function createRequestObject() {
    var ro;
    var browser = navigator.appName;
    if(browser == "Microsoft Internet Explorer"){
        ro = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
    }else{
        ro = new XMLHttpRequest();
    }
    return ro;
}

var http = createRequestObject();

function sndReq(action) {
    http.open('get', '/home.do');
    http.onreadystatechange = handleResponse;
    http.send(null);
}

function showTopic(action) {   
     var arr = document.getElementById("topic");
	   var fileName;
    for (var i = 0; i < arr.length; i++ ) {
    	if (arr.selectedIndex == i) {
    		fileName = arr[i].text;
			break;
    	}
    }
    http.open('get', '/ancillary/topic.do?method=submit&topic='+fileName);
    http.onreadystatechange = handleResponse;
    http.send(null); 
}

function handleResponse() {
    if(http.readyState == 4){
        var response = http.responseText;
		//alert(response);
		document.getElementById('topics').innerHTML = response;
    }
}

function showSubCat(action) {   
    http.open('get', '/SubCatDropDown.jsp?cat=' + action);
    http.onreadystatechange = handleResponse;
    http.send(null);
}