//    Create XMLHttpRequest Object
function createRequest() {
  try {
    request = new XMLHttpRequest();
  } catch (trymicrosoft) {
    try {
      request = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
    } catch (othermicrosoft) {
      try {
        request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
      } catch (failed) {
        request = false;
      }
    }
  }

  if (!request)
    alert("Error initializing XMLHttpRequest!");
}

//    POSTs the information
function post(url,params)
  {
  createRequest();
  request.open("POST", url, true);
  request.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded');
  request.onreadystatechange = updatePage;
  request.send(params);
}

//    GETs the information
function get(url)
  {
  createRequest();
  request.open("GET", url, true);
  request.onreadystatechange = updatePage;
  request.send(null);
}