/* VALID EMAIL CHECK ========================================================= */
function checkemail(the_value) {
// Checks the email field for:
// 1. must be at least 6 characters long i.e. 1@3.56
// 2. cannot begin with a "@" or a "."
// 3. cannot end with a "@" or a "."
// 4. cannot have 2 "." in a row
// 5. cannot have ".@" nor "@."
// 6. must contain 1 "@" and at least 1 "."
// 7. must have 2 or 3 characters after the final "."
// 8. checks specified bad chars like commas
var amp1 = 0;
var dot1 = 0;
var postdot1 = 0;
if(the_value.length<6) {return false}
if(the_value.charAt(0)=='.') {return false}
if(the_value.charAt(the_value.length)=='.') {return false}
if(the_value.charAt(0)=='@') {return false}
if(the_value.charAt(the_value.length)=='@') {return false}
amp1 = 0;
dot1 = 0;
postdot1 = 0;
var iChars = ",><)(][\;:"; // bad chars here
for(var i = 0; i < the_value.length; i++) {
if(iChars.indexOf(the_value.charAt(i)) != -1) {return false}
if(the_value.charAt(i)=='@') {
	amp1=amp1+1}
if(the_value.charAt(i)=='.') {
	if(the_value.charAt(i-1)=='.') {return false}
	if(the_value.charAt(i-1)=='@') {return false}
	if(dot1>0) {
		dot1=0;
		postdot1=0;
	}
	dot1=dot1+1;
}
if(dot1>0) {postdot1=postdot1+1}
}
if(amp1!=1) {return false}
if(dot1<1) {return false}
if(postdot1!=5 && postdot1!=4 && postdot1!=3) {return false}
return true
}
/* ========================================================= */