function validateForm(form, rules) { 

	//clear out any old errors 
	$("#messages").html(""); 
	$("#messages").slideUp(); 
	$(".error-message").hide(); 
   	console.log(rules);
	//loop through the validation rules and check for errors 
	$.each(rules, function(field) { 
	
		var val = $.trim($("#" + field).val()); 
		
		$.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 
				$("#messages").append("<li>" + this['message'] + "</li>"); 
				
				//highlight the label 
				//$("label[for='" + field + "']").addClass("error"); 
				$("#" + field).parent().addClass("error"); 
			
			} 
			} 
		
		}); 
	
	}); 
   
  if($("#messages").html() != "") { 
  
    $("#messages").wrapInner("<ul class='errors'></ul>"); 
    $("#messages").show(); 
   
    return false; 
 
  } 

  return true; 

}