function getURL(url) {
    
    var xhr = xmlHttpRequestLoader();
    xhr.open("GET", url, false);
    xhr.send(null);
    return xhr.responseText;    
}

function xmlHttpRequestLoader() {
    
    if (window.XMLHttpRequest) {        
        return new XMLHttpRequest();        
    } else {        
        return new ActiveXObject('Microsoft.XMLHTTP');        
    }    
}

function showlayer(whichLayer) {
    document.getElementById(whichLayer).style.display = 'block';
}

function hidelayer(whichLayer) {
    document.getElementById(whichLayer).style.display = 'none';
}