var request = false;
   try {
     request = new XMLHttpRequest();
   } catch (trymicrosoft) {
     try {
       request = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
     } catch (othermicrosoft) {
       try {
         request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
       } catch (failed) {
         request = false;
       }  
     }
   }

   if (!request)
     alert("Error initializing XMLHttpRequest!");

   
   
  //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
  
  function buildProvinceDropdown(country_id) {     
     var url = "update_province_dropdown.php?country_id=" + escape(country_id);
     //alert(url);
     request.open("GET", url, true);
     request.onreadystatechange = updateProvinceDropdown;
     request.send(null);
   }
   
   function updateProvinceDropdown() {
     if (request.readyState == 4) {
       if (request.status == 200) {
         document.getElementById("search_results").innerHTML='';    
         document.getElementById("province_dropdown").innerHTML=request.responseText;                  
       } else
         alert("status is " + request.status);
     }
   }
   
   function sortOrder(sortby) {     
     var url = "change_sort_order.php?sortby=" + escape(sortby);
     //alert(url);
     request.open("GET", url, true);
     request.onreadystatechange = updateSortOrder;
     request.send(null);
   }
   
   function updateSortOrder() {
     if (request.readyState == 4) {
       if (request.status == 200) {
         document.getElementById("store_table").innerHTML=request.responseText;                  
       } else
         alert("status is " + request.status);
     }
   }
   
    function showStoreLocations(province_id) {     
     var url = "display_store_locations.php?province_id=" + escape(province_id);
     //alert(url);
     request.open("GET", url, true);
     request.onreadystatechange = updateShowStoreLocations;
     request.send(null);
   }
   
   function updateShowStoreLocations() {
     if (request.readyState == 4) {
       if (request.status == 200) {
         document.getElementById("search_results").innerHTML=request.responseText;                  
       } else
         alert("status is " + request.status);
     }
   }