// validate the name field - it can contain only valid characters
function validate_name(name) {
	var pattern = /^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+$/;
	if (!(pattern.test(name))) {
		alert("The Name field is invalid.");
		return (false);
	}
	return (true);
}

// validate the PET form
function validate_pet_form(theform) {
	// need to loop thru the elements of theform to get to the name field
	for(var i = 0; i < theform.length; i++) {
		var e = theform.elements[i];
		if ( e.name == "project[name]" ||
		     e.name == "experiment[name]" ||
		     e.name == "trial[name]" ) {
			return (validate_name(e.value));
		}
	}
}