JavaScript - How To Get Length Of A Form Field Using Name

My array is like so...

shp[0][0] = 5; shp[0][1] = "A5"; shp[0][2] = "A2"; shp[0][3] = "A1"; shp[0][4] = "A4"; shp[0][5] = "A3";
shp[1][0] = 4; shp[1][1] = "C3"; shp[1][2] = "C4"; shp[1][3] = "C1"; shp[1][4] = "C2";
shp[2][0] = 3; shp[2][1] = "E1"; shp[2][2] = "E3"; shp[2][3] = "E2";
shp[3][0] = 3; shp[3][1] = "G3"; shp[3][2] = "G2"; shp[3][3] = "G1";
shp[4][0] = 2; shp[4][1] = "I2"; shp[4][2] = "I1";

the results I am after is...

shp[0][0] = 5; shp[0][1] = "A1"; shp[0][2] = "A2"; shp[0][3] = "A3"; shp[0][4] = "A4"; shp[0][5] = "A5";
shp[1][0] = 4; shp[1][1] = "C1"; shp[1][2] = "C2"; shp[1][3] = "C3"; shp[1][4] = "C4";
shp[2][0] = 3; shp[2][1] = "E1"; shp[2][2] = "E2"; shp[2][3] = "E3";
shp[3][0] = 3; shp[3][1] = "G1"; shp[3][2] = "G2"; shp[3][3] = "G3";
shp[4][0] = 2; shp[4][1] = "I1"; shp[4][2] = "I2";

so it sorts all from the second part of the array to the end in alpha-numerical order.

I tried the following but i get errors about Cannot call method 'unshift' of undefined.

//
var shp;
var shpbk;
var shpbktemp;
//

shpbk = shp.slice();

shpbktemp[0] = shpbk[0][0];
shpbk[0] = shpbk[0].shift; shpbk[0] = shpbk[0].sort; shpbk[0] = shpbk[0].unshift(shpbktemp[0]);

shpbktemp[1] = shpbk[1][0];
shpbk[1] = shpbk[1].shift; shpbk[1] = shpbk[1].sort; shpbk[1] = shpbk[1].unshift(shpbktemp[1]);

shpbktemp[2] = shpbk[2][0];
shpbk[2] = shpbk[2].shift; shpbk[2] = shpbk[2].sort; shpbk[2] = shpbk[2].unshift(shpbktemp[2]);

shpbktemp[3] = shpbk[3][0];
shpbk[3] = shpbk[3].shift; shpbk[3] = shpbk[3].sort; shpbk[3] = shpbk[3].unshift(shpbktemp[3]);

shpbktemp[4] = shpbk[4][0];
shpbk[4] = shpbk[4].shift; shpbk[4] = shpbk[4].sort; shpbk[4] = shpbk[4].unshift(shpbktemp[4]);

I'm trying to figure out how to add a length paramater to this function. Not quite sure how to do it. here's what I tried:

Code:

var phone = document.getElementById('phone');

if(isNumericdashes(phone, "Please enter a valid phone number")){
									return true;
									}

function isNumericdashes(elem, helperMsg){
	var numericExpression = /^[0-9\(\)-]+$/;
	if(elem.value.match(numericExpression) &&(elem.length > 9)){
		return true;
	}else{
		alert(helperMsg);
		elem.focus();
		return false;
	}
}

I need to have an online submission form, which accepts text for print adverts.

Here is my problem:

Whereas with Twitter, you are limited to 140 characters as the output is digital, with print the overall width of text is vital if it has to fit within a given space.

Are there any javascript software libraries available that can calculate the printed length? Preferably as the user types. This assumes that the font, font-size and kerning are known. (I do not want to use the 'Courier' font)

We will have to write this in-house unless there is something available on the internets (I'm possibly not the first person to come up against this)

Can anyone help?


(I've posted this at 'graphicdesignforum' but figure the readership will be different)

I've set up a mock registration form page so I can learn a bit about javascript's form validation. (newbie) I want to try to attempt to style the border of a form field green when the user enters the correct info into the form text field and red on all other fields if the user doesnt enter any info into them. When i test it, enter the right info into the username field, leave the others blank, and hit the submit button it styles the username field green ok but it doesnt make the next fields (password and so on) red. Could someone please explain what I am doing wrong?

here is my code so far...
Note: just for testing purposes I've put return false on everything so it displays a message when everythings ok.

