Index: lams_flash/src/common/flash/org/lamsfoundation/lams/common/util/StringUtils.as
===================================================================
diff -u -r5b44cd0646c0ee06e57059948a5d5f730040f431 -r5402161894c885b6aa39fd5f86a12b854f377ffc
--- lams_flash/src/common/flash/org/lamsfoundation/lams/common/util/StringUtils.as	(.../StringUtils.as)	(revision 5b44cd0646c0ee06e57059948a5d5f730040f431)
+++ lams_flash/src/common/flash/org/lamsfoundation/lams/common/util/StringUtils.as	(.../StringUtils.as)	(revision 5402161894c885b6aa39fd5f86a12b854f377ffc)
@@ -249,6 +249,38 @@
 	}
 	
 	/**
+	 * Returns a new String based on the input String with the leading and trailing spaces removed
+	 * @usage   
+	 * @param   str 
+	 * @return  
+	 */
+	public static function trim(str:String):String {
+		var startIdx:Number;
+		for (var i=0; i<str.length; i++) {
+			if (str.charAt(i) != " ") {
+				startIdx = i;
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+		
+		var endIdx:Number;
+		for (var i=(str.length); i>0; i--) {
+			if (str.charAt(i-1) != " ") {
+				endIdx = i;
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+		
+		// if there are no spaces, return a new instance of the original string, else return the trimmed string
+		if (startIdx == undefined || startIdx == null || endIdx == undefined || endIdx == null) { 
+			if (str.length > 0) return new String(""); // string contains only spaces, return a new empty string
+		}
+		
+		var trimmedStr:String = str.substring(startIdx, endIdx);
+		return trimmedStr;
+	}
+	
+	/**
 	 * Checks to see if the value passed in is any of the null values defined in Config.
 	 * @usage   
 	 * @param   v