// ---- checking form field data for step: 'BASIC'
    //
    function checkBasicData(){

        var objForm = document.forms[ 'frmAction' ];
        var aPosMsg = new Array();
        var aErrMessages = new Array();
        var szMsgString = '<ul>';

        if( "none" == objForm.selCustGender.value ){
            aErrMessages.push( "selCustGender_" + "Please select a title!" );
        } else {
            aPosMsg.push( "selCustGender" );
        } // if( "none" == objForm.selCustGender.value )

        if( "" != objForm.txtCustFirstName.value ){
            var element = objForm.txtCustFirstName;
            var re = /[\w\d]/;
            if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                aErrMessages.push( "txtCustFirstName_" + "Your first name contains invalid characters!" );
            } else {
                aPosMsg.push( "txtCustFirstName" );
            } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
        } else {
            aErrMessages.push( "txtCustFirstName_" + "Please insert your first name!" );
        } // if( "" != objForm.txtCustFirstName.value )

        if( "" != objForm.txtCustLastName.value ){
            var element = objForm.txtCustLastName;
            var re = /[\w\d]/;
            if( objForm.txtCustLastName.value == objForm.txtCustFirstName.value ){
                aErrMessages.push( "txtCustLastName_" + "Your last name can not be equal to your first name!" );
            } else {
                aPosMsg.push( "txtCustLastName" );
            }
            if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                aErrMessages.push( "txtCustLastName_" + "Your last name contains invalid characters!" );
            } else {
                aPosMsg.push( "txtCustLastName" );
            } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
        } else {
            aErrMessages.push( "txtCustLastName_" + "Please insert your last name!" );
        } // if( "" != objForm.txtCustLastName.value )


        if( "" != objForm.txtCustEmail.value ){
            var element = objForm.txtCustEmail;
            var re = /^(([^<>()[\]\\.,;:\s@\"]+(\.[^<>()[\]\\.,;:\s@\"]+)*)|(\".+\"))@((\[[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\])|(([a-zA-Z\-0-9]+\.)+[a-zA-Z]{2,}))$/;;
            if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                aErrMessages.push( "txtCustEmail_" + "Your email contains invalid characters or is invalid!" );
            } else {
                aPosMsg.push( "txtCustEmail" );
            } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
        } else {
            aErrMessages.push( "txtCustEmail_" + "Please insert your email adress!" );
        } // if( "" != objForm.txtCustEmail.value )

        if( "" != objForm.txtCustPhone.value ){
            var element = objForm.txtCustPhone;
            var re = /[\w\d]/;
            if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                aErrMessages.push( "txtCustPhone_" + "Your telephone number contains invalid characters!" );
            } else {
                aPosMsg.push( "txtCustPhone" );
            } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
        } // if( "" != objForm.txtCustPhone.value )

        if( "" != objForm.txtComments.value ){
            var element = objForm.txtComments;
            var re = /[\w\d]/;
            if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                aErrMessages.push( "txtComments_" + "Your comments contains invalid characters!" );
            } else {
                aPosMsg.push( "txtComments" );
            } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
        } // if( "" != objForm.txtComments.value )

        if( "" != objForm.txtCaptchaCode.value ){
            var element = objForm.txtCaptchaCode;
            var re = /[\w\d]/;
            if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                aErrMessages.push( "txtCaptchaCode_" + "The CAPTCHA code contains invalid characters!" );
            } else {
                aPosMsg.push( "txtCaptchaCode" );
            } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
        } else {
            aErrMessages.push( "txtCaptchaCode_" + "Please verify the CAPTCHA code!" );
        } // if( "" != objForm.txtCaptchaCode.value )


        for( var idx = 0; idx < aPosMsg.length; idx++ ){
            if( null != document.getElementById( aPosMsg[ idx ] ) ){
                document.getElementById( aPosMsg[ idx ] ).style.border = "1px solid #ccc";
            } // if( null != document.getElementById( aPosMsg[ idx ] ) )
            //document.getElementById( aPosMsg[ idx ] + "Msg" ).innerHTML = "";
        } // for( var idx = 0; idx < aPosMsg.length; idx++ )
        if( aErrMessages.length > 0 ){
            for( var idx = 0; idx < aErrMessages.length; idx++ ){
                aErrorMsg = aErrMessages[ idx ].split( "_" );
                if( null != document.getElementById( aErrorMsg[ 0 ] ) ){
                    document.getElementById( aErrorMsg[ 0 ] ).style.border = "1px solid #a70000";
                    szMsgString = szMsgString + '<li type="square">' + aErrorMsg[ 1 ] + '<li>';
                } // if( null != document.getElementById( aErrorMsg[ idx ] ) )
            } // for( var idx = 0; idx < aErrMessages.length; idx++ )
            showErrorMsg( szMsgString + '<ul>' );
            return( false );
        } // if( aErrMessages.length > 0 )

        return( true );

    } // function 'checkBasicData()'.


