function validatesearchform()
{
    var error = '';
    
	if (document.getElementById('searchform').searchtext.value.length<3){
		error = 'You must enter at least 3 characters in the search field';
		document.getElementById('searchform').searchtext.focus();
    }
    
	if (error == '')
	{
        document.getElementById('searchbutton').disabled='true';		
        return true;
	}
	else
	{
		alert(error);
		return false;
	}
}