var timeout;

function timed_hide(id) {
  var call = "hide_div('" + id + "')";
  timeout = setTimeout(call, 500);
}

function hide_div(id) {
	//safe function to hide an element with a specified id
	if (document.getElementById) { // DOM3 = IE5, NS6
		document.getElementById(id).style.display = 'none';
	}
	else {
		if (document.layers) { // Netscape 4
			document.id.display = 'none';
		}
		else { // IE 4
			document.all.id.style.display = 'none';
		}
	}
}

function show_div(id) {
  // Clear timeout if timed_hide has been called
  clearTimeout(timeout);

	//safe function to show an element with a specified id
		  
	if (document.getElementById) { // DOM3 = IE5, NS6
		document.getElementById(id).style.display = 'block';
	}
	else {
		if (document.layers) { // Netscape 4
			document.id.display = 'block';
		}
		else { // IE 4
			document.all.id.style.display = 'block';
		}
	}
}