    // ---- checking form field data for step: 'PASSWORD'
    //
    function checkPasswordData(){

        var objForm = document.forms[ 'frmAction' ];
        var aPosMsg = new Array();
        var aErrMessages = new Array();
        var szMsgString = '<ul>';

        if( "" != objForm.txtCustRegistrationCode.value ){
            var element = objForm.txtCustRegistrationCode;
            var re = /[\w\d]/;
            if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                aErrMessages.push( "txtCustRegistrationCode_" + "Your registration code contains invalid characters!" );
            } else if( 32 != element.value.length ){
                aErrMessages.push( "txtCustRegistrationCode_" + "Your registration code appears to be invalid!" );
            } else {
                aPosMsg.push( "txtCustRegistrationCode" );
            } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
        } else {
            aErrMessages.push( "txtCustRegistrationCode_" + "Please insert your registration code!" );
        } // if( "" != objForm.txtCustRegistrationCode.value )

        if( "" != objForm.txtNewPassword01.value ){
            var element = objForm.txtNewPassword01;
            var re = /[\w\d]/;
            if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                aErrMessages.push( "txtNewPassword01_" + "Your new password contains invalid characters!" );
            } else {
                aPosMsg.push( "txtNewPassword01" );
            } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
        } else {
            aErrMessages.push( "txtNewPassword01_" + "Please insert your new password!" );
        } // if( "" != objForm.txtNewPassword01.value )

        if( "" != objForm.txtNewPassword02.value ){
            var element = objForm.txtNewPassword02;
            var re = /[\w\d]/;
            if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                aErrMessages.push( "txtNewPassword02_" + "Your password confirmation contains invalid characters!" );
            } else {
                aPosMsg.push( "txtNewPassword02" );
            } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
        } else {
            aErrMessages.push( "txtNewPassword02_" + "Please confirm your password!" );
        } // if( "" != objForm.txtNewPassword02.value )

        if( "" != objForm.txtNewPassword01.value && "" != objForm.txtNewPassword02.value ){
            if( objForm.txtNewPassword01.value != objForm.txtNewPassword02.value ){
                aErrMessages.push( "txtNewPassword01_" + "Your passwords do not match." );
            } else {
                aPosMsg.push( "txtNewPassword01" );
            } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
        } // if( "" != objForm.txtNewPassword02.value && "" != objForm.txtNewPassword02.value )

        if( ( "" != objForm.txtNewPassword01.value ) && ( objForm.txtNewPassword01.value == objForm.txtNewPassword02.value ) ){
            if( 6 > (objForm.txtNewPassword01.value).length ){
                aErrMessages.push( "txtNewPassword01_" + "Your password must consist of 6 characters at least." );
            } else {
                aPosMsg.push( "txtNewPassword01" );
            } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
        } // if( "" != objForm.txtNewPassword02.value && "" != objForm.txtNewPassword02.value )

        if( aErrMessages.length > 0 ){
            for( var idx = 0; idx < aPosMsg.length; idx++ ){
                if( null != document.getElementById( aPosMsg[ idx ] ) ){
                    document.getElementById( aPosMsg[ idx ] ).style.border = "1px solid #ccc";
                } // if( null != document.getElementById( aPosMsg[ idx ] ) )
                //document.getElementById( aPosMsg[ idx ] + "Msg" ).innerHTML = "";
            } // for( var idx = 0; idx < aPosMsg.length; idx++ )
            for( var idx = 0; idx < aErrMessages.length; idx++ ){
                aErrorMsg = aErrMessages[ idx ].split( "_" );
                if( null != document.getElementById( aErrorMsg[ 0 ] ) ){
                    document.getElementById( aErrorMsg[ 0 ] ).style.border = "1px solid #a70000";
                    szMsgString = szMsgString + '<li type="square">' + aErrorMsg[ 1 ] + '<li>';
                } // if( null != document.getElementById( aErrorMsg[ idx ] ) )
                //document.getElementById( aErrorMsg[ 0 ] + "Msg" ).innerHTML = aErrorMsg[ 1 ];
            } // for( var idx = 0; idx < aErrMessages.length; idx++ )
            showErrorMsg( szMsgString + '<ul>' );
            return( false );
        } // if( aErrMessages.length > 0 )

        return( true );

    } // function 'checkPasswordData()'.


