function ltrim(argvalue) {

  while (1) {
    if (argvalue.substring(0, 1) != " ")
      break;
    argvalue = argvalue.substring(1, argvalue.length);
  }

  return argvalue;
}

function rtrim(argvalue) {

  while (1) {
    if (argvalue.substring(argvalue.length - 1, argvalue.length) != " ")
      break;
    argvalue = argvalue.substring(0, argvalue.length - 1);
  }

  return argvalue;
}

function trim(argvalue) {
  var tmpstr = ltrim(argvalue);

  return rtrim(tmpstr);

}

function replace(argvalue, x, y) {

  if ((x == y) || (parseInt(y.indexOf(x)) > -1)) {
    errmessage = "replace function error: \n";
    errmessage += "Second argument and third argument could be the same ";
    errmessage += "or third argument contains second argument.\n";
    errmessage += "This will create an infinite loop as it's replaced globally.";
    alert(errmessage);
    return false;
  }
    
  while (argvalue.indexOf(x) != -1) {
    var leading = argvalue.substring(0, argvalue.indexOf(x));
    var trailing = argvalue.substring(argvalue.indexOf(x) + x.length, 
	argvalue.length);
    argvalue = leading + y + trailing;
  }

  return argvalue;

}