function Is ()
{   // convert all characters to lowercase to simplify testing
    var agt=navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase()

    // *** BROWSER VERSION ***
    this.major = parseInt(navigator.appVersion)
    this.minor = parseFloat(navigator.appVersion)

    this.nav  = ((agt.indexOf('mozilla')!=-1) && ((agt.indexOf('spoofer')==-1)
                && (agt.indexOf('compatible') == -1)))
    this.nav2 = (this.nav && (this.major == 2))
    this.nav3 = (this.nav && (this.major == 3))
    this.nav4 = (this.nav && (this.major == 4))
    this.nav4up = this.nav && (this.major >= 4)

    this.navonly      = (this.nav && (agt.indexOf(";nav") != -1))

    this.ie   = (agt.indexOf("msie") != -1)
    this.ie3  = (this.ie && (this.major == 2))
    this.ie4  = (this.ie && (this.major == 4))
    this.ie4up  = this.ie  && (this.major >= 4)

    this.opera = (agt.indexOf("opera") != -1)
     
    // *** JAVASCRIPT VERSION CHECK *** 
    if (this.nav2 || this.ie3) this.js = 1.0
    else if (this.nav3 || this.opera) this.js = 1.1
    else if (this.nav4 || this.ie4) this.js = 1.2
    else if ((this.nav && (this.minor > 4.05)) || (this.ie && (this.major > 4)))  this.js = 1.2
    else this.js = 0.0 
}

var is;
var isIE3Mac = false;
// this section is designed specifically for IE3 for the Mac 

if ((navigator.appVersion.indexOf("Mac")!=-1) && (navigator.userAgent.indexOf("MSIE")!=-1) && (parseInt(navigator.appVersion)==3))  isIE3Mac = true;
else  is = new Is();