var cookieMgr = {
    // utility function to retrieve an expiration date in proper
    // format; pass three integer parameters for the number of days, hours,
    // and minutes from now you want the cookie to expire (or negative
    // values for a past date); all three parameters are required,
    // so use zeros where appropriate
    getExpDate : function(days, hours, minutes) {
        var expDate = new Date();
         if (typeof days == "number" && typeof hours == "number" && 
            typeof minutes == "number") {
            expDate.setDate(expDate.getDate() + parseInt(days));
            expDate.setHours(expDate.getHours() + parseInt(hours));
            expDate.setMinutes(expDate.getMinutes() + parseInt(minutes));
        }
        return expDate.toGMTString();
    },
    // utility function called by getCookie()
    getCookieVal : function(offset) {
        var endstr = document.cookie.indexOf (";", offset);
        if (endstr == -1) {
            endstr = document.cookie.length;
        }
        return decodeURIComponent(document.cookie.substring(offset, endstr));
    },
    // primary function to retrieve cookie by name
    getCookie : function(name) {
        var arg = name + "=";
        var alen = arg.length;
        var clen = document.cookie.length;
        var i = 0;
        while (i < clen) {
            var j = i + alen;
            if (document.cookie.substring(i, j) == arg) {
                return this.getCookieVal(j);
            }
            i = document.cookie.indexOf(" ", i) + 1;
            if (i == 0) break; 
        }
        return "";
    },
    // store cookie value with optional details as needed
    setCookie : function(name, value, expires, path, domain, secure) {
        document.cookie = name + "=" + encodeURIComponent(value) +
            ((expires) ? "; expires=" + expires : "") +
            ((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") +
            ((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") +
            ((secure) ? "; secure" : "");
    },    
    // remove the cookie by setting ancient expiration date
    deleteCookie : function(name,path,domain) {
        if (this.getCookie(name)) {
            document.cookie = name + "=" +
                ((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") +
                ((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") +
                "; expires=Thu, 01-Jan-70 00:00:01 GMT";
        }
    }
};