function raiseOpacity(id, op){
		id.style.opacity = op;
        //id.filters.alpha.opacity = op*100;
        if(op<1){
			setTimeout(function(){raiseOpacity(id, op+0.05);}, 15);
		}
}

function lowerOpacity(id, op){
	id.style.opacity = op;
    //id.filters.alpha.opacity = op*100;
	if(op>0.4){
		setTimeout(function() {lowerOpacity(id, op-0.05);}, 15);
	}
}

//intial fade function, this fades in the buttons
//that become "stuck" with low opacity in the 
//event that the onmouseout event doesn't fire
function initial(id, op){
	var elem1 = document.getElementById("home");
	var elem2 = document.getElementById("search");
	var elem3 = document.getElementById("view_listings");
	var elem4 = document.getElementById("contact_us");
	var elem5 = document.getElementById("add");
    var ids = new Array(elem1, elem2, elem3, elem4, elem5);
    var i = 0;
    for(i=0;i<ids.length;i++){
        if((ids[i] != id)&&(ids[i].style.opacity<1)){
            raiseOpacity(ids[i], 0.7);
        }
    }
    
    lowerOpacity(id, op);
}

//this is the initial fade function used
//for pages without the "add" button
function initial2(id, op){
	var elem1 = document.getElementById("home");
	var elem2 = document.getElementById("search");
	var elem3 = document.getElementById("view_listings");
	var elem4 = document.getElementById("contact_us");
    var ids = new Array(elem1, elem2, elem3, elem4);
    var i = 0;
    for(i=0;i<ids.length;i++){
        if((ids[i] != id)&&(ids[i].style.opacity<1)){
            raiseOpacity(ids[i], 0.7);
        }
    }
    
    lowerOpacity(id, op);
}