function ff_anychecked(element, message)
{
    // get plain name
    var name = element.name;
    if (name.substr(0,6) == 'ff_nm_') name = name.substring(6,name.length-2);

    // loop through elements and count selections
    var cnt = 0;
    for (var i = 0; i < ff_elements.length; i++)
        if (ff_elements[i][2]==name) 
            if (ff_getElementByIndex(i).checked) cnt++;

    // if none selected, emitt error
    if (cnt==0) {
        ff_validationFocus(element.name);
        if (message=='') message = "Please check or select "+name+".\n";
        return message;
    } // if
    return '';
} // ff_anychecked