function fetchXML()  {
  var xmlDoc;
  var xmlhtpp;
  if (window.XMLHttpRequest) {
    xmlhttp = new window.XMLHttpRequest();
    }
  else {
    xmlhttp = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
    }
  try  {
    xmlhttp.open("GET", "\wg_data.xml", false);
    xmlhttp.send(null);
    xmlDoc = xmlhttp.responseXML;
    }
    catch (e)  {  // to by-pass IE local file check
      xmlhttp = null;
      xmlDoc = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.DOMDocument");
      xmlDoc.async = false;
      xmlDoc.load("\wg_data.xml");
      }
  return xmlDoc;
  }