function isEmpty(elem, helperMsg){
	
	if(elem.value.length == 0){
		
		alert(helperMsg);
		
		elem.focus(); // set the focus to this input
		
		return true;
	}
	
	return false;
	
}

function isNumeric(elem, helperMsg){
	
	var numericExpression = /^[0-9]+$/;
	
	if(elem.value.match(numericExpression)){
		
		return true;
		
	}else{
		
		alert(helperMsg);
		
		elem.focus();
		
		return false;
		
	}
	
}

function isDecimal(elem, helperMsg){
	
	var numericExpression = /^[0-9]*(\.)?[0-9]+$/;
	
	if(elem.value.match(numericExpression) || elem.value == ''){
		
		return true;
		
	}else{
		
		alert(helperMsg);
		
		elem.focus();
		
		return false;
		
	}
	
}

function isAlphabet(elem, helperMsg){
	
	var alphaExp = /^[a-zA-Z]+$/;
	
	if(elem.value.match(alphaExp)){
		
		return true;
		
	}else{
		
		alert(helperMsg);
		
		elem.focus();
		
		return false;
		
	}
	
}

function isAlphanumeric(elem, helperMsg){
	
	var alphaExp = /^[0-9a-zA-Z]+$/;
	
	if(elem.value.match(alphaExp)){
		
		return true;
		
	}else{
		
		alert(helperMsg);
		
		elem.focus();
		
		return false;
		
	}
	
}

function isEmail(elem, helperMsg){
	
	var emailExp = /^[\w\-\.\+]+\@[a-zA-Z0-9\.\-]+\.[a-zA-z0-9]{2,4}$/;
	
	if(elem.value.match(emailExp)){
		
		return true;
		
	}else{
		
		alert(helperMsg);
		
		elem.focus();
		
		return false;
		
	}
	
}

function lengthRestriction(elem, min, max){
	
	var uInput = elem.value;
	
	if(uInput.length >= min && uInput.length <= max){
		
		return true;
		
	}else{
		
		alert("Please enter between " +min+ " and " +max+ " characters");
		
		elem.focus();
		
		return false;
		
	}
	
}