function createRequest() {
  try {
     var newRequest = null;
     newRequest = new XMLHttpRequest();
  } catch (trymicrosoft) {
     try {
        newRequest = new ActiveXObject("Msxml12.XMLHTTP");
     } catch (othermicrosoft) {
        try {
           newRequest = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
        } catch (failed) {
          newRequest = null;
        }
     }
  }

  if (newRequest == null) {
     alert("Error creating request object!");
  } else {
     return newRequest;
  }
   
}