function resize_textarea(id,val) {
   /* retrieve old (current) textarea */
   var old_texta = document.getElementById(id);
   var curr_rows = old_texta.rows;
   var default_rows = 5;
   /* set the number of rows we want */
   switch(val) {
      case "+":
		curr_rows += 5;
		break;
      
	  case "-":
		if ( curr_rows - 5 >= default_rows ) { curr_rows -= 5; }
		break;
      
	  default:
		break;
   }

   /* create a new textarea */   
   var new_texta = document.createElement("textarea");
   new_texta.setAttribute("id",  old_texta.id);
   new_texta.setAttribute("name",old_texta.name);   
   new_texta.setAttribute("cols",old_texta.cols);
   new_texta.setAttribute("rows",curr_rows);
   new_texta.value = old_texta.value;
   
   /* replace old with new */
   old_texta.parentNode.replaceChild(new_texta,old_texta);
   
}