nereidFadeObjects = new Object();
nereidFadeTimers = new Object();

/* object - image to be faded (actual object, not name);
 * destop - destination transparency level (ie 80, for mostly solid)
 * rate   - time in milliseconds between trasparency changes (best under 100)
 * delta  - amount of change each time (ie 5, for 5% change in transparency)
 */

function nereidFade(object, destOp, rate, delta){
  if (!document.all) return;
  if (object != "[object]"){  //do this so I can take a string too
    setTimeout("nereidFade("+object+","+destOp+","+rate+","+delta+")",0);
    return;
  }
        
  clearTimeout(nereidFadeTimers[object.sourceIndex]);
    
  diff = destOp-object.filters.alpha.opacity;
  direction = 1;
  if (object.filters.alpha.opacity > destOp){
    direction = -1;
  }
  delta=Math.min(direction*diff,delta);
  object.filters.alpha.opacity+=direction*delta;

  if (object.filters.alpha.opacity != destOp){
    nereidFadeObjects[object.sourceIndex]=object;
    nereidFadeTimers[object.sourceIndex]=setTimeout("nereidFade(nereidFadeObjects["+object.sourceIndex+"],"+destOp+","+rate+","+delta+")",rate);
  }
}