function getXMLHTTPRequest(){
  var xRequest=null;
  if (window.XMLHttpRequest){
    xRequest=new XMLHttpRequest();
  }else if (typeof ActiveXObject !="undefined") {
    xRequest=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
  }else alert("Your browser is outdated\n(no XML HTTP Request Support).\nPlease update it to use our service.");
  return(xRequest);
}