function isTopicSelected
(theElement, theElementName)
{
  var objname;
  var frm = document.forms[0];

  strMessage = frm.name;
  for(var i = 0; i < 3 ; i++ )
  {
    // Scan every element of the form looking for TOPIC
    for(var j = 0; j < frm.length; j++)
    {
      objname = frm.elements[j].name.split(".");
      // third section of name is fieldname
      if (objname[2] == "TOPIC")
      {
          topicFound = true;
          // If TOPIC still has default "Please Select" value then raise err
          if (frm.elements[j].value == "Please Select")
          {
            alert(" Please select a topic." );
            frm.elements[j].focus(); 
            frm.elements[j].select(); 
            return false;
          }
          else
          {
            return true;
          }
      }
      // next field 
    }
    // next form
    frm = document.forms[i];
  }
  return true;
}