function el(id) {
        if (document.getElementById){
            // this is the way the standards work
            return document.getElementById(id);
        }else if (document.all){
            // this is the way old msie versions work
            return document.all[id];
        }else if (document.layers){
        // this is the way nn4 works
            return document.layers[id];
        }else if (window[id]){
            return window[id];
        }
     return null;
   }
   function show(id){
      var element = el(id);
      if (element){
         element.style.display='block';
      }
      return null;
   }
   function hide(id){
      var element = el(id);
      if (element){
         element.style.display='none';
      }
      return null;
   }
   function toggle(id){
      var element = el(id);
      if (element){
          if (element.style.display=='none'){
              element.style.display='block';
          } else {
              element.style.display='none';
          }
      }
      return null;
   }