/*
		name - name of the cookie
		value - value of the cookie
		[expires] - expiration date of the cookie
			(defaults to end of current session)
		[path] - path for which the cookie is valid
			(defaults to path of calling document)
		[domain] - domain for which the cookie is valid
			(defaults to domain of calling document)
		[secure] - Boolean value indicating if the cookie transmission requires
			a secure transmission
		* an argument defaults when it is assigned null as a placeholder
		* a null placeholder is not required for trailing omitted arguments
		*/

		function setCookie(name, value, expires, path, domain, secure) {
		var curCookie = name + "=" + escape(value) +
			((expires) ? "; expires=" + expires.toGMTString() : "") +
			((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") +
			((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") +
			((secure) ? "; secure" : "");
		document.cookie = curCookie;
		}


		/*
		name - name of the desired cookie
		return string containing value of specified cookie or null
		if cookie does not exist
		*/

		function getCookie(name) {
		var dc = document.cookie;
		var prefix = name + "=";
		var begin = dc.indexOf("; " + prefix);
		if (begin == -1) {
			begin = dc.indexOf(prefix);
			if (begin != 0) return null;
		} else
			begin += 2;
		var end = document.cookie.indexOf(";", begin);
		if (end == -1)
			end = dc.length;
		return unescape(dc.substring(begin + prefix.length, end));
		}


		/*
		name - name of the cookie
		[path] - path of the cookie (must be same as path used to create cookie)
		[domain] - domain of the cookie (must be same as domain used to
			create cookie)
		path and domain default if assigned null or omitted if no explicit
			argument proceeds
		*/

		function deleteCookie(name, path, domain) {
		if (getCookie(name)) {
			document.cookie = name + "=" +
			((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") +
			((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") +
			"; expires=Thu, 01-Jan-70 00:00:01 GMT";
		}
		}