function init(){
	setDots();
	changeItem();	// start ticker	 to display first msg
	start = setInterval('changeItem()', 3000); //start ticker loop
}

function setDots() {
// create number of dots depending on length of newsitem array
// add them to the document
var dotsArr = newsitems; 
	for(i=0; i < dotsArr.length; i++){
		var theDot = document.createElement("IMG");
		theDot.setAttribute("src", "/images/inactive_msg.gif");
		theDot.setAttribute("id", "dot_" + dotsArr[i][0]);
		document.getElementById('newsdots').appendChild(theDot);
	}
}

function changeDots(which){
// reset all dots and highlight the one regarding the visible newsitem
	var imgDiv = document.getElementById("newsdots");
	var imgArr = imgDiv.getElementsByTagName("IMG");
	for(x=0; x < imgArr.length; x++){
		imgArr[x].src = "/images/inactive_msg.gif";
	}
	document.getElementById("dot_" + which).src = "/images/active_msg.gif";
}

// declare boolean for ticker interuption
var bPauseTicker = false;

function pauseTicker() {
	bPauseSlideShow = true;
}
	
function resumeTicker() {
	bPauseTicker = false;
}	


var count = 0;

// the actual ticker
function changeItem() {

	if (!bPauseTicker) {
	
		var itemNum = newsitems.length; // number of newsitems
		var theLink = document.getElementById("msg"); // where to put the news

		if(count == itemNum){	// did we ran out of newsitems?	
			count = 0;
		}else{
			count = count;
		}
	
		var oldTxt = theLink.childNodes[0]; // detect and remove old text if there is any
		if(oldTxt != null){
			theLink.removeChild(oldTxt);
		}
		// prepare new text
		var newTxt = document.createTextNode(newsitems[count][2]);
		theLink.appendChild(newTxt);
		theLink.setAttribute("href", "actueel.php#item" + newsitems[count][1] );	// fix link	
		theLink.setAttribute("onmouseover", "pauseTicker();");
		theLink.setAttribute("onmouseout", "resumeTicker();");
		changeDots(count);
		
		// prepare next newsnumber
		count++;
		
	}
}