function select_option(formElementId, optionValue){
		var obj;	
		if (optionValue != ''){
			obj = document.getElementById(formElementId);
			if (obj){
				// alert('found object by ID ' + obj.id);
			} else {
				// if there is no ID, try the name			
				obj = document.getElementsByName(formElementId)[0];
				if (obj) {
					// alert('found object by name ' + obj.name);
				} else {
					//alert('cannot find object');
					return false;
				}
			}			
			if (obj.tagName.toLowerCase() != 'select'){
				//alert('element is not a SELECT');
				return false;
			}			
			for (i=0; i<obj.length; i++) {
				if (obj.options[i].value == optionValue){
					obj.options[i].selected = true;
					break;
				}
			}
			return true;
		}
	}