function charCounter(field,cntfield,maxlimit) {
	var ellab = document.getElementById(field);

	if (ellab.value.length > maxlimit) {  // if too long...trim it!
		ellab.value = ellab.value.substring(0, maxlimit);
		var message = document.getElementById(cntfield);
        	message.innerHTML = "0 characters left.";
	} else if (ellab.value.length <= 0) {  // empty
		var message = document.getElementById(cntfield);
        	message.innerHTML = maxlimit+" characters maximum.";
	} else { // update 'characters left' counter	
		var message = document.getElementById(cntfield);
		message.innerHTML = maxlimit - ellab.value.length;
        	message.innerHTML = message.innerHTML + " characters left.";
	}
}