Code:

....
<script type="text/javascript">
	window.onload = function() {
		document.forms[0].username.focus();
	}
	function validate(form)
	{
		var form = document.getElementById("reg");
		var e = document.getElementById("error");
		e.style.background = "red";
		
		for(var i = 0; i < form.elements.length; i++)
		{
			var el = form.elements[i];
			if(el.type == "text" || el.type == "password")
			{
				if(el.value == "")
				{
					e.innerHTML = "Please fill in all fields!";
					el.style.border = "1px solid red";
					el.focus();
					return false;
				} else {
					el.style.border = "1px solid green";
					return false;
				}
			}
		}
		var un = form.username;
		un.value = un.value.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/g,"");
		if((un.value.length < 3)|| (/[^a-z0-9\_]/gi.test(un.value)))
		{
			e.innerHTML = "Only letters,numbers and the underscore are allowed (no spaces) - 3-16 characters";
			un.focus();
			return false;
		}
		var pw = form.password;
		pw.value = pw.value.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/g,"");
		if((pw.value.length < 3) || (/[^a-z0-9]/gi.test(pw.value)))
		{
			e.innerHTML = "Only letters and numbers are allowed (no spaces) - 3-16 characters";
			pw.focus();
			return false;
		}
		e.innerHTML = "You filled in all the fields, well done!";
		e.style.background = "green";
		return false;
	}
</script>
</head>

<body>
<div id="wrapper">
	<div id="header">
    	<h1>My Cool Website</h1>
    </div>
    <div id="content">
		<div class="padding">
       	  <h2>Registration</h2>
            <p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Duis ligula lorem, consequat eget, tristique nec, auctor quis, purus. Vivamus ut sem. Fusce aliquam nunc vitae purus. Aenean viverra malesuada libero. Fusce ac quam. Donec neque. Nunc venenatis enim nec quam. Cras faucibus, justo vel accumsan aliquam, tellus dui fringilla quam, in condimentum augue lorem non tellus. Pellentesque id arcu non sem placerat iaculis. Curabitur posuere, pede vitae lacinia accumsan, enim nibh elementum orci, ut volutpat eros sapien nec sapien. Suspendisse neque arcu, ultrices commodo, pellentesque sit amet, ultricies ut, ipsum. Mauris et eros eget erat dapibus mollis. Mauris laoreet posuere odio. Nam ipsum ligula, ullamcorper eu, fringilla at, lacinia ut, augue. Nullam nunc.</p>
<form id="reg" action="#" method="post" onsubmit="return validate(this)">
	    <div id="error"></div>
		<div><label for="username">Username</label></div>
    			<div><input type="text" name="username" id="username" size="30" maxlength="16" /></div>
		<div><label for="password">Password</label></div>
    			<div><input type="password" name="password" id="password" size="30" maxlength="16" /></div>
        <div><label for="c_password">Confirm Password</label></div>
                <div><input type="password" name="c_password" id="c_password" size="30" maxlength="16" /></div>
        <div><label for="email">Email address</label></div>
                <div><input type="text" name="email" id="email" size="30" maxlength="200" /></div>
        <div><label for="c_email">Confirm Email address</label></div>
                <div><input type="text" name="c_email" id="c_email" size="30" maxlength="200" /></div>
        <div><label for="firstname">First name</label></div>
                <div><input type="text" name="firstname" id="firstname" size="30" maxlength="100" /></div>
        <div><label for="surname">Surname</label></div>
                <div><input type="text" name="surname" id="surname" size="30" maxlength="100" /></div>
        <div><label for="gender">Gender</label></div>
                <div>
                    <div><input type="radio" name="gender" id="gender" value="m" checked="checked" />Male</div>
                    <div><input type="radio" name="gender" value="f" />Female</div>
                </div>
                <div><input type="submit" value="Register" name="submit" /></div>
          </form>
		</div>
    </div>
    <div id="footer">
    	<p>Copyright &copy; 2009 My Cool Website</p>
    </div>
</div>
</body>
</html>

How can I add a form field value to a url. I tried the below but it no work.

Code:

href="index2.php?q=4&id=+document.theForm.lists.value+&picklist"