
	   extra = who.substr(pos, len);
	   who = newidentitiy+"_label"+extra;
   }else{
	  who = who+'_label'   
   }
   identity=document.getElementById(who);
   identity.className=which;
}