function hideall(){
	hideElementsByClassName('panel');
	hideElementsByClassName('info');
	hideElementsByClassName('sidebar');
}

function show_desc(element){					
	hideall();
	var panel = element + "_panel";
	var info = element + "_info";
	var sidebar = element + "_sidebox_wrapper";
	var x = document.getElementById(info);
	var y = document.getElementById(panel);
	var z = document.getElementById(sidebar);
	$(x).show();
	$(y).show();
	$(z).show();
}

function hideElementsByClassName(t){
	var a = document.getElementsByClassName(t);
	//loop through the array and hide each element by id
	for (var i=0; i < a.length; i++){
		$(a[i]).hide();	
	}		  
}

function hideBGByClassName(t){
	var a = document.getElementsByClassName(t);
	//loop through the array and show each element by id
	for (var i=0;i < a.length;i++){
		$(a[i]).setStyle({
			background: 'none'
		});	
	}		  
}