var GREATER = 1;
var LESS = -1;
var EQUAL = 0;	

// arrayIn - array to return columns for
// arguments[1 - n] - columns to return
function getValues(arrayIn)
{
  args = getValues.arguments;
  arrayOut = new Array();
  for (counter=0; counter < arrayIn.length; counter++)
  {
    innerArrayOut = new Array(args.length - 1);
    for (innerCounter = 1; innerCounter < args.length; innerCounter++)
    {
      innerArrayOut[innerCounter - 1] = arrayIn[counter][args[innerCounter]];
    }
    arrayOut[counter] = innerArrayOut;
  }
 return arrayOut;
}

// arrayIn - array to search
// indexIn - column to match
// valIn - criteria to match
function getRows(arrayIn, indexIn, valIn)
{
  arrayOut = new Array();
  for (counter=0; counter < arrayIn.length; counter++)
  {
    if ((arrayIn[counter][indexIn]) == (valIn))
    {
       arrayOut[arrayOut.length] = arrayIn[counter];
    }
  }
 return arrayOut;
}

// arguments[0] = arrayIn
// arguments[1 + n] - column
// arguments[2 + n] - criteria
// as many column/criteria can be supplied as required
function getRowsMatchingCriteria()
{
  args = getRowsMatchingCriteria.arguments;
  arrayOut = args[0]
  for (cntr = 0; cntr < (args.length - 2); cntr++)
  {
    arrayOut = getRows(arrayOut, args[(2 * cntr) + 1], args[(2 * cntr) + 2]);
  }
  return arrayOut;
}

// Kept for backwards compatibility
// Now calls the new Multi Column function
function getDistinctValues(arrayIn, column)
{
  var colArray = new Array(1);
  colArray[0]  = column;
  return getDistinctValuesMC(arrayIn, colArray);
}

// arrayIn - two dimensional array
// columns - array of columns that should be distinct
function getDistinctValuesMC(arrayIn, columns)
{
  if (arrayIn.length > 0)
  {
    arrayIn = sort2DMC(arrayIn, columns);
    arrayOut = new Array();
    arrayOut[0] = arrayIn[0];
    for (counter=1; counter < arrayIn.length; counter++)
    {
      if (compareRows(arrayIn[counter], arrayIn[counter - 1], columns) != EQUAL)
      {
        arrayOut[arrayOut.length] = arrayIn[counter];
      }
    }
  }
 return arrayOut;
}

// Kept for backwards compatibility
// Now calls the new Multi Column function
function sort2D(arrayIn, column)
{
  var colArray =new Array(1);
  colArray[0] - column;
  return sort2DMC(arrayIn, colArray[0]);
}

// arrayIn - two dimensional array to sort
// Sorts on all columns in the array
function sort2DMC(arrayIn, sortCols)
{
//alert("--> sort2DMC -->");
  var start = 0;
  var rest  = arrayIn.length - 1;
  for (var i = rest - 1; i >= start;  i--)
  {
    for (var j = start; j <= i; j++)
    {
      if (compareRows(arrayIn[j+1],arrayIn[j], sortCols) == LESS)
      {
        var tempValue = arrayIn[j];
        arrayIn[j] = arrayIn[j+1];
        arrayIn[j+1] = tempValue;
      }
    }
  }
//alert("<-- sort2DMC <--");	
  return arrayIn;
}

// Compares two arrays (or rows) based on the columns
// defined in the columns array argument
function compareRows(arg1, arg2, columns)
{
	var iResult = 0;
	// While equal and more items to compare on, continue.
	for (iColumn = 0; 0 == iResult && iColumn < columns.length; iColumn++)
	{
		var iComparisonIndex = columns[iColumn];  
		// Compare the individual columns.
		iResult = compare(arg1[iComparisonIndex], arg2[iComparisonIndex] );
	}
	return iResult;
}

// compares arg1 & arg2 returning less, equal or greater
function compare(arg1, arg2)
{
	var iResult;
	// We assume the objects are of the same type, so
	// we attempt to find the item.
	if (null == arg1 || null == arg2)
	{
		if (arg1 == arg2)
		{
			iResult = EQUAL;
		}
		else
		{
			iResult = (null == arg1) ? GREATER : LESS ;
		}
	}
	else
	{
		if (arg1 > arg2)
		{
			iResult = GREATER;
		}
		else if (arg1 < arg2)
		{
			iResult = LESS;
		}
		else
		{
			iResult = EQUAL;
		}
	}
	return iResult;
}