var args   = argstr.split(':');
    
  var code   = args[0];

  //nexrad support for imagePostfix
  var imagePostfix = '';
  if(args.length == 2) imagePostfix = args[1];

  var imageBaseUrl = '/weather/data/maps/animation/';
  
  var animationSpeed = 120;
  var maxLoops = 25;
  var loopCount = 0;

  var loopRunning = false;
  var imageCount;
  var currentImage = 0;
  var images; 


  function changeSpeed(speedChange){
	animationSpeed = animationSpeed + speedChange;
	if(animationSpeed < 1){ animationSpeed = 10 }
  }


  function loadImgs()
  {

    	imageCount = arguments.length;  // number of images

	currentImage = imageCount - 1;
    	images = new Array(imageCount);

	var imageSources = '';	

	for (i = 0; i < imageCount; i++) {
  	   	images[i] = new Image();
           	images[i].src = imageBaseUrl + arguments[i];
		imageSources  = imageSources + '\n'+'<img src=\"'+ imageBaseUrl + arguments[i] +'\">';
	}


	var preloadDiv = document.getElementById('preloadImageDiv');
	preloadDiv.innerHTML = imageSources;
  }

	//just remove imageBaseUrl
  function loadImgsMixedSource()
  {
        imageCount = arguments.length;  // number of images

        currentImage = imageCount - 1;
        images = new Array(imageCount);

        var imageSources = '';

        for (i = 0; i < imageCount; i++) {
                images[i] = new Image();
                images[i].src = arguments[i];
                imageSources  = imageSources + '\n'+'<img src=\"'+ arguments[i] +'\">';
        }

        var preloadDiv = document.getElementById('preloadImageDiv');
        preloadDiv.innerHTML = imageSources;
  }



	function changeSlide(direction) {
  	 	if (document.images) {
	  		if(direction == 0) currentImage = 0;
	  		if(direction == (imageCount - 1)) currentImage = imageCount - 1;  //15 for longer loops?
	  		if(direction == -1 || direction == 1) currentImage = currentImage + direction;

    	  		if(currentImage >= imageCount) currentImage = 0;
	    	  	if (currentImage < 0) currentImage = imageCount - 1;

    	  		top.document.images.myPic.src = images[currentImage].src;
			wait_img = currentImage;
  	 	}
	}


	function stopLoop()
	{
		loopRunning = false;
	}


 	function startLoop()
	{
		//prevent multiple threads
		if(loopRunning == true) return;

		loopRunning = true;
		doLoop();
 	}


	function doLoop() {
	  	if(loopRunning != true) return;

		if(loopCount >= maxLoops) {
			loopCount = 0;
			loopRunning = false;
			return;
		}

		changeSlide(1);

		var thisLoopAnimationSpeed = animationSpeed;

	  	if(currentImage == (imageCount - 1)) {
			thisLoopAnimationSpeed = animationSpeed * 7;
			loopCount++;
	  	}

	  	setTimeout("doLoop();", thisLoopAnimationSpeed);   //was 300
	}