function validate_form(thisform)
		
	{ with (thisform)
		
	{
		var ret_status = false;
		if (firstname.value == "" || firstname.value == null) {
			alert("first name is required information.");
			ret_status = false;
		} else {
			ret_status = true;
		}

		if (lastname.value == "" || lastname.value == null) {
			alert("last name is required information.");
			ret_status = false;
		} else {
			ret_status = true;
		}

		ret_status = validate_email(email, "please enter a valid email address"); 

		return ret_status;
	}
	}		

function validate_email(field,alerttxt)
{
with (field)
{
apos=value.indexOf("@")
dotpos=value.lastIndexOf(".")
if (apos<1||dotpos-apos<2) 
  {alert(alerttxt);return false}
else {return true}
}
}