function mmInitialize( parent, branch, parameter, branch_caption, parameter_caption )
		{
			//call function to clear slt_branch drop down
			clearList( parent.slt_branch );
			//add an element to the slt_branch drop down.
			addElement(parent.slt_branch, branch_caption, 0);
					
			for (var i = 0; i < branches.length; i++)
			{
				if (branches[i])
				{
					rgProvince = branches[i].split('#');
							
					//add the array to the drop down menu
					addElement(parent.slt_branch, rgProvince[0], rgProvince[1]);
				}
			}
		
		// if make is defined, call function to populate models
		if (branch)
		{
		setDefault(parent.slt_branch, branch);
		ChangeBranch(parent, parameter_caption);
		if (parameter)
		setDefault(parent.slt_parameter, parameter);
		}
		else
		{
		parent.slt_branch.selectedIndex = 0;
		
		ChangeBranch(parent, parameter_caption);
		}
		}
		
		function ChangeBranch( parent, parameter_caption )
		{
		var ParametersList = parameters[parent.slt_branch.options[parent.slt_branch.selectedIndex].value];
		
		//call function to clear the slt_parameter dropdown
		clearList(parent.slt_parameter);
		//add 'parameters' to slt_parameter dropdown
		addElement(parent.slt_parameter, parameter_caption, 0);
		
		//add the array to slt_parameter dropdown menu if defined
		if(ParametersList)
		{
		var rgParameters = ParametersList.split(',');
		
		for (var i = 0; i < rgParameters.length; i++)
		{
		if (rgParameters[i])
		{
		var rgParameter = rgParameters[i].split('#');
		
		addElement(parent.slt_parameter, rgParameter[0], rgParameter[1]);
		}
		}
		parent.slt_parameter.disabled = false;
		
		}
		//if citieslist is undefined disable drop down menu.
		else
		{
		parent.slt_parameter.disabled = true;
		
		}
		
		parent.slt_parameter.selectedIndex = 0;
		
		} 


					//function used to erase all elements in a drop down menu
					function clearList(list) 
					{
						var i = 0;
						var o = list.options;
				
						for (i = o.length; i >= 0; --i)
												o[i] = null;
						list.disabled = true;
					}
				
					//function used to add elements to a drop down menu
					function addElement(list, text_in, value_in)
					{
						var o = list.options;
						var nIdx;
				
						if (o.length < 0) //IE for Mac 4.5 sets length to -1 if list is empty
										nIdx = 0;
						else
										nIdx = o.length;
										
						o[nIdx] = new Option(text_in, value_in);
						list.disabled = false;
					}
				
					function setDefault(list, text_in)
					{
						with (list)
						{
								for (var i = 0; i < (options.length); i++)
								{
										 if (options[i].value == text_in)
										 {
												 selectedIndex = i;
												 return;
										 }
								 }
						}
					}