function validateFormOnSubmit() {
	var reason = "";
  	var theForm;
  
  	theForm=document.getElementById("contact");	
  reason += validateEmail(theForm.email);
  reason += validateEmpty(theForm.name);
  reason += validateEmpty(theForm.message);  
      
  if (reason != "") {
    alert("Some fields need correction:\n" + reason);
    return false;
  }else{
  	return true;
  }
}
//function to check empty fields

function validateEmpty(fld) {
    var error = "";
  
    if (fld.value.length == 0) {
        fld.style.background = '#00A5D9'; 
        error = "The required field has not been filled in.\n"
    } else {
        fld.style.background = 'White';
    }
    return error;   
}

function trim(s)
{
  return s.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/, '');
} 

function validateEmail(fld) {
    var error="";
    var tfld = trim(fld.value);                        // value of field with whitespace trimmed off
    var emailFilter = /^[^@]+@[^@.]+\.[^@]*\w\w$/ ;
    var illegalChars= /[\(\)\<\>\,\;\:\\\"\[\]]/ ;
    
    if (fld.value == "") {
        fld.style.background = '#00A5D9';
        error = "You didn't enter an email address.\n";
    } else if (!emailFilter.test(tfld)) {              //test email for illegal characters
        fld.style.background = '#00A5D9';
        error = "Please enter a valid email address.\n";
    } else if (fld.value.match(illegalChars)) {
        fld.style.background = '#00A5D9';
        error = "The email address contains illegal characters.\n";
    } else {
        fld.style.background = 'White';
    }
    return error;
}