/*==================================================
 *  Ajax Functions
 *==================================================
 */

var request = false;
 
//
// This function. createXMLHttpRequest(), checks to see what objects the
// bowser supports in order to create the right kind of XMLHttpRequest
// type object to return.
//
function createXMLHttpRequest() {
  
  // Does this browser support the XMLHttpRequest object?
  // This should work for Safari, Mozilla, Opera and other like-minded browsers.
  if( window.XMLHttpRequest ) {
    if( typeof XMLHttpRequest != 'undefined' ) {
	  // Try to create a new XMLHttpRequest object
      try {
	    request = new XMLHttpRequest();
	  } catch( e ) {
		  request = false;
	  } // end try/catch
	} // end if( typeof (...
  // Does this browser support ActiveX objects?
  // Internet Explorer should fall into this catagory.
  } else if( window.ActiveXObject ) {
	// Try to create an ActiveX XMLHTTP object.
	try {
	  request = new ActiveXObject( 'Msxml2.XMLHTTP' );
	} catch( e ) {
	  try {
		request = new ActiveXObject( 'Microsoft.XMLHTTP' );
      } catch( e ) {
	    request = false;
	  }
	}
  } // end if( window.XMLHttpRequest )
  
  return request;
  
} // end function createXMLHttpRequest()