    // ---- checking form field data for step: 'ADDRESS'
    //
    function checkAddressData(){

        var objForm = document.forms[ 'frmAction' ];
        var aPosMsg = new Array();
        var aErrMessages = new Array();
        var szMsgString = '<ul>';

        if( !objForm.rdUserType[ 0 ].checked && !objForm.rdUserType[ 1 ].checked ){
            aErrMessages.push( "rdUserType_" + "Please specify if you are a private or a corporate user!" );
        } else {
            aPosMsg.push( "rdUserType" );

            if( "" != objForm.txtAdrLine1.value ){
                var element = objForm.txtAdrLine1;
                var re = /[\w\d]/;
                if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                    aErrMessages.push( "txtAdrLine1_" + "Your adress contains invalid characters!" );
                } else {
                    aPosMsg.push( "txtAdrLine1" );
                } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
            } else {
                aErrMessages.push( "txtAdrLine1_" + "Please insert your adress!" );
            } // if( "" != objForm.txtAdrLine1.value )

            if( "" != objForm.txtAdrLine2.value ){
                var element = objForm.txtAdrLine2;
                var re = /[\w\d]/;
                if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                    aErrMessages.push( "txtAdrLine2_" + "Your adress contains invalid characters!" );
                } else {
                    aPosMsg.push( "txtAdrLine2" );
                } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
            } // if( "" != objForm.txtAdrLine2.value )

            if( "" != objForm.txtCity.value ){
                var element = objForm.txtCity;
                var re = /[\w\d]/;
                if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                    aErrMessages.push( "txtCity_" + "Your city contains invalid characters!" );
                } else {
                    aPosMsg.push( "txtCity" );
                } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
            } else {
                aErrMessages.push( "txtCity_" + "Please insert your city!" );
            } // if( "" != objForm.txtCity.value )

            if( "" != objForm.txtZip.value ){
                var element = objForm.txtZip;
                var re = /[\w\d]/;
                if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                    aErrMessages.push( "txtZip_" + "Your zip code contains invalid characters!" );
                } else {
                    aPosMsg.push( "txtZip" );
                } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
            } else {
                aErrMessages.push( "txtZip_" + "Please insert your zip code!" );
            } // if( "" != objForm.txtZip.value )

            if( "" != objForm.txtState.value ){
                var element = objForm.txtState;
                var re = /[\w\d]/;
                if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                    aErrMessages.push( "txtState_" + "Your state contains invalid characters!" );
                } else {
                    aPosMsg.push( "txtState" );
                } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
            } // if( "" != objForm.txtState.value )

            if( "none" == objForm.selCountry.value ){
                aErrMessages.push( "selCountry_" + "Please select your country!" );
            } else {
                aPosMsg.push( "selCountry" );
            } // if( "none" == objForm.selCountry.value )

            if( "" != objForm.txtPhone.value ){
                var element = objForm.txtPhone;
                var re = /[\w\d]/;
                if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                    aErrMessages.push( "txtPhone_" + "Your phone number contains invalid characters!" );
                } else {
                    aPosMsg.push( "txtPhone" );
                } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
            } else {
                aErrMessages.push( "txtPhone_" + "Please insert your phone number!" );
            } // if( "" != objForm.txtPhone.value )

            if( "" != objForm.txtFax.value ){
                var element = objForm.txtFax;
                var re = /[\w\d]/;
                if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                    aErrMessages.push( "txtFax_" + "Your fax number invalid characters!" );
                } else {
                    aPosMsg.push( "txtFax" );
                } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
            } // if( "" != objForm.txtFax.value )

            if( objForm.rdUserType[ 0 ].checked  ){

                if( "" != objForm.txtCoTitle.value ){
                    var element = objForm.txtCoTitle;
                    var re = /[\w\d]/;
                    if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                        aErrMessages.push( "txtCoTitle_" + "Your company's name contains invalid characters!" );
                    } else {
                        aPosMsg.push( "txtCoTitle" );
                    } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
                } else {
                    aErrMessages.push( "txtCoTitle_" + "Please insert your company's name!" );
                } // if( "" != objForm.txtCoTitle.value )

                if( "none" == objForm.selJobTitle.value ){
                    aErrMessages.push( "selJobTitle_" + "Please select your job title!" );
                } else {
                    aPosMsg.push( "selJobTitle" );
                } // if( "none" == objForm.selJobTitle.value )

                if( "none" == objForm.selTypeOfBusiness.value ){
                    aErrMessages.push( "selTypeOfBusiness_" + "Please select the type of your business!" );
                } else {
                    aPosMsg.push( "selTypeOfBusiness" );
                } // if( "none" == objForm.selTypeOfBusiness.value )

