function makevisible()
	{
	document.getElementById('maplayer').style.visibility="visible";
	}
    function showMap()
	{
    new Effect.Opacity('maplayer', { from: 0.0, to: 0.8, duration: 2.0});
	new Effect.Opacity('maplink', { from: 1.0, to: 0.0, duration: 2.0});
	}
    function hideMap()
	{
	new Effect.Opacity('maplayer', { from: 0.8, to: 0.0, duration: 2.0});
	new Effect.Opacity('maplink', { from: 0.0, to: 1.0, duration: 2.0});
	}

	function prepareMap()
	{
	new Effect.Opacity('maplayer', { from: 1.0, to: 0.0, duration: 0.1, afterFinish: makevisible });
	}