nereidFadeObjects = new Object();
nereidFadeTimers = new Object();

/* object - image to be faded (actual object, not name);
* destop - destination transparency level (ie 80, for mostly solid)
* rate - time in milliseconds between trasparency changes (best under 100)
* delta - amount of change each time (ie 5, for 5% change in transparency)
*
* example usage:
* <img src="B2iconcrop.gif" style="filter:alpha(opacity=10)" 
	onmouseover="nereidFade(this,100,30,5)" onmouseout="nereidFade(this,10,50,5)">
*/

function nereidFade(object, destOp, rate, delta){
	if (!document.all)
		return;
	if (object != "[object]"){ //do this so I can take a string too
		setTimeout("nereidFade("+object+","+destOp+","+rate+","+delta+")",0);
		return;
	}

	clearTimeout(nereidFadeTimers[object.sourceIndex]);
	
	diff = destOp-object.filters.alpha.opacity;
	direction = 1;
	if (object.filters.alpha.opacity > destOp){
		direction = -1;
	}
	delta=Math.min(direction*diff,delta);
	object.filters.alpha.opacity+=direction*delta;
	
	if (object.filters.alpha.opacity != destOp){
		nereidFadeObjects[object.sourceIndex]=object;
		nereidFadeTimers[object.sourceIndex]=setTimeout("nereidFade(nereidFadeObjects["+object.sourceIndex+"],"+destOp+","+rate+","+delta+")",rate);
	}
}