/**
 *  Zebra_DatePicker
 *
 *  Zebra_DatePicker is a small, compact and highly configurable date picker plugin for jQuery
 *
 *  Visit {@link http://stefangabos.ro/jquery/zebra-datepicker/} for more information.
 *
 *  For more resources visit {@link http://stefangabos.ro/}
 *
 *  @author     Stefan Gabos <contact@stefangabos.ro>
 *  @version    1.9.5 (last revision: May 13, 2016)
 *  @copyright  (c) 2011 - 2016 Stefan Gabos
 *  @license    http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-3.0.txt GNU LESSER GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
 *  @package    Zebra_DatePicker
 */
;(function(factory) {

    'use strict';

    // AMD
    if (typeof define === 'function' && define.amd) define(['jquery'], factory);

    // CommonJS
    else if (typeof exports === 'object') factory(require('jquery'));

    // browser globals
    else factory(jQuery);

}(function($) {

    'use strict';

    $.Zebra_DatePicker = function(element, options) {

        var defaults = {

            //  setting this property to a jQuery element, will result in the date picker being always visible, the indicated
            //  element being the date picker's container;
            always_visible: false,

            //  by default, the date picker is injected into the <body>; use this property to tell the library to inject
            //  the date picker into a custom element - useful when you want the date picker to open at a specific position
            //
            //  must be a jQuery element
            //
            //  default is $('body')
            container: $('body'),

            //  dates that should have custom classes applied to them
            //  an object in the form of
            //  {
            //      'myclass1': [dates_to_apply_the_custom_class_to],
            //      'myclass2': [dates_to_apply_the_custom_class_to]
            //  }
            //  where "dates_to_apply_the_custom_class_to" is an array of dates in the same format as required for
            //  "disabled_dates" property.
            //
            //  custom classes will be applied *only* in the day picker view and not on month/year views!
            //  also note that the class name will have the "_disabled" suffix added if the day the class is applied to
            //  is disabled
            //
            //  in order for the styles in your custom classes to be applied, make sure you are using the following syntax:
            //
            //  .Zebra_DatePicker .dp_daypicker td.myclass1 { .. }
            //  .Zebra_DatePicker .dp_daypicker td.myclass1_disabled { .. }
            //
            //  default is FALSE, no custom classes
            custom_classes: false,

            //  days of the week; Sunday to Saturday
            days: ['Sunday', 'Monday', 'Tuesday', 'Wednesday', 'Thursday', 'Friday', 'Saturday'],

            //  by default, the abbreviated name of a day consists of the first 2 letters from the day's full name;
            //  while this is common for most languages, there are also exceptions for languages like Thai, Loa, Myanmar,
            //  etc. where this is not correct; for these cases, specify an array with the abbreviations to be used for
            //  the 7 days of the week; leave it FALSE to use the first 2 letters of a day's name as the abbreviation.
            //
            //  default is FALSE
            days_abbr: false,

            //  the position of the date picker relative to the element it is attached to. note that, regardless of this
            //  setting, the date picker's position will be automatically adjusted to fit in the viewport, if needed.
            //
            //  possible values are "above" and "below"
            //
            //  default is "above"
            default_position: 'above',

