function validateForm(theForm) {
var reason = "";

  reason += validateEmptyFrom(theForm.name);
  reason += validateEmail(theForm.email);

      
  if (reason != "") {
    alert("Following errors occured while processing your request:\n\n\n" + reason);
    return false;
  }

  return true;
}


function validateEmptyFrom(fld) {
    var error = "";
  
    if (fld.value.length == 0) {
        fld.style.background = 'Yellow'; 
        error = " -  The From field can not be left blank, kindly fill your name and try again.\n"
    } else {
        fld.style.background = 'White';
    }
    return error;   
}

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

function validateEmail(fld) {
    var error="";
    var tfld = trim(fld.value);                        // value of field with whitespace trimmed off
    var emailFilter = /^[^@]+@[^@.]+\.[^@]*\w\w$/ ;
    var illegalChars= /[\(\)\<\>\,\;\:\\\"\[\]]/ ;
    
    if (fld.value == "") {
        fld.style.background = 'Yellow';
        error = " -  You didn't enter an email address.\n";
    } else if (!emailFilter.test(tfld)) {              //test email for illegal characters
        fld.style.background = 'Yellow';
        error = " -  Please enter a valid email address.\n";
    } else if (fld.value.match(illegalChars)) {
        fld.style.background = 'Yellow';
        error = " -  The email address contains illegal characters.\n";
    } else {
        fld.style.background = 'White';
    }
    return error;
}