function validateForm(form, rules) {
  //clear out any old errors
  var messages = "";

//  $("#messages").html("");
//  $("#messages").slideUp();
//  $(".error-message").hide();

  //loop through the validation rules and check for errors
  $.each(rules, function(field) {
    var val = $.trim($("#" + field).val());
    console.log(field + " : " + val.toString());

    $.each(this, function() {
      console.log(this['rule']);

      //check if the input exists
      if ($("#" + field).attr("id") != undefined) {
        var valid = true;
        
        if (this['allowEmpty'] && val == '') {
          //do nothing
        } else if (this['rule'].match(/^range/)) {
          var range = this['rule'].split('|');

          if (val < parseInt(range[1])) {
            valid = false;
          }
          if (val > parseInt(range[2])) {
            valid = false;
          }
        } else if (this['negate']) {
          if (val.match(eval(this['rule']))) {
            valid = false;
          }
        } else if (!val.match(eval(this['rule']))) {
          valid = false;
        }
        
        if (!valid) {
          //add the error message
          //$("#" + field).after('<div class="error-message">' + this['message'] + "</div>");
          messages += this['message'] + "\n";
          if (this['last'] === true) return false;

          //highlight the label
          //$("label[for='" + field + "']").addClass("error");
          //$("#" + field).parent().addClass("error");
        }
      }
    });
  });
  
  if(messages != "") {
	alert(messages);
    //$("#messages").wrapInner("<div class='errors'></div>");
    //$("#messages").slideDown();
    return false;
  }

  return true;
}