function validateChars(_string, _validChars){
	//set result true
	result = true;
	//loop through passed string one char at a time starting at position one
	for(j=0; j<_string.length; j++){
		//if the current char in loop does not exist in the passed valid chars var set result to false and exit
		if(_validChars.indexOf(_string.charAt(j)) == -1){
			result = false;
			break;
		}
	}
	return result;
}
function validateEmail(_email){
	//if any email errors are found return false
	if(_email.indexOf("@") == -1 || _email.indexOf("@") == 0 || _email.indexOf(".") == -1){
		return false;
	} else {
		return true;
	}
}
function validateCell(_tel){
	//if any cell number errors are found return false
	if(!validateChars(_tel, "0123456789+")){
		return false;
	} else {
		return true;
	}
}
function validateTel(_cell){
	//if any cell number errors are found return false
	if(!validateChars(_cell, "0123456789+")){
		return false;
	} else {
		return true;
	}
}
function formValidate(_form){
	var error = "";
	
	if(_form == "contact"){
		//if any required fields have not been entered
		if(document.form.name.value == ""){
			error = "Please enter all required fields";
		} else if(!validateEmail(document.form.email.value)){
			error = "Please enter a valid email address";
		} else if(!validateCell(document.form.mobile.value)){
			error = "Please enter a valid mobile number";
		} else if(!validateTel(document.form.tel.value)){
			error = "Please enter a valid telephone number";
		}
	}
	
	if(_form == "partners"){
		//if any required fields have not been entered
		if(document.form.name.value == ""){
			error = "Please enter all required fields";
		} else if(!validateEmail(document.form.email.value)){
			error = "Please enter a valid email address";
		} else if(!validateCell(document.form.mobile.value)){
			error = "Please enter a valid mobile number";
		} else if(!validateTel(document.form.tel.value)){
			error = "Please enter a valid telephone number";
		}
	}
	
	if(_form == "tell_sum1"){
		//if any required fields have not been entered
		if(document.form.friends_name.value == "" || document.form.your_name.value == ""){
			error = "Please enter all required fields";
		} else if(!validateEmail(document.form.friends_email.value)){
			error = "Please enter a valid email address";
		}
	}
	
	//if there was an error in the form submission display the error and dont submit page
	if(error != ""){
		alert(error);
		return false;
	} else {
		//hide submit button
		document.getElementById("submitArea").style.display = "none";
		//show user the page is processing
		document.getElementById("process").innerHTML = "Please wait...";
	}
}