function updateForm(element, form, url) {
  var options = { method: 'post', evalScripts: true, parameters: Form.serialize(form)};
  new Ajax.Updater(element, url, options);
}

function updateForm(element, form, url, responseFunc) {
  var options = { method: 'post', evalScripts: true, parameters: Form.serialize(form), onComplete: responseFunc};
  new Ajax.Updater(element, url, options);
}

function updateElement(element, url, responseFunc) {
  var options = { method: 'get', evalScripts: true, onComplete: responseFunc};
  new Ajax.Updater(element, url, options);
}

function updateElement(element, url, responseFunc, progressFunc) {
  var options = { method: 'get', evalScripts: true, onComplete: responseFunc, onLoading: progressFunc};
  new Ajax.Updater(element, url, options);
}

function updateElementWithProgessAndPostprocess(element, url, responseFunc, progressFunc){
  var options = { method: 'get', evalScripts: true, onComplete: responseFunc, onLoading: progressFunc};
  new Ajax.Updater(element, url, options);
}

function updateElement(element, url) {
  var options = { method: 'get', evalScripts: true};
  var cacheBuster = parseInt(Math.random() * 99999999); // cache buster
  new Ajax.Updater(element, url+"&Cache="+cacheBuster, options);
  //new Ajax.Updater(element, url, options);
   
}

function AjaxRequest(url, responseFunc) {
  var options = {method: 'post', onComplete: responseFunc, evalScripts: true};
  new Ajax.Request(url, options);
}

function updateElementAndHandleResponse(element, url, responseFunc){
  var options = { method: 'get', evalScripts: true, onComplete: responseFunc};
  new Ajax.Updater(element, url, options);
}

function newXMLHttpRequest() {

  var xmlreq = false;

  // Create XMLHttpRequest object in non-Microsoft browsers
  if (window.XMLHttpRequest) {
    xmlreq = new XMLHttpRequest();

  } else if (window.ActiveXObject) {

    try {
      // Try to create XMLHttpRequest in later versions
      // of Internet Explorer

      xmlreq = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
      
    } catch (e1) {

      // Failed to create required ActiveXObject
      
      try {
        // Try version supported by older versions
        // of Internet Explorer
      
        xmlreq = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");

      } catch (e2) {

        // Unable to create an XMLHttpRequest by any means
        xmlreq = false;
      }
    }
  }

return xmlreq;
}