function checkWholeForm() {
	var why = "";
	why += checkEmail(document.myForm.email.value);
	why += isEmptyFriendsName(document.myForm.friendsName.value);
	why += isEmptyAddress1(document.myForm.address1.value);
	why += isEmptyCity(document.myForm.city.value);
	why += checkState(document.myForm.state.value);
	if (why != "") {
	   alert(why);
	   return false;
	}
return true;
}

// email

function checkEmail (strng) {
var error="";
if (strng == "") {
   error = "Please enter an email address.\n";
}

    var emailFilter=/^.+@.+\..{2,3}$/;
    if (!(emailFilter.test(strng))) { 
       error = "Please enter a valid email address.\n";
    }
    else {
//test email for illegal characters
       var illegalChars= /[\(\)\<\>\,\;\:\\\"\[\]]/
         if (strng.match(illegalChars)) {
          error = "The email address contains illegal characters.\n";
       }
    }
return error;    
}

// non-empty textbox

function isEmptyFriendsName(strng) {
var error = "";
  if (strng.length == 0) {
     error = "Please enter your first name.\n"
  }
return error;	  
}

function isEmptyAddress1(strng) {
var error = "";
  if (strng.length == 0) {
     error = "Please enter your address.\n"
  }
return error;	  
}

function isEmptyCity(strng) {
var error = "";
  if (strng.length == 0) {
     error = "Please enter your city.\n"
  }
return error;	  
}

// valid selector from dropdown list

function checkState(choice) {
var error = "";
    if (choice == 0) {
    error = "Please choose a state.\n";
    }    
return error;
}