////////////////////////////////////////////////
function checkUserName(nm) {
	var str = "";
	if (!validateUserName(nm)) {
		str += "The username you entered contains some characters that are not allowed. The username has to have a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 15 characters. You can use alphanumerical values (letters and numbers); please, avoid special characters.\n";
	}
	if (nm.length > 20) {
		str += "The username you entered is too long. The username has to have a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 15 characters.  You can use alphanumerical values (letters and numbers); please, avoid special characters.\n";
	}
	else {
		if (nm.length < 3) {
			str += "The username you entered is too short. The username has to have a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 15 characters.  You can use alphanumerical values (letters and numbers); please, avoid special characters.\n";
		}
	}
	return str
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////
function checkEmail(nm) {
	var str = "";
	if (nm.length == 0) {
		str += "You forgot to enter your email address. \n";
	}
	else {
		if(nm.length > 100){
			str += "You did not enter a valid email address.\n";
		}
		else{
			if (!validateEmail(nm)) {
				str += "You did not enter a valid email address.\n";
			}
		}
	}
	return str;
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////
function checkAutoCode(nm) {
	var str = "";
	if (nm.length == 0) {
		str += "The authorization code you entered is incorrect. \n";
	}
	else {
		if (!validateAutoCode(nm)) {
			str += "The authorization code you entered is incorrect. Please, try again.\n";
		}
	}
	return str;
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////
// check for user-first-last name
////////////////////////////////////////////////
function validateFName(str) {
var objRegExp = /^[A-Za-z0-9_\'\ \.-]+$/;
  return objRegExp.test(str);
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////
// check for username
////////////////////////////////////////////////
function validateUserName(str) {
var objRegExp = /^([A-Za-z0-9#@$%&?!_\'\.-])+$/;
  return objRegExp.test(str);
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////
// check for passwords
////////////////////////////////////////////////
function validatePassword(str) {
var objRegExp = /^([A-Za-z0-9#$@%&?!_-])+$/;
  return objRegExp.test(str);
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////
function validateEmail(str) {
var objRegExp = /^\w+([\.-]?\w+)*@\w+([\.-]?\w+)*(\.\w{2,5})+$/;
  return objRegExp.test(str);
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////
////////////////////////////////////////////////
function validateAutoCode(str) {
var objRegExp = /^([0-9])+$/;
  return objRegExp.test(str);
}