function checkFields(elem_container, error_element) 
{
	var doc = document;
	var errorMessage = document.getElementById(error_element);
	
	errorMessage.innerHTML = "";
	var message_list = "";
	var elems = elem_container.elements;
	
	for (var elem_num = 0; elem_num < elems.length; elem_num++) 
	{
		var field_label = "label_" + elems[elem_num].name;
		
		if (elems[elem_num].className.match('required')) 
		{
			if(isEmpty(elems[elem_num].value)) 
			{
				message_list += " - <b>" + document.getElementById(field_label).innerHTML + "</b> is required, and cannot be left empty.<br />";
				elems[elem_num].className = "required errorfield";
				document.getElementById(field_label).className = "error";
				new Effect.Highlight(elems[elem_num], {startcolor:'#cc0000', endcolor:'#ffffff'});
			} 
			else 
			{
				elems[elem_num].className = "required";
				document.getElementById(field_label).className = "";
			}
		}
	}

	if(message_list != '') 
	{
		errorMessage.innerHTML += "<b>Oops!</b> There was a problem with your submission:<br />";
		errorMessage.innerHTML += message_list;
		errorMessage.innerHTML += "Please make the necessary corrections, and resubmit the form.";
		document.getElementById(error_element).className = "visible errorfield";
		return false;
	} 
	else 
	{
		return true;
	}
}
 
function isEmpty (inputStr)
{
	if (inputStr == "" || inputStr == null)
	{
		return true;
	}
	
	return false;
}