function validateForm(form, rules) {
	//clear out any old errors
	$("#messages").html("");
	$("#messages").slideUp();
	$(".error-message").hide();
  
	//loop through the validation rules and check for errors
	$.each(rules, function(field) {
//		var val = $.trim($("#" + field).val());
		var val = $.trim($("#" + field).val()).replace(/\n/g, ' '); //removes \n for textarea controls
		$("#" + field).parent().removeClass("error");

		$.each(this, function() {
//			console.log(this['rule']);
	      
			//check if the input exists
			if ($("#" + field).attr("id") != undefined) {
				var valid = true;
				if (this['allowEmpty'] && val == '') {
					//do nothing
				} else if (this['rule'].match(/^range/)) {
					var range = this['rule'].split('|');
					if (val < parseInt(range[1])) {
						valid = false;
					}
					if (val > parseInt(range[2])) {
						valid = false;
					}
				} else if (this['negate']) {
					if (val.match(eval(this['rule']))) {
						valid = false;
					}
				} else if (!val.match(eval(this['rule']))) {
					valid = false;
				}
				 
				if (!valid) {
					//add the error message
					$("#messages").append("<p>" + this['message'] + "</p>");
					   
					//highlight the label
					//$("label[for='" + field + "']").addClass("error");
					$("#" + field).parent().addClass("error");
				}
			}
		});
	});
  
	if($("#messages").html() != "") {
		$("#messages").wrapInner("<div class='errors'></div>");
		$("#messages").slideDown();
		return false;
	}
	return true;
}