function trimString(str) {

   //Remove leading spaces
   while(''+str.charAt(0)==' ')
      str = str.substr(1,str.length);

   //Remove trailing spaces
   while(''+str.charAt(str.length-1)==' ')
      str = str.substr(0,str.length-1);

   return str;
}

function strLength(str) {
   str = trimString(str);
   stringLength = str.length;
   //alert("str = " + str + "; stringLength = " + stringLength);
   return stringLength;
}