function getObject(obj) {	
   var theObj;	
   if (typeof obj == "string") {	
      if (isW3C) {	
         theObj = document.getElementById(obj);	
      } else if (isIE4) {	
         theObj = document.all(obj);	
      } else if (isNN4) {	
         theObj = document.layers(obj).document;	
      }	
   } else {	
      theObj = obj;	
   }	
   return theObj;	
}