// search_bar.js

var maxLength = 100000; // 100 KB

function checkLength( str )
{
  if ( str.length >  maxLength )
  {
      alert( "ERROR: input too long!" );
      return false;
  }

  return true;

} // end function checkLength( str )

function validateSearchBarInputs()
{
   // check whether required fields have been populated
   if ( document.search_bar_form.keywords.value == "" )
   {
      alert( "please enter some keywords to search for!" );
      return false;
   }

   // check length of inputs
   if (
        !( checkLength( document.search_bar_form.keywords.value ) ) 
      )
   {
      return false;
   }

   return true;

} // end function validateSearchBarInputs()