function textareaLength(textarea, maxLen) {
  if ( textarea.checking )
    return;
  textarea.checking = true;
  var length = textarea.value.length;
  var signsleft = maxLen - length;
  if (signsleft<0) 
     signsleft = 0;

  var lenSpan = getObj(textarea.name + '_characters');
  if ( lenSpan )
    lenSpan.innerHTML = signsleft;

  if (length > maxLen) 
  {
     alert(textTooLongMsg);
     textarea.value = textarea.value.substring(0, maxLen);
  }
       
  textarea.checking = false;
}