function hasInvalidCharactersInGCSelection(form)
{
	var bHasInvalidCharacter = false;
	for(var i=0;i<form.elements.length;i++)
	{
		if(form.elements[i].type == 'textarea' && /[~\|\\/<>]+/.test(form.elements[i].value) )
		{
			bHasInvalidCharacter = true;	
		}
	}
	
	// check to see if invalid character was entered
	if(bHasInvalidCharacter)
	{
		// confirm the removal
		if(confirm("The information entered contain at least one illegal character(s) which include:\n" +
				   "\t ~ (tilda)\n" + 
				   "\t | (pipe)\n" + 
				   "\t < (less than)\n" +
				   "\t > (greater than)\n" +
				   "\t \\ (backward slash)\n" +
				   "\t / (forward slash, only allow for date field)\n" +
				   "Would you like to remove it and continue?"))
		{
			for(var i=0;i<form.elements.length;i++)
			{
				if(form.elements[i].type == 'textarea' && /[~\|\\/<>]+/.test(form.elements[i].value) )
				{
					form.elements[i].value = form.elements[i].value.replace(/[~\|\\/<>]+/g, '');
				}
			}
			bHasInvalidCharacter = false;
		}
	}
	return bHasInvalidCharacter;	

}// end of function