var response = httpReq.responseText;
                    //alert("response text is " + response);

                    // wrap the json in parentheses to avoid tripping over javascript ambiguity...
                    response = "(" + response + ")";
                    var obj = eval(response);
                    if (obj.dbError == null) {
                        //alert('unavailable');
                        $$("itemTable").innerHTML = "Search is currently unavailable.";
                        return;
