// name - name of the cookie
// value - value of the cookie
// [expires] - expiration date of the cookie (defaults to end of current session)
// [path] - path for which the cookie is valid (defaults to path of calling document)
// [domain] - domain for which the cookie is valid (defaults to domain of calling document)
// [secure] - Boolean value indicating if the cookie transmission requires a secure transmission
// * an argument defaults when it is assigned null as a placeholder
// * a null placeholder is not required for trailing omitted arguments
function setCookie(name, value, expires, path, domain, secure) {
	var curCookie = name + "=" + escape(value) +
		((expires) ? "; expires=" + expires.toGMTString() : "") +
		((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") +
		((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") +
		((secure) ? "; secure" : "");
	document.cookie = curCookie;
}

// name - name of the desired cookie
// * return string containing value of specified cookie or null if cookie does not exist
function getCookie(name) {
	var dc = document.cookie;
	var prefix = name + "=";
	var begin = dc.indexOf("; " + prefix);
	if (begin == -1) {
		begin = dc.indexOf(prefix);
		if (begin != 0) return null;
	} else
		begin += 2;
	var end = document.cookie.indexOf(";", begin);
	if (end == -1)
		end = dc.length;
	return unescape(dc.substring(begin + prefix.length, end));
}

// name - name of the cookie
// [path] - path of the cookie (must be same as path used to create cookie)
// [domain] - domain of the cookie (must be same as domain used to create cookie)
// * path and domain default if assigned null or omitted if no explicit argument proceeds
function deleteCookie(name, path, domain) {
	if (getCookie(name)) {
		document.cookie = name + "=" + 
		((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") +
		((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") +
		"; expires=Thu, 01-Jan-70 00:00:01 GMT";
	}
}