function goToUrl(url) {
    if (url != "") {
        window.top.location.href=url;
    }
}

// generic function that opens a new window
function launchWindow(url, name, properties) { 
  if (url != "") {
    window.open(url, name, properties);
  }
}

function popNewWindow(url) {
  launchWindow(url, "_new", "toolbar=yes,location=yes,directories=yes,status=yes,menubar=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,copyhistory=yes");
}

function popDemoWindow(url) {
  launchWindow(url, "_demo", "toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,copyhistory=no,width=730,height=430,top=20,left=20");
}