/* Convert object name string or object reference
into a valid object reference */
function getObj(elementID){
if (typeof elementID == "string") {
return document.getElementById(elementID);
}else{
return elementID;
}
}



/*Set the background color of an object*/
function setBackground(thisobj, color){
getObj(thisobj).style.background = color;
}




/*Set the text color of an object*/
function setColor(thisobj, color){
getObj(thisobj).style.color = color;
}
/*Setting the visibility of an object*/
function setVisibility(obj,vis){
var theObj = getObj(obj);
if (vis == true || vis=='visible' || vis=='y'){
theObj.style.visibility = "visible";
}else{
theObj.style.visibility = "hidden";
}
}
/*Getting the visibility of an object*/
function isVisible(obj) {
var theObj = getObj(obj);
return theObj.style.visibility;
}


/*Setting the display of an object*/
function setDisplay(obj,dis){
var theObj = getObj(obj);
if (dis==true || dis=='block' || dis=='y'){
theObj.style.display = "block";
}else{
if (dis==false || dis=='n'){
theObj.style.display = "none";
}else{
theObj.style.display = dis;
}
}
}
/*Getting the display of an object*/
function isDisplayed(obj) {
var theObj = getObj(obj);
return theObj.style.display;
}