// creates an XMLHttpRequest instance
function createXmlHttpRequestObject() 
{
  // will store the reference to the XMLHttpRequest object
  var xmlHttp;
  // this should work for all browsers except IE6 and older
  try
  {
    // try to create XMLHttpRequest object
    xmlHttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
  }
  catch(e)
  {
    // assume IE6 or older
    try
    {
      xmlHttp = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHttp");
    }
    catch(e) { }
  }
  // return the created object or display an error message
  if (!xmlHttp)
    alert("Error creating the XMLHttpRequest object.");
  else 
    return xmlHttp;
}

// called to read a file from the server
function process()
{
  // only continue if xmlHttp isn't void
  if (xmlHttp)
  {
    // try to connect to the server
    try
    {
      // initiate reading the a file from the server
      xmlHttp.open("GET", "server_script.php", true);
      xmlHttp.onreadystatechange = handleRequestStateChange;
      xmlHttp.send(null);
    }
    // display the error in case of failure
    catch (e)
    {
      alert("Can't connect to server:\n" + e.toString());
    }
  }
}



// function executed when the state of the request changes
function handleRequestStateChange() 
{
  // continue if the process is completed
  if (xmlHttp.readyState == 4) 
  {
    // continue only if HTTP status is "OK"
    if (xmlHttp.status == 200) 
    {
      try
      {
        // retrieve the response
        response = xmlHttp.responseText;
        // do something with the response
        // ...
        // ...
      }
      catch(e)
      {
        // display error message
        alert("Error reading the response: " + e.toString());
      }
    } 
    else
    {
      // display status message
      alert("There was a problem retrieving the data:\n" + 
            xmlHttp.statusText);
    }
  }
}