function textCounter(field,countfieldID, maxlimit) {
if (field.value.length > maxlimit) // if too long...trim it!
field.value = field.value.substring(0,maxlimit);
// otherwise, update 'characters left' counter
else 

countfield = document.getElementById(countfieldID);
countfield.value = maxlimit - field.value.length;
}