/***********************************************************************
 *                             isAlpha
 *  
 * This function verifies the object that has been passed to it contains
 * no special characters.  If the field contains special characters, an
 * alert is displayed to the user, focus is set on the field, and the
 * field value is highlighted.
 *
 * Parameters - a form object
 * Return - boolean
 *     false - the field does not contain a valid entry
 *     true - the field contains a valid entry
 *
 *********************************************************************/
 
function isAlpha(anObject)
{
    if (anObject.value.length == 0)
    {
        return true;
    }

	var theAlphaStr = anObject.value;
	var theAlphaPat = /[<>"%;)(&+\\]/;    // matches any non-Alpha and space characters
	
	var theMatchArray = theAlphaStr.match( theAlphaPat);

	if ( theMatchArray != null )           // has non Alpha characters been entered?
	{
		alert("This field cannot contain any special characters");
		anObject.focus();
		anObject.select();
		return false;
	}
	return true;
}