function getElement(element)
{
  if (document.getElementById) element = document.getElementById(element);
  else if (document.all) element = document.all[element];
  else element = null;
  return element;
}

function hideElement(e)
{
  if (typeof(e) == 'string' && !(e = getElement(e))) return 0;
  e.style.display = 'none';
}

function showElement(e)
{
  if (typeof(e) == 'string' && !(e = getElement(e))) return 0;
  e.style.display = '';
}

// vanishLeft: Cross-browser version of "element.style.left"
function vanishLeft(elmnt, pos)
{
  if (typeof(elmnt) == 'string' && !(elmnt = getElement(elmnt))) return 0;
  if (elmnt.style && (typeof(elmnt.style.left) == 'string')) {
    if (typeof(pos) == 'number') elmnt.style.left = pos + 'px';
    else {
      pos = parseInt(elmnt.style.left);
      if (isNaN(pos)) pos = 0;
    }
  }
  else if (elmnt.style && elmnt.style.pixelLeft) {
    if (typeof(pos) == 'number') elmnt.style.pixelLeft = pos;
    else pos = elmnt.style.pixelLeft;
  }
  return pos;
}

// vanishTop: Cross-browser version of "element.style.top"
function vanishTop(elmnt, pos)
{
  if (typeof(elmnt) == 'string' && !(elmnt = getElement(elmnt))) return 0;
  if (elmnt.style && (typeof(elmnt.style.top) == 'string')) {
    if (typeof(pos) == 'number') elmnt.style.top = pos + 'px';
    else {
      pos = parseInt(elmnt.style.top);
      if (isNaN(pos)) pos = 0;
    }
  }
  else if (elmnt.style && elmnt.style.pixelTop) {
    if (typeof(pos) == 'number') elmnt.style.pixelTop = pos;
    else pos = elmnt.style.pixelTop;
  }
  return pos;
}

function vanishWidth(elmnt, pos)
{
  if (typeof(elmnt) == 'string' && !(elmnt = getElement(elmnt))) return 0;
  if (elmnt.style && (typeof(elmnt.style.width) == 'string')) {
    if (typeof(pos) == 'number')
                {
                  if(pos < 0) pos = 0;
                  elmnt.style.width = pos + 'px';
                }
    else {
      pos = parseInt(elmnt.style.width);
      if (isNaN(pos)) pos = 0;
    }
  }
  else if (elmnt.style && elmnt.style.pixelWidth) {
    if (typeof(pos) == 'number') elmnt.style.pixelWidth = pos;
    else pos = elmnt.style.pixelWidth;
  }
  return pos;
}

function vanishHeight(elmnt, pos)
{
  if (typeof(elmnt) == 'string' && !(elmnt = getElement(elmnt))) return 0;
  if (elmnt.style && (typeof(elmnt.style.height) == 'string')) {
    if (typeof(pos) == 'number')
                {
                  if(pos < 0) pos = 0;
                  elmnt.style.height = pos + 'px';
                }
    else {
      pos = parseInt(elmnt.style.height);
      if (isNaN(pos)) pos = 0;
    }
  }
  else if (elmnt.style && elmnt.style.pixelHeight) {
    if (typeof(pos) == 'number') elmnt.style.pixelHeight = pos;
    else pos = elmnt.style.pixelHeight;
  }
  return pos;
}

function stopBubble(event)
{
  if(!event)
  {
    event = window.event;
    event.cancelBubble = true; // IE
  }
  else if(event.stopPropagation)
  {
    event.stopPropagation(); // Moz&co
  }
}