function isNumber(the_number) {
	var i = 0;
	var ch;

	while (i < the_number.length) {
		// get the current character
		ch = the_number.substring(i, i+1);
		if ((ch >= "0") && (ch <= "9")) {
			// it's a number
		} else {
			return(false);
		}
		i++;
	}
	return(true);
}

function isPrice(theNumber) {
	var numCheckString = "0123456789.$";
	var i;
	for (i = 0; i < theNumber.length; i++)
	{
		if (numCheckString.indexOf(theNumber.charAt(i)) == -1) {
		return(false);
		}
	}
	return(true);
}

function trim(a){
  return a.replace(/^\s+/,'').replace(/\s+$/,'')
}