// method that sets up a cross-browser XMLHttpRequest object

function getHTTPObject()
{
	var http_object;
	if ( window.XMLHttpRequest )
	{
		http_object = new XMLHttpRequest();
	}
	else if ( window.ActiveXObject )
	{
		http_object = new ActiveXObject ( "Msxml2.XMLHTTP" );
		if ( ! http_object )
		{
			http_object = new ActiveXObject ( "Microsoft.XMLHTTP" );
			if ( ! http_object )
			{
				alert ( 'Unable to set-up AJAX enviroment' );
			}
		}
	}
	return http_object;
}