//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Returns the value of the specified cookie. Returns null
// if the cookie is undefined.
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
function getCookie( name )
{
  var dc = document.cookie;
  var prefix = name + "=";
  var begin = dc.indexOf( "; " + prefix );
  
  if ( begin == -1 )
  {
    begin = dc.indexOf( prefix );
    if ( begin != 0 ) return null;
  }
  else
  {
    begin += 2;
  }
  
  var end = document.cookie.indexOf( ";", begin );
  
  if ( end == -1 )
    end = dc.length;
    
  return unescape( dc.substring( begin + prefix.length, end ) );
  
} // getCookie()