function checkEmail() 
{ 
	if (document.form1.email.value.length < 1){ 
		alert("Please enter your email address."); 
		document.form1.email.focus();
		return false;
	} 
	
	if (document.form1.email.value.length > 1){
	
		var emailFilter=/^.+@.+\..{2,3}$/; 
		
		if (!(emailFilter.test(document.form1.email.value)))	{ 
			alert("Please enter a valid email address."); 
			document.form1.email.select();
			return false;
		} 
	
		//test email for illegal characters 
		var illegalChars= /[\(\)\<\>\,\;\:\\\"\[\]]/ 
		
		if (strng.match(illegalChars))	{ 
			alert("The email address contains illegal characters."); 
			document.form1.email.select();
			return false;
		}	
	}
	return true;
}