// returns the unescaped value of the cookie "name" or null if there is none
function getCookieValue(name) {
	var nameIx = document.cookie.indexOf(name + "=");
	if (nameIx == -1) {
		return null;
	}
	else {
		var valueIx = nameIx + name.length + 1;
		var valueEndIx = document.cookie.indexOf(";", valueIx);
		// in case it's the last one
		if (valueEndIx == -1) {
			valueEndIx = document.cookie.length;
		}
		return unescape(document.cookie.substring(valueIx, valueEndIx));
	}
}

// sets a cookie: the value is escaped
function setCookie(name, value, expires, path, domain, secure) {
	document.cookie = name + "=" + escape (value)
		+ (expires ? "; expires=" + expires.toGMTString() : "")
		+ (path ? "; path=" + path : "")
		+ (domain ? "; domain=" + domain : "")
		+ (secure ? "; secure" : "");
}

// sets the cookie "name" to expire in the past (not currently used)
function deleteCookie(name) {
	var exp = new Date();
	exp.setTime (exp.getTime() - 1);
	document.cookie = name + "=; expires=" + exp.toGMTString();
}