var _countDowncontainer=0;
    var _currentSeconds=0;
		var _Umsg = "";
    function ActivateCountDown(strContainerID, Cmsg, initialValue) {
        _countDowncontainer = document.getElementById(strContainerID);
				_Umsg = Cmsg;
        if (!_countDowncontainer) {
            alert("count down error: container does not exist: "+strContainerID+
                "\nmake sure html element with this ID exists");
            return;
        }
       
        SetCountdownText(initialValue);
        window.setTimeout("CountDownTick()", 1000);
    }
     
    function CountDownTick() {
        if (_currentSeconds <= 0) {
            alert("your time has expired!");
            return;
        }
       
        SetCountdownText(_currentSeconds-1);
        window.setTimeout("CountDownTick()", 1000);
    }
     
    function SetCountdownText(seconds) {
        //store:
        _currentSeconds = seconds;
       
        //get minutes:
        var minutes=parseInt(seconds/60);
       
        //shrink:
        seconds = (seconds%60);
       
        //get hours:
        var hours=parseInt(minutes/60);
       
        //shrink:
        minutes = (minutes%60);
       
        //build text:
        var strText = AddZero(hours) + ":" + AddZero(minutes) + ":" + AddZero(seconds) + _Umsg;
       
        //apply:
        _countDowncontainer.innerHTML = strText;
    }
     
    function AddZero(num) {
        return ((num >= 0)&&(num < 10))?"0"+num:num+"";
    }