function clearText(el) {
  if (el != null) {
    if (el.childNodes) {
      for (var i = 0; i < el.childNodes.length; i++) {
        var childNode = el.childNodes[i];
        el.removeChild(childNode);
      }
    }
  }
}

function textCounter(field, countfield, maxlimit) {
  if (field.value.length > maxlimit) // if too long...trim it!
field.value = field.value.substring(0, maxlimit);
  else
countfield.value = maxlimit - field.value.length;
}