// tracking for delayed menu close actions
	close_timer = null;
	open_topID = null;

	// positions sidemenus == sub-topic menus
	//  these are recursive with sub-sub-topics and articles, etc
	// have to do this with every mouseover (would prefer just once)
	//  because the parent ul must be _open_ to get the right offsetWidth
	//  so it would be REALLY ugly to get and save that width any other way
	function placeSideMenu(topID,tID)
	{
		obj = getByID("topartmenu_"+topID+"_"+tID);
		obj2 = getByID("topartmenu_"+topID+"_list");

		obj.style.left=obj2.offsetWidth-2;
		obj.style.top=0-1;
	}


	// opens a rollover drop down menu
	function showTopartMenu(evnt,base,topID)
	{
		// clear out any existing menus to be closed
		if (close_timer)
		{
			clearTimeout(close_timer);
			close_timer = null;
			if (open_topID != topID) { hideTopartMenu_do(open_topID); }
		}

		// mark this menu as open
		open_topID = topID;

		// switch OPEN the on/off divs
		getByID('topartmenu_'+topID+'_on').style.display = 'block';
		getByID('topartmenu_'+topID+'_off').style.display = 'none';
	}

	// closes a rollover drop down menu - WITH DELAY!
	//  the delay looks nice and adapts for an IE "feature"
	//  of closing the top menu when returning from a sidemenu
	function hideTopartMenu(evnt,base,topID)
	{
		if (isInMenu(evnt,base)) { return; }
		close_timer = setTimeout('hideTopartMenu_do('+topID+')', 500);
	}
	function hideTopartMenu_do(topID)
	{
		// switch CLOSED the on/off divs
		getByID('topartmenu_'+topID+'_off').style.display = 'block';
		getByID('topartmenu_'+topID+'_on').style.display = 'none';

		// mark this menu as no longer open
		open_topID = null;
		close_timer = null;
	}



	// open the product drop down menu
	function showProductMenu(evnt,base)
	{
		getByID('productmenu_on').style.display = 'block';
		getByID('productmenu_off').style.display = 'none';
	}

	// close the product drop down menu
	function hideProductMenu(evnt,base)
	{
		if (isInMenu(evnt,base)) { return; }

		getByID('productmenu_off').style.display = 'block';
		getByID('productmenu_on').style.display = 'none';
	}