            //  direction of the calendar
            //
            //  a positive or negative integer: n (a positive integer) creates a future-only calendar beginning at n days
            //  after today; -n (a negative integer); if n is 0, the calendar has no restrictions. use boolean true for
            //  a future-only calendar starting with today and use boolean false for a past-only calendar ending today.
            //
            //  you may also set this property to an array with two elements in the following combinations:
            //
            //  -   first item is boolean TRUE (calendar starts today), an integer > 0 (calendar starts n days after
            //      today), or a valid date given in the format defined by the "format" attribute, using English for
            //      month names (calendar starts at the specified date), and the second item is boolean FALSE (the calendar
            //      has no ending date), an integer > 0 (calendar ends n days after the starting date), or a valid date
            //      given in the format defined by the "format" attribute, using English for month names, and which occurs
            //      after the starting date (calendar ends at the specified date)
            //
            //  -   first item is boolean FALSE (calendar ends today), an integer < 0 (calendar ends n days before today),
            //      or a valid date given in the format defined by the "format" attribute, using English for month names
            //      (calendar ends at the specified date), and the second item is an integer > 0 (calendar ends n days
            //      before the ending date), or a valid date given in the format defined by the "format" attribute, using
            //      English for month names  and which occurs before the starting date (calendar starts at the specified
            //      date)
            //
            //  [1, 7] - calendar starts tomorrow and ends seven days after that
            //  [true, 7] - calendar starts today and ends seven days after that
            //  ['2013-01-01', false] - calendar starts on January 1st 2013 and has no ending date ("format" is YYYY-MM-DD)
            //  [false, '2012-01-01'] - calendar ends today and starts on January 1st 2012 ("format" is YYYY-MM-DD)
            //
            //  note that "disabled_dates" property will still apply!
            //
            //  default is 0 (no restrictions)
            direction: 0,

            //  an array of disabled dates in the following format: 'day month year weekday' where "weekday" is optional
            //  and can be 0-6 (Saturday to Sunday); the syntax is similar to cron's syntax: the values are separated by
            //  spaces and may contain * (asterisk) - (dash) and , (comma) delimiters:
            //
            //  ['1 1 2012'] would disable January 1, 2012;
            //  ['* 1 2012'] would disable all days in January 2012;
            //  ['1-10 1 2012'] would disable January 1 through 10 in 2012;
            //  ['1,10 1 2012'] would disable January 1 and 10 in 2012;
            //  ['1-10,20,22,24 1-3 *'] would disable 1 through 10, plus the 22nd and 24th of January through March for every year;
            //  ['* * * 0,6'] would disable all Saturdays and Sundays;
            //  ['01 07 2012', '02 07 2012', '* 08 2012'] would disable 1st and 2nd of July 2012, and all of August of 2012
            //
            //  default is FALSE, no disabled dates
            //
            //  DISABLING ALL DATES AND NOT SPECIFYING AT LEAST ONE ENABLED DATE WILL SEND THE SCRIPT INTO AN INFINITE
            //  LOOP SEARCHING FOR AN ENABLED DATE TO DISPLAY!
            disabled_dates: false,

            //  an array of enabled dates in the same format as required for "disabled_dates" property.
            //  to be used together with the "disabled_dates" property by first setting the "disabled_dates" property to
            //  something like "[* * * *]" (which will disable everything) and the setting the "enabled_dates" property to,
            //  say, "[* * * 0,6]" to enable just weekends.
            enabled_dates: false,

            //  week's starting day
            //
            //  valid values are 0 to 6, Sunday to Saturday
            //
            //  default is 1, Monday
            first_day_of_week: 1,

            //  format of the returned date
            //
            //  accepts the following characters for date formatting: d, D, j, l, N, w, S, F, m, M, n, Y, y borrowing
            //  syntax from PHP's "date" function.
            //
            //  note that when setting a date format without days ('d', 'j'), the users will be able to select only years
            //  and months, and when setting a format without months and days ('F', 'm', 'M', 'n', 'd', 'j'), the
            //  users will be able to select only years; likewise, when setting a date format with just months ('F', 'm',
            //  'M', 'n') or just years ('Y', 'y'), users will be able to select only months and years, respectively.
            //
            //  also note that the value of the "view" property (see below) may be overridden if it is the case: a value of
            //  "days" for the "view" property makes no sense if the date format doesn't allow the selection of days.
            //
            //  default is Y-m-d
            format: 'Y-m-d',

