function validateRequiredFields(form) {
  totalElements = form.elements.length;
  for (count=0; count<totalElements; count++) {
    if ((form.elements[count].type == "text") &&
        (form.elements[count].name.indexOf("_req_") != -1) && 
        (form.elements[count].value.length == 0)) {
      alert("Please fill in all the required fields");
      return (false);
    }
  }

  return true;  
}