function validate_req_name(x){
  //check for space character
  if(is_blank(x)){ //check for blank entry
    show_error_msg(x,blank_err);
  }else{
    return(false);
  }
}

function validate_req_email(x){
  //lowercase the email-id
  document.getElementById(x).value=document.getElementById(x).value.toLowerCase();
  
  //check for invalid no of '@'s and '.'s
  var at_count = 0;
  var dot_count = 0;
  for (i=0;i<document.getElementById(x).value.length;i++){
    y = document.getElementById(x).value.substr(i,1);
    if(y=='@') at_count++;
    if(y=='.') dot_count++;
  }

  if(document.getElementById(x).value.indexOf(' ')>0){
    return(space_err);
  }else if(!at_count==1){
    return(verify_email);
  }else if(dot_count==0){
    return(verify_email);
  }else{  
    return(false);
  }
}

function validate_txt_phone_number(x){
  if(isNaN(document.getElementById(x).value)){
    return(err_numeric);
  }else{
    return(false);
  }
}

function validate_req_subject(x){
  return(false);
}

function validate_req_message(x){
  return(false);
}