function initGlobals(){

	// defaults
	myTips = null;
	map = null;
	spMerc = true; 
	res = 156543.0399;
	buff = 1;
	account='MASHUP';
	drapes = 'nuserv';
	layersFile = 'data/layers.xml';
	tileSize = '512'; 
	startZoom = 1;
	startScale = 14000000;
	gfiLimit = 10000;
	vectOpac = 1.0;
	nuCache = true;
	buff = 1;
	ccNo = 4;
	ccInc = 10000;
	gfiDoubleClick = false;
	startBasemap = 'googleMap';
	sldLimit = 5000;
	username='';
	drapeWmslayer='';
	oldTempCache = '';
	newSldOpen = '';
	password='';
	direction='horizontal'
	quality='QUICKEST';
	markerZm = 8;
	loadIT = true;
	filterTol=0;
	srs = 'EPSG:900913'; 	//var srs = "EPSG:4326";
	drapeImage = 'image/png';
	linkAddr = 'http://www.numaps.com.au';
	logoImg = 'images/numapsLogo.png';
	outFormat = 'BXFS';		// this is default for CubeWerx but can be overwritten via layer control file
	country='Australia';
	//legendSld='http://brad.demos.numaps.com.au/inc/sld/gov/com_elect_07_bdys.xml';
	// initialise layers
	markers = null;			
	vectorLayer = null;		
	vectorLayer2 = null;	
	vectorLayer3 = null;	
	userMarkers = null;			
	boundary = null;	
	innerBoundaries = null;		
	CouncilsMask = null;
	terrMarkers = null;
	terrLabels = null;
	territory = null;	
	allTerritoriesLayer = null;	
	DrapeHighlight = null;
	DemoDrape = null;
	collectLayer =null;
	previousId = null;
	currentSearchRowId = null;

	// slider stuff
	opacityValue = 1.0;
	myslider = [];
	lastKnownPosition = 1.0;

	// set global arrays
	activeLayer = null;
	LayerObj	= new Array();
	LabelObj	= new Array();
	Theme =  new Array();
	Abstract = new Array();
	Security = new Array();
	User = new Array();
	Pass = new Array();
	Url = new Array();
	Name = new Array();
	Srs = new Array();
	Sld =  new Array();
	SldLabels =  new Array();
	Opac = new Array();
	Ogc = new Array();
	TitleText = new Array();
	Vis = new Array();
	Labels = new Array();
	Leg = new Array();
	Style = new Array();
	Zindex = new Array();
	selectedStyle = new Array();
	Gfi = new Array();
	Status = new Array();
	Plotted = new Array();
	layNames =  new Array();
	Format = new Array();
	MinzmLayers = new Array();
	MaxzmLayers =  new Array();
	MinzmLabels = new Array();
	MaxzmLabels =  new Array();
	LayerAbstract = new Array();
	sldLayerName = new Array();
	LayerBbox = new Array();
	LayerBounds = new Array();
	LayerType = new Array();
	LayerTiled =  new Array();
	Attribution = new Array();

// preload images
	 img = new Image();				img.src = 'images/tpLogo.gif';
	 loadImg = new Image();			loadImg.src='images/loader07.gif';
	 dots = new Image();			dots.src = 'images/marker10.png';
	 loader = new Image();			loader.src = 'images/loader.gif';

	 blueBanner = new Image();		blueBanner.src = 'images/banner_200.gif';
	 blueBanner2 = new Image();		blueBanner2.src = 'images/banner_235_new.gif';
	 blueBanner4 = new Image();		blueBanner4.src = 'images/banner_400.gif';
	 blueBanner6 = new Image();		blueBanner6.src = 'images/banner_600.gif';

	 sliderVert = new Image();		sliderVert = 'images/slider_image.jpg';
	 sliderHoriz = new Image();		sliderHoriz = 'images/slider_image_horiz.jpg';

	 chartImages = new Image();		
	 symbol = new Image();			symbol='images/target_small.gif'; 
	 terrSymbol = new Image();		terrSymbol='images/home.png'; 

// initialise the legend css tables
	 legendBackground = "legendBackground";
	 legHolder = "legHolder";
	 legend = 'legend';
	 legendTitle = "legendTitle";
	 legendTable = "legendTable";
	 legendBox = "legendBox";
	 legendText = "legendText";
	 tableBody = "tBody";
	 tdCell = "tdCell";
	 message = "messHolder";
	 newOpacity = '';
	 legendSld='';
	 lastSearchDDrapeId = null;
	 click=null;
	 infoForm = 'text/xml; subtype="bxfs/0.0.2"';
	 newSld = '';
	 win = null;
}