                if( "" != objForm.txtCoVat.value ){
                    var element = objForm.txtCoVat;
                    var re = /[\w\d]/;
                    if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                        aErrMessages.push( "txtCoVat_" + "Your VAT number contains invalid characters!" );
                    } else {
                        aPosMsg.push( "txtCoVat" );
                    } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
                } // if( "" != objForm.txtCoVat.value )

                if( "" != objForm.txtCoRegNo.value ){
                    var element = objForm.txtCoRegNo;
                    var re = /[\w\d]/;
                    if( !re.test( element.value ) ){
                        aErrMessages.push( "txtCoRegNo_" + "Your company's registration number/URL contains invalid characters!" );
                    } else {
                        aPosMsg.push( "txtCoRegNo" );
                    } // if( !re.test( element.value ) )
                } // if( "" != objForm.txtCoRegNo.value )
            } // if( objForm.rdUserType[ 0 ].checked  )
        } // if( !objForm.rdUserType[ 0 ].checked || !objForm.rdUserType[ 1 ].checked )

        if( aErrMessages.length > 0 ){
            for( var idx = 0; idx < aPosMsg.length; idx++ ){
                if( null != document.getElementById( aPosMsg[ idx ] ) ){
                    document.getElementById( aPosMsg[ idx ] ).style.border = "1px solid #ccc";
                } // if( null != document.getElementById( aPosMsg[ idx ] ) )
                //document.getElementById( aPosMsg[ idx ] + "Msg" ).innerHTML = "";
            } // for( var idx = 0; idx < aPosMsg.length; idx++ )
            for( var idx = 0; idx < aErrMessages.length; idx++ ){
                aErrorMsg = aErrMessages[ idx ].split( "_" );
                if( null != document.getElementById( aErrorMsg[ 0 ] ) ){
                    document.getElementById( aErrorMsg[ 0 ] ).style.border = "1px solid #a70000";
                    szMsgString = szMsgString + '<li type="square">' + aErrorMsg[ 1 ] + '<li>';
                } // if( null != document.getElementById( aErrorMsg[ idx ] ) )
            } // for( var idx = 0; idx < aErrMessages.length; idx++ )
            showErrorMsg( szMsgString + '<ul>' );
            return( false );
        } // if( aErrMessages.length > 0 )

        return( true );

    } // function 'checkAddressData()'.


    // ---- checking form field data()
    //
    function switchUserType( iType ){

        var objForm = document.forms[ 'frmAction' ];
        if( 1 == iType ){
            $( '#corp1' ).css( 'display', 'block' );
            $( '#corp2' ).css( 'display', 'block' );
            $( '#corp3' ).css( 'display', 'block' );
            $( '#corp4' ).css( 'display', 'block' );
            $( '#corp5' ).css( 'display', 'block' );
        } else {
            $( '#corp1' ).css( 'display', 'none' );
            $( '#corp2' ).css( 'display', 'none' );
            $( '#corp3' ).css( 'display', 'none' );
            $( '#corp4' ).css( 'display', 'none' );
            $( '#corp5' ).css( 'display', 'none' );
        } /* if( 1 == iType ) */

        objForm.txtAdrLine1.disabled       = false;
        objForm.txtAdrLine2.disabled       = false;
        objForm.txtCity.disabled           = false;
        objForm.txtZip.disabled            = false;
        objForm.txtState.disabled          = false;
        objForm.selCountry.disabled        = false;
        objForm.txtPhone.disabled          = false;
        objForm.txtFax.disabled            = false;
        objForm.txtCoTitle.disabled        = false;
        objForm.selJobTitle.disabled       = false;
        objForm.selTypeOfBusiness.disabled = false;
        objForm.txtCoVat.disabled          = false;
        objForm.txtCoRegNo.disabled        = false;
    } // 'function switchUserType()'.


    $( document ).ready(
        function(){
            /* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- */

            $( '#btnRegisterBasic' ).live( 'click',
                function( oEvent ){
                    oEvent.preventDefault();
                    if( true == checkBasicData() ){
                        $( '#frmAction' ).submit();
                    }
                }
            );

            $( '#btnRegisterPassword' ).live( 'click',
                function( oEvent ){
                    oEvent.preventDefault();
                    if( true == checkPasswordData() ){
                        $( '#frmAction' ).submit();
                    }
                }
            );

            $( '#btnRegisterAddress' ).live( 'click',
                function( oEvent ){
                    oEvent.preventDefault();
                    if( true == checkAddressData() ){
                        $( '#frmAction' ).submit();
                    }
                }
            );


            /* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
        }
    );