function getObj(objName) {
	var obj = null;
  	if(document.getElementById) 
		obj = document.getElementById(objName);
  	else if(document.all) 
		obj = document.all[objName];
  	else if(document.layers) 
		obj = document.layers[objName]; 
  	return obj;
}

// note: In Opera6, this only works when invoked from onLoad of a window or body object
function hideObj(objName) {
  	var obj = getObj(objName);
  	if(obj)
    	obj.style.visibility = "hidden"; 
}