// trim prototype
		String.prototype.trim = function() {
			return this.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/g,"");
		}

		function EmailID(val)
		{
			val = val.trim();
			if (val.length == 0) { return false; }
			//var regex=/^\w+([\.-]?\w+)*@\w+([\.-]?\w+)*(\.\w{2,3})+$/;
			var regex=/^([a-zA-Z0-9_\.\-])+\@(([a-zA-Z0-9\-])+\.)+([a-zA-Z0-9]{2,4})+$/;
			return regex.test(val)?true:false;
		}

		// validate first name and last name, and email
		function Validate() {
		
			var fn 	= $("#firstname").val();
			fn		= fn.trim();
			var fnl = fn.length;
			
			if (fnl < 1) {
				alert ("Please enter a valid first name");
				return false;
			}
			else if (fnl > 100) {
				alert ("First name is too long. Please enter a shorter first name");
				return false;
			}
			
			var ln	= $("#lastname").val();
			ln 		= ln.trim();
			var lnl = ln.length;
			
			if (lnl < 1) {
				alert ("Please enter a valid last name");
				return false;
			}
			else if (lnl > 100) {
				alert ("Last name is too long. Please enter a shorter last name");
				return false;
			}
			
			var em 	= $("#email1").val();
			em		= em.trim();
			var eml	= em.length;
			
			if (eml < 1) {
				alert ("Please enter a valid email");
				return false;
			}
			else if (eml > 350) {
				alert ("Email is too long. Please enter a shorter email address");
				return false;
			}
			
			if (!EmailID(em)) {
				alert ("Please enter a valid email");
				return false;
			}
			
			var fullname = fn + " " + ln;			
			$("#hiddenname").val(fullname);
			
			return true;
		}