// function sets cookie locale
function set_cookie(name,value,exp_y,exp_m,exp_d,path,domain,secure) {
  var cookie_string = name + "=" + escape ( value );
  if(exp_y) {
    var expires = new Date ( exp_y, exp_m, exp_d );
    cookie_string += "; expires=" + expires.toGMTString();
  }
  if(path)
        cookie_string += "; path=" + escape ( path );
  if(domain)
        cookie_string += "; domain=" + escape ( domain );  
  if(secure)
        cookie_string += "; secure";
  
  document.cookie = cookie_string;  
}