function xmlhttpRequest(strURL,strInput,strOutput) {
	
	var xmlHttpReq = false;
	var self = this;
	// Mozilla/Safari
	if (window.XMLHttpRequest) {
		self.xmlHttpReq = new XMLHttpRequest();
	}
	// IE
	else if (window.ActiveXObject) {
		self.xmlHttpReq = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
	}
	// open js window to get data
	self.xmlHttpReq.open('POST', strURL, true);
	self.xmlHttpReq.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded');
	self.xmlHttpReq.onreadystatechange = function() {
		if (self.xmlHttpReq.readyState == 4) {
			// update the page with the data from the called page
			updatepage(self.xmlHttpReq.responseText,strOutput);
		}
	}
	// make call to page to get data
	self.xmlHttpReq.send(getquerystring(strInput));
}
// page to call
function getquerystring(strInput) {
	qstr = 'i=' + escape(strInput);  // NOTE: no '?' before querystring
	return qstr;
}
//sends the new data to the page
function updatepage(str,strOutput){
	// replace data on page with this new data
	document.getElementById(strOutput).innerHTML = str;
}