function textCounter(fieldId1, fieldId2, maxlimit) {
field = document.getElementById(fieldId1);
cntfield = document.getElementById(fieldId2);
if (field.value.length > maxlimit) // if too long...trim it!
field.value = field.value.substring(0, maxlimit);
// otherwise, update 'characters left' counter
else
cntfield.value = maxlimit - field.value.length;
}