function _checkform()
{
	var mymess="";
	
	// email --------------------------------------
	
	if (regform.email.value == "") 
	{
	   mymess = "You didn't enter an email address.\n";
	}
	
	var emailFilter=/^.+@.+\..{2,3}$/;
	if (!(emailFilter.test(regform.email.value))) 
	{ 
	      mymess = "Please enter a valid email address.\n";
	}
	else 
	{
		//test email for illegal characters
	    var illegalChars= /[\(\)\<\>\,\;\:\\\"\[\]]/
        if (regform.email.value.match(illegalChars)) 
        {
		    mymess = "The email address contains illegal characters.\n";
	    }
	}
	
	// name, etc --------------------------------------
	if (regform.pw.value.length < 2) { mymess = mymess + "You didn't enter a valid password.\n";}
	if (regform.firstname.value.length < 2) { mymess = mymess + "You didn't enter a first name\n";}
	if (regform.lastname.value.length < 2) { mymess = mymess + "You didn't enter a last name.\n";}
	
	if(mymess.length < 2)
	{
		regform.submit();
	}
	else
	{
		alert(mymess);
		return false;
	}
}