function createRequest() {
  try {
    request = new XMLHttpRequest();
  } catch (tryMS) {
    try {
      request = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
    } catch (otherMS) {
      try {
        request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
      } catch (failed) {
        request = null;
      }
    }
  }	
  return request;
}

function addEventHandler(obj, eventName, handler) {
	if (document.attachEvent) {
		obj.attachEvent("on" + eventName, handler);
	}
	else if (document.addEventListener) {
		obj.addEventListener(eventName, handler, false);
	}
}

function getActivatedObject(e) {
	var obj;
	if (!e) {
		// early version of IE
		obj = window.event.srcElement;
	}
	else if (e.srcElement) {
		//IE 7 or later
		obj = e.srcElement;
	}
	else {
		//DOM level 2 browser
		obj = e.target;
	}
	return obj;
}