/**
 * Utility function to retrieve an expiration date in proper format;
 * Pass three integer parameters for the number of days, hours,
 * and minutes from now you want the cookie to expire (or negative
 * values for a past date); all three parameters are required,
 * so use zeros where appropriate
 */
function getExpirationDate(days, hours, minutes){
	var expDate = new Date( );
	if (typeof days == "number" && typeof hours == "number" && typeof hours == "number") {
		expDate.setDate(expDate.getDate( ) + parseInt(days));
		expDate.setHours(expDate.getHours( ) + parseInt(hours));
		expDate.setMinutes(expDate.getMinutes( ) + parseInt(minutes));
		return expDate.toGMTString( );
	}
	return getExpirationDate(30, 0, 0);
}


/** Utility function called by getCookie( ) */
function getCookieVal(offset) {
	var endstr = document.cookie.indexOf (";", offset);
	if (endstr == -1) {
		endstr = document.cookie.length;
	}
	return unescape(document.cookie.substring(offset, endstr));
}


/** Primary function to retrieve cookie by name */
function getCookie(name) {
	var arg = name + "=";
	var alen = arg.length;
	var clen = document.cookie.length;
	var i = 0;
	while (i < clen) {
		var j = i + alen;
		if (document.cookie.substring(i, j) == arg) {
			return getCookieVal(j);
		}
		i = document.cookie.indexOf(" ", i) + 1;
		if (i == 0) break; 
	}
	return "";
}


/** Store cookie value with optional details as needed */
function setCookie(name, value, expires, path, domain, secure) {
	document.cookie = name + "=" + escape (value) +
		((expires) ? "; expires=" + expires : "") +
			((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") +
				((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") +
					((secure) ? "; secure" : "");
}


/** Remove the cookie by setting ancient expiration date */
function deleteCookie(name, path, domain) {
	if (getCookie(name)) {
		document.cookie = name + "=" +
			((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") +
				((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") +
					"; expires=Thu, 01-Jan-70 00:00:01 GMT";
	}
}