function js_is_num(in_item)
  {
    if(in_item.value!="")
    {
      if(isNaN(parseInt(in_item.value)))
      {
         alert("Please enter a valid number to continue");
         in_item.focus();
      }
    }
  }
  function convMonth(in_month)
  {
    var retVar
    switch(in_month)
    {
      case 0:
        retVar = "JAN";
        break;
      case 1:
        retVar = "FEB";
        break;
      case 2:
        retVar = "MAR";
        break;
      case 3:
        retVar = "APR";
        break;
      case 4:
        retVar = "MAY";
        break;
      case 5:
        retVar = "JUN";
        break;
      case 6:
        retVar = "JUL";
        break;
      case 7:
        retVar = "AUG";
        break;
      case 8:
        retVar = "SEP";
        break;
      case 9:
        retVar = "OCT";
        break;
      case 10:
        retVar = "NOV";
        break;
      case 11:
        retVar = "DEC";
        break;
      default:
        retVar = "";
        break;
    }
    return retVar;
  }
  function ConvMonthToNum(in_month)
  {
    var retVar
    switch(in_month.toUpperCase())
    {
      case "JAN":
        retVar = 1;
        break;
      case "FEB":
        retVar = 2;
        break;
      case "MAR":
        retVar = 3;
        break;
      case "APR":
        retVar = 4;
        break;
      case "MAY":
        retVar = 5;
        break;
      case "JUN":
        retVar = 6;
        break;
      case "JUL":
        retVar = 7;
        break;
      case "AUG":
        retVar = 8;
        break;
      case "SEP":
        retVar = 9;
        break;
      case "OCT":
        retVar = 10;
        break;
      case "NOV":
        retVar = 11;
        break;
      case "DEC":
        retVar = 12;
        break;
      default:
        retVar = "";
        break;
    }
    return retVar;
  }
  function js_is_date(in_date)
  {
    var varInDate = in_date;
    var boolSet = false;
    var varDateOra;
    var retVar;
    // convert Oracle date format into something JavaScript can deal with
    if(isNaN(Date.parse(in_date.value)))
    {
      if(in_date.value!="")
      {
        var varDateCheck = in_date.value;
        if(varDateCheck.length==10)
        {
          varDateCheck = "0" + varDateCheck;
        }
        if(ConvMonthToNum(varDateCheck.substring(3,6).replace(" ",""))!="")
        {
          boolSet = true;
          var varDayOra = varDateCheck.substring(0,2).replace(" ","") ;
          if(varDayOra.length==1)
          {
            alter("varDayOra");
            varDayOra = "0" + varDayOra;
          }
          varDateOra = ConvMonthToNum(varDateCheck.substring(3,6).replace(" ","")) + "-"
                       + varDayOra + "-"
                       + varDateCheck.substring(7,12).replace(" ","");
        }
      }
    }
    //
    var varDate = Date.parse(varInDate.value);
    if(boolSet)
    {
      varDate = Date.parse(varDateOra);
    }
    if(in_date.value!="")
    {
      if(isNaN(varDate))
      {
         alert("Please enter a valid date to continue");
         in_date.focus();
      }
      else
      {
        selDate = new Date(varDate);
        var varMonth = selDate.getMonth();
        // figure out day
		var varDay;
		varDay = selDate.toGMTString();
		varDay = varDay.substring(5,7).replace(" ","");
		if(varDay.length==1)
		{
		  varDay = "0" + varDay;
		}
		//
        var varYear = selDate.getYear();
        // return date in the Oracle format of DD-MON-YYYY
        retVar = varDay + "-" + convMonth(varMonth) + "-" + varYear;
        //alert(retVar.length);
        if(retVar.length==10)
        {
          retVar = "0" + retVar;
        }
        in_date.value = retVar;
      }
    }
  }