////////////////////////////// VALIDATION FUNCTIONS ////////////////////////

  function validateString(TheField, description) {
    if (TheField.value == "") {
      alert(ENTRVAL + " [" + description + "]");
      TheField.focus();
      return false;
    } else {
      return true
    }
  }

  function validateEmail(TheField)
  {
    if ((TheField.value.indexOf("@") == -1) || (TheField.value.indexOf(".") == -1))
    {
      alert(BADMAIL);
      TheField.focus();
      return false;
    }
    else
    {
      return true;
    }
  }

  function validateDrop(TheField, description) {
    if (TheField.options[TheField.selectedIndex].value == -1) {
      alert(ENTRVAL + " [" + description + "]");
      TheField.focus();
      return false;
    } else {
      return true
    }
  }

function validatePic(picControl, description) {
  /* 
    Check to see if control exists (some forms it's optional).
    Then check if it's enabled. Finally, check if it has a value. 
  */
  if ((picControl) && (!picControl.disabled)) {
    return validateString(picControl, description);
  } else {
    return true;
  }
}