function remove_white_space(string)
{
    // parameters: one string
    // returns:    the original string sans any space characters 
    var no_space_string = "";
    for (var i=0; i < string.length; i++)
    {
        if (string.charAt(i) != ' ')
            no_space_string += string.charAt(i); 
    }
    return no_space_string;
}

function length_valid()
{
    var length_ok = true;
    var input_string = document.SearchForm.SearchString.value;
    var input_string_sans_spaces = remove_white_space(input_string);
    if (input_string_sans_spaces.length < 1)
    {
        length_ok = false;
        alert("Please enter a search string before submitting your query.");
        document.SearchForm.SearchString.value = "";
        document.SearchForm.SearchString.focus();
        document.SearchForm.SearchString.select();
    }
    return length_ok;
}

function validate_search()
{
    var the_result = false;
    the_result = length_valid();
    return the_result;
}