//field = text field, cntfield = the field displaying number of characters left, maxlimit = number of characters allowed
function textCounter(fieldID,countFieldID,maxlimit) {
var field = document.getElementById(fieldID);
var countField = document.getElementById(countFieldID);
if (field.value.length > maxlimit) // if too long...trim it!
field.value = field.value.substring(0, maxlimit);
// otherwise, update 'characters left' counter
else
countField.value = maxlimit - field.value.length;
countField.innerHTML = countField.value + " characters remaining.";
}