<!--
function validate(){
	// regex to match email addresses
	var flag;
	var str = document.forms[0].aprequest_email.value;	
	var pattern = /^([a-zA-Z0-9])+([\.a-zA-Z0-9_-])*@([a-zA-Z0-9_-])+(\.[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+)+/;
	var flag = pattern.test(str);
	// regex to match comments and applications pattern
	var checkComments;
	var checkAppTypes;
	
	// if comment field is not null check for patterns
	if (document.forms[0].aprequest_comments.value != ""){		
	var strComments = document.forms[0].aprequest_comments.value;
	var Checkpattern = /^[0-9a-zA-Z\.\;\-\'\,\s+]+$/;
	var checkComments = Checkpattern.test(strComments);
	}
	// else pass true because its blank and it needs to pass below when tested
	else {
	var checkComments = true;
	}
	// if application type is not null check for patterns
	if (document.forms[0].aprequest_application_type.value != ""){		
	var strAppTypes = document.forms[0].aprequest_application_type.value;
	var CheckAppTypespattern = /^[0-9a-zA-Z\.\;\-\'\,\s+]+$/;
	var checkAppTypes = CheckAppTypespattern.test(strAppTypes);
	}
	// else pass true because its blank and it needs to pass below when tested
	else {
	var checkAppTypes = true;
	}
	// if required fields are blank
	if ((document.forms[0].aprequest_first_name.value == "")||(document.forms[0].aprequest_last_name.value == "")||(document.forms[0].aprequest_phone.value == "")||(document.forms[0].aprequest_company.value == "")||(document.forms[0].input_number_1.value == "")||(document.forms[0].output_number_1.value == "")){
		alert ("Please complete all required fields");
		return false;
		}
	// if email does not match pattern
 	else if(!flag) {
			alert ("Please enter a valid email address");
			return false;
			}
	// if comments field is not null and does not patch pattern
	else if(!checkComments) {
			alert ("No Special Characters in Comments Please ");
			return false;
			}
	else if(!checkAppTypes) {
			alert ("No Special Characters in Application Type Please");
			return false;
			}	
	
	// else all is good
	else {
 		return true;
		}
}

//-->