/* The following function creates an XMLHttpRequest object... */

function createRequestObject(){
	var request_o; //declare the variable to hold the object.
	var browser = navigator.appName; //find the browser name
	if(browser == "Microsoft Internet Explorer"){
		/* Create the object using MSIE's method */
		request_o = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
	}else{
		/* Create the object using other browser's method */
		request_o = new XMLHttpRequest();
	}
	return request_o; //return the object
}

function performAJAXGetRequest(http, url, handleFunction) {
	/* Create the request. The first argument to the open function is the method (POST/GET),
		and the second argument is the url... 
		document contains references to all items on the page
		We can reference document.form_category_select.select_category_select and we will
		be referencing the dropdown list. The selectedIndex property will give us the 
		index of the selected item. 
	*/
	http.open('get', url);
	/* Define a function to call once a response has been received. This will be our
		handleProductCategories function that we define below. */
	http.onreadystatechange = handleFunction; 
	/* Send the data. We use something other than null when we are sending using the POST
		method. */
	http.send(null);
}