var MSGTIMER = 20;
var MSGSPEED = 5;
var MSGOFFSET = 3;
var MSGHIDE = 3;

// build out the divs, set attributes and call the fade function //
function inlineMsg(target, string, autohide) {
    var msg;
    var msgcontent;
    if (!document.getElementById('msg')) {
        msg = document.createElement('div');
        msg.id = 'msg';
        msgcontent = document.createElement('div');
        msgcontent.id = 'msgcontent';
        document.body.appendChild(msg);
        msg.appendChild(msgcontent);
        msg.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=0)';
        msg.style.opacity = 0;
        msg.alpha = 0;
    } else {
        msg = document.getElementById('msg');
        msgcontent = document.getElementById('msgcontent');
    }
    msgcontent.innerHTML = string;
    msg.style.display = 'block';
    var msgheight = msg.offsetHeight;
    var targetdiv = document.getElementById(target);
    targetdiv.focus();
    var targetheight = targetdiv.offsetHeight;
    var targetwidth = targetdiv.offsetWidth;
    var topposition = topPosition(targetdiv) - ((msgheight - targetheight) / 2);
    var leftposition = leftPosition(targetdiv) + targetwidth + MSGOFFSET;
    msg.style.top = topposition + 'px';
    msg.style.left = leftposition + 'px';
    clearInterval(msg.timer);
    msg.timer = setInterval("fadeMsg(1)", MSGTIMER);
    if (!autohide) {
        autohide = MSGHIDE;
    }
    window.setTimeout("hideMsg()", (autohide * 1000));
}

// hide the form alert //
function hideMsg(msg) {
    var msg = document.getElementById('msg');
    if (!msg.timer) {
        msg.timer = setInterval("fadeMsg(0)", MSGTIMER);
    }
}

// face the message box //
function fadeMsg(flag) {
    if (flag == null) {
        flag = 1;
    }
    var msg = document.getElementById('msg');
    var value;
    if (flag == 1) {
        value = msg.alpha + MSGSPEED;
    } else {
        value = msg.alpha - MSGSPEED;
    }
    msg.alpha = value;
    msg.style.opacity = (value / 100);
    msg.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=' + value + ')';
    if (value >= 99) {
        clearInterval(msg.timer);
        msg.timer = null;
    } else if (value <= 1) {
        msg.style.display = "none";
        clearInterval(msg.timer);
    }
}

// calculate the position of the element in relation to the left of the browser //
function leftPosition(target) {
    var left = 0;
    if (target.offsetParent) {
        while (1) {
            left += target.offsetLeft;
            if (!target.offsetParent) {
                break;
            }
            target = target.offsetParent;
        }
    } else if (target.x) {
        left += target.x;
    }
    return left;
}

// calculate the position of the element in relation to the top of the browser window //
function topPosition(target) {
    var top = 0;
    if (target.offsetParent) {
        while (1) {
            top += target.offsetTop;
            if (!target.offsetParent) {
                break;
            }
            target = target.offsetParent;
        }
    } else if (target.y) {
        top += target.y;
    }
    return top;
}

// preload the arrow //
if (document.images) {
    arrow = new Image(7, 80);
    arrow.src = "../images/msg_arrow.gif";
}