function getParameter(searchParam) {
	var search = location.search.substring(1);	//search string from location.href
	var searchArray = new Array();	//array of parameters from location href
	var resultArray = new Array();	//array of parameter and value pairs

	//populating arrays with all parameter and value pairs from location.href.search
	searchArray = search.split("&");
	for(var i=0;i<searchArray.length;i++) {
		var tempArray = new Array();
		tempArray = searchArray[i].split("=");
		resultArray[tempArray[0]] = tempArray[1];
	}

	//return value for search parameter or return false if search parameter is null
	if(resultArray[searchParam]) {
		return resultArray[searchParam];
	} else {
		return false;
	}
}