function layoutColumns(layout) {
    if (document.getElementById){
      if(layout == "NULL"){
        layout = "3cols";
      }

      var leftHeight = document.getElementById('leftCol').offsetHeight;

      if(layout == "6cols"){
        var colBoxHeight = document.getElementById('columnBox').offsetHeight;
        var topOffset = document.getElementById('mainNav').offsetHeight;
        var bottomOffset =  document.getElementById('newsBox').offsetHeight;
        var contentHeight = topOffset + colBoxHeight + bottomOffset;

        if (leftHeight > contentHeight){
          newLeftHeight = leftHeight;
          newColHeight = leftHeight - (topOffset + bottomOffset);
        }
        else {
          newLeftHeight = contentHeight;
          newColHeight = contentHeight - (topOffset + bottomOffset);
        }

        document.getElementById('leftCol').style.height=newLeftHeight+"px";
        document.getElementById('col1').style.height=newColHeight+"px";
        document.getElementById('col2').style.height=newColHeight+"px";
        document.getElementById('col3').style.height=newColHeight+"px";
        document.getElementById('col4').style.height=newColHeight+"px";
        document.getElementById('col5').style.height=newColHeight+"px";

      }

      else if (layout == "3cols"){
        var topOffset = document.getElementById('columnBox').offsetHeight + document.getElementById('mainNav').offsetHeight;
        var contentHeight = topOffset + document.getElementById('contentBox').offsetHeight;
        var rightHeight = topOffset + document.getElementById('rightCol').offsetHeight;

        var allHeights = new Array(leftHeight,contentHeight,rightHeight);
        var biggest = 10;
        for (x=0;x<allHeights.length;x++) {
          if (allHeights[x] > biggest) {
            biggest = allHeights[x];
          }
        }

        var biggestOffset = biggest - topOffset;

        document.getElementById('leftCol').style.height=biggest+"px";
        document.getElementById('contentBox').style.height=biggestOffset+"px";
        document.getElementById('rightCol').style.height=biggestOffset+"px";
      }

      else if (layout == "2cols"){
        var topOffset = document.getElementById('columnBox').offsetHeight + document.getElementById('mainNav').offsetHeight;
        var contentHeight = topOffset + document.getElementById('contentBox').offsetHeight;

        var allHeights = new Array(leftHeight,contentHeight);
        var biggest = 10;
        for (x=0;x<allHeights.length;x++) {
          if (allHeights[x] > biggest) {
            biggest = allHeights[x];
          }
        }

        var biggestOffset = biggest - topOffset;

        document.getElementById('leftCol').style.height=biggest+"px";
        document.getElementById('contentBox').style.height=biggestOffset+"px";
      }
    }
  }


function highlightColumn(colID,onOff) {
    if (document.getElementById){
      if (onOff == 'on'){
        document.getElementById(colID).style.background="#eeefef";
      }
      else {
        document.getElementById(colID).style.background="#ffffff";
      }
    }
  }