/*==============================================================================

Application:   Utiity Function
Author:        John Gardner

Version:       V1.0
Date:          18th November 2003
Description:   Used to check the validity of a UK postcode

Version:       V2.0
Date:          8th March 2005
Description:   BFPO postcodes implemented.
               The rules concerning which alphabetic characters are alllowed in 
               which part of the postcode were more stringently implementd.
  
Parameters:    toCheck - postcodeto be checked. 

This function checks the value of the parameter for a valid postcode format. The 
space between the inward part and the outward part is optional, although is 
inserted if not there as it is part of the official postcode.

If the postcode is found to be in a valid format, the function returns the 
postcode properly formatted (in capitals with the outward code and the inward
code separated by a space. If the postcode is deemed to be incorrect a value of 
false is returned.
  
Example call:
  
  if (checkPostCode (myPostCode)) {
    alert ("Postcode has a valid format")
  } 
  else {alert ("Postcode has invalid format")};
                    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/

function checkPostCode (toCheck) {

  // Permitted letters depend upon their position in the postcode.
  var alpha1 = "[abcdefghijklmnoprstuwyz]";                       // Character 1
  var alpha2 = "[abcdefghklmnopqrstuvwxy]";                       // Character 2
  var alpha3 = "[abcdefghjkstuw]";                                // Character 3
  var alpha4 = "[abehmnprvwxy]";                                  // Character 4
  var alpha5 = "[abdefghjlnpqrstuwxyz]";                          // Character 5
  

  // Array holds the regular expressions for the valid postcodes
  var pcexp = new Array ();

  // Expression for postcodes: AN NAA, ANN NAA, AAN NAA, and AANN NAA
  pcexp.push (new RegExp ("^(" + alpha1 + "{1}" + alpha2 + "?[0-9]{1,2})(\\s*)([0-9]{1}" + alpha5 + "{2})$","i"));
  
  // Expression for postcodes: ANA NAA
  pcexp.push (new RegExp ("^(" + alpha1 + "{1}[0-9]{1}" + alpha3 + "{1})(\\s*)([0-9]{1}" + alpha5 + "{2})$","i"));

  // Expression for postcodes: AANA  NAA
  pcexp.push (new RegExp ("^(" + alpha1 + "{1}" + alpha2 + "?[0-9]{1}" + alpha4 +"{1})(\\s*)([0-9]{1}" + alpha5 + "{2})$","i"));
  
  // Exception for the special postcode GIR 0AA
  pcexp.push (/^(GIR)(\s*)(0AA)$/i);
  
  // Standard BFPO numbers
  pcexp.push (/^(bfpo)(\s*)([0-9]{1,4})$/i);
  
  // c/o BFPO numbers
  pcexp.push (/^(bfpo)(\s*)(c\/o\s*[0-9]{1,3})$/i);

  // Load up the string to check
  var postCode = toCheck;

  // Assume we're not going to find a valid postcode
  var valid = false;
  
  // Check the string against the types of post codes
  for ( var i=0; i<pcexp.length; i++) {
    if (pcexp[i].test(postCode)) {
    
      // The post code is valid - split the post code into component parts
      pcexp[i].exec(postCode);
      
      // Copy it back into the original string, converting it to uppercase and
      // inserting a space between the inward and outward codes
      postCode = RegExp.$1.toUpperCase() + " " + RegExp.$3.toUpperCase();
      
      // If it is a BFPO c/o type postcode, tidy up the "c/o" part
      postCode = postCode.replace (/C\/O\s*/,"c/o ");
      
      // Load new postcode back into the form element
      valid = true;
      
      // Remember that we have found that the code is valid and break from loop
      break;
    }
  }
  
  // Return with either the reformatted valid postcode or the original invalid 
  // postcode
  if (valid) {return postCode;} else return false;
}