var request = null;

function createRequest(){
  try {
    request = new XMLHttpRequest();
  } catch (trymicrosoft){
    try {
      request = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
    } catch (othermicrosoft) {
      try {
        request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
      } catch (failed) {
        request = null;
      }
    }
  }
  
  if(request == null){
    alert("Error creating request object.");
  }
  
}

function getIt(what){
  return document.getElementById(what);
}