function popWin(url,features) {

    // this is the format for possible features: toolbar=0,location=0,directories=0,status=0,menubar=0,scrollbars=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=500
	
	var didWindowOpen = false;
	
	if (features == null || features == "") {
		didWindowOpen = window.open(url, '_blank');
	} else {
		didWindowOpen = window.open(url, '_blank', features);
	}
	
	
	if (!didWindowOpen) {
    	alert("It looks like this window couldn't open. Please disable your popup blocker to continue.");
    }

}