var request=null;

function httpRequest(reqType,url,asynch,respHandle){
  if (window.XMLHttpRequest){
    request = new XMLHttpRequest();
  } else if (window.ActiveXObject){
    request = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
    if (!request){
      request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
    }
  }
  if (request){
    if (reqType.toLowerCase() != "post"){
      initReq(reqType,url,asynch,respHandle);
    } else {
      var args = arguments[4];
      if (args != null && args.length > 0){
        initReq(reqType,url,asynch,respHandle,args);
      }
    }
  } else {
   alert("Your browser does not permit the use of all of this application's features!");
  }
}
function initReq(reqType,url,bool,respHandle) {
  try {
    request.onreadystatechange=respHandle;
    request.open(reqType,url,bool);
    if (reqType.toLowerCase() == "post"){
      request.setRequestHeader("Content-Type","application/x-www-form-urlencoded; charset=UTF-8");
      request.send(arguments[4]);
    } else {
      request.send(null);
    }
  } catch (errv) {
    alert("The application cannot contact the server at the moment. Please try again in a few seconds.\n Error detail: "+errv.message);
  }
}