// open the client email with the specified address
function sendEmail(encodedEmail)
{
  // do the mailto: link
  location.href = "mailto:" + decodeEmail(encodedEmail);
}
// display the email address in the statusbar
function displayStatus(encodedEmail)
{  window.status = "mailto:" + decodeEmail(encodedEmail);}
// clear the statusbar message
function clearStatus()
{  window.status = "";}
// return the decoded email address
function decodeEmail(encodedEmail)
{
  // The encodedEmail is a string that contains the email address.
  // Each character in the email address has been converted into 
  // a two digit number (hex / base16). This function converts the
  // series of numbers back into the real email address.
  // holds the decoded email address
  var email = "";
  // go through and decode the email address
  for (i=0; i < encodedEmail.length;)
  {
    // holds each letter (2 digits)
    var letter = "";
    letter = encodedEmail.charAt(i) + encodedEmail.charAt(i+1)
    // build the real email address
    email += String.fromCharCode(parseInt(letter,16));
    i += 2;
  }
  return email;
}