function openwindow(my_url,width,height,scroll,resize)
{
//this function will open a new window with my_url as its contents
//it contains 4 "optional parameters:
// width  -- default value is 500
// height -- default value is 450
// scroll -- default value is no (no scrollbar for window)
// resize -- default value is no (window not resizable)
// 
//you can call this function using
// openwindow(desired_url)
// openwindow(desired_url,desired_width)
// openwindow(desired_url,desired_width,desired_height)
// openwindow(desired_url,desired_width,desired_height,want_scroll)
// openwindow(desired_url,desired_width,desired_height,want_scrolling,want_resizing)

//check to see if values passed to function
//if not then set to default values
yes="yes"
no="no"
scroll = scroll == void 0 ? no : scroll;
resize = resize == void 0 ? no : resize;
width = width == void 0 ? 500 : width;
height = height == void 0 ? 450 : height;

//open a new window
window.open(my_url,"my_new_window","toolbar= no, location=no, directories=no, status=no, menubar=no, scrollbars=" + scroll + ", resizable=" + resize +", copyhistory=no, width=" + width + ", height="+ height)
}