function getElById (the_id) {
if (typeof the_id != 'string') {
return the_id;
}

if (typeof document.getElementById != 'undefined') {
return document.getElementById(the_id);
} else if (typeof document.all != 'undefined') {
return document.all[the_id];
} else if (typeof document.layers != 'undefined') {
return document.layers[the_id];
} else {
return null;
}
}