var request = false;
   try {
     request = new XMLHttpRequest();
   } catch (trymicrosoft) {
     try {
       request = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
     } catch (othermicrosoft) {
       try {
         request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
       } catch (failed) {
         request = false;
       }  
     }
   }

   if (!request)
     alert("Error initializing XMLHttpRequest!");



//======
function getDates(parent)
{
	var url = "/inc/update_dates.php?parent=" + parent;
	request.open("GET", url, true);
	request.onreadystatechange = updateDates;
	request.send(null);
}
function updateDates()
{
	if (request.readyState == 4)
		if (request.status == 200) document.getElementById("dates").innerHTML = request.responseText;
			else if (request.status == 404) alert("Request URL does not exist");
					else alert("Error: status code is " + request.status);
}
//=======