            //  captions in the datepicker's header, for the 3 possible views: days, months, years
            //
            //  for each of the 3 views the following special characters may be used borrowing from PHP's "date" function's
            //  syntax: m, n, F, M, y and Y; any of these will be replaced at runtime with the appropriate date fragment,
            //  depending on the currently viewed date. two more special characters are also available Y1 and Y2 (upper
            //  case representing years with 4 digits, lowercase representing years with 2 digits) which represent
            //  "currently selected year - 7" and "currently selected year + 4" and which only make sense used in the
            //  "years" view.
            //
            //  even though any of these special characters may be used in any of the 3 views, you should use m, n, F, M
            //  for the "days" view and y, Y, Y1, Y2, y1, y2 for the "months" and "years" view or you may get unexpected
            //  results!
            //
            //  Text and HTML can also be used, and will be rendered as it is, as in the example below (the library is
            //  smart enough to not replace special characters when used in words or HTML tags):
            //
            //  header_captions: {
            //      'days':     'Departure:<br>F, Y',
            //      'months':   'Departure:<br>Y',
            //      'years':    'Departure:<br>Y1 - Y2'
            //  }
            //
            //  Default is
            //
            //  header_captions: {
            //      'days':     'F, Y',
            //      'months':   'Y',
            //      'years':    'Y1 - Y2'
            //  }
            header_captions: {
                'days':     'F, Y',
                'months':   'Y',
                'years':    'Y1 - Y2'
            },

            //  HTML to be used for the previous month/next month buttons
            //
            //  default is ['&#171;','&#187;']
            header_navigation: ['&#171;', '&#187;'],

            //  icon's position
            //  accepted values are "left" and "right"
            //
            //  default is "right"
            icon_position: 'right',

            //  should the icon for opening the datepicker be inside the element?
            //  if set to FALSE, the icon will be placed to the right of the parent element, while if set to TRUE it will
            //  be placed to the right of the parent element, but *inside* the element itself
            //
            //  default is TRUE
            inside: true,

            //  the caption for the "Clear" button
            lang_clear_date: 'Clear date',

            //  months names
            months: ['January', 'February', 'March', 'April', 'May', 'June', 'July', 'August', 'September', 'October', 'November', 'December'],

            //  by default, the abbreviated name of a month consists of the first 3 letters from the month's full name;
            //  while this is common for most languages, there are also exceptions for languages like Thai, Loa, Myanmar,
            //  etc. where this is not correct; for these cases, specify an array with the abbreviations to be used for
            //  the months of the year; leave it FALSE to use the first 3 letters of a month's name as the abbreviation.
            //
            //  default is FALSE
            months_abbr: false,

            //  the offset, in pixels (x, y), to shift the date picker's position relative to the top-right of the icon
            //  that toggles the date picker or, if the icon is disabled, relative to the top-right corner of the element
            //  the plugin is attached to.
            //
            //  note that this only applies if the position of element relative to the browser's viewport doesn't require
            //  the date picker to be placed automatically so that it is visible!
            //
            //  default is [5, -5]
            offset: [5, -5],

            //  set whether the date picker should be shown *only* when clicking the icon
            //  note that if you set the "show_icon" property to FALSE, you will not be able to show the date picker anymore!
            //
            //  default is FALSE
            open_icon_only: false,

            //  if set as a jQuery element with a Zebra_DatePicker attached, that particular date picker will use the
            //  current date picker's value as starting date
            //  note that the rules set in the "direction" property will still apply, only that the reference date will
            //  not be the current system date but the value selected in the current date picker
            //  default is FALSE (not paired with another date picker)
            pair: false,

            //  should the element the calendar is attached to, be read-only?
            //  if set to TRUE, a date can be set only through the date picker and cannot be entered manually
            //
            //  default is TRUE
            readonly_element: true,

            //  should days from previous and/or next month be selectable when visible?
            //  note that if the value of this property is set to TRUE, the value of "show_other_months" will be considered
            //  TRUE regardless of the actual value!
            //
            //  default is FALSE
            select_other_months: false,

            //  should the "Clear date" button be visible?
            //
            //  accepted values are:
            //
            //