// style.display = none, leaves no trace of the element.  See html book, pg 178

// Hides an element leaving no trace in the browser window (leaves no space behind).
function hideElementNoTrace(elementName) {
	document.getElementById(elementName).style.display = "none";
}

// Hides an element without taking it out of the browser's flow, in other words,
// leaving the space it would have occupied behind.
function hideElementReserveSpace(elementName) {
	document.getElementById(elementName).style.visibility = "hidden";
}

// Shows the element as a block level, starting as a new paragraph
// use with "none".
function showElementAsParagraph(elementName) {
	document.getElementById(elementName).style.display = "block";
}

// simply makes the element visisble.  If the element was not hidden
// with space reserved, it will lay on top of subsequent elements.
// Use with "hidden".
function showElement(elementName) {
	document.getElementById(elementName).style.visibility = "visible";
}