var rules = new Array(); // stores the validation rules

rules.push("required,name,Please enter a contact name.");
rules.push("textchars,name,You may only use alpha-numeric characters and the characters .-_'");
rules.push("required,address1,Please enter an address.");
rules.push("textchars,address1,You may only use alpha-numeric characters and the characters .-_'");
rules.push("textchars,address2,You may only use alpha-numeric characters and the characters .-_'");
rules.push("textchars,address3,You may only use alpha-numeric characters and the characters .-_'");
rules.push("required,town,Please enter a town or city.");
rules.push("textchars,town,You may only use alpha-numeric characters and the characters .-_'");
rules.push("required,state,Please enter a state.");
rules.push("textchars,state,You may only use alpha-numeric characters and the characters .-_'");
rules.push("required,zip,Please enter your zip code.");
rules.push("textchars,zip,You may only use alpha-numeric characters and the characters .-_'");
rules.push("required,tel,Please enter your phone number.");
rules.push("telchars,tel,For telephone numbers you may only use numbers and the characters ()-+.");
rules.push("telchars,fax,For fax numbers you may only use numbers and the characters ()-+.");
rules.push("required,age,Please enter your age.");
rules.push("digits_only,age,Please enter numbers only");
rules.push("required,email,Please enter your email address.");
rules.push("valid_email,email,Please enter a valid email address.");
rules.push("textchars,email,You may only use alpha-numeric characters and the characters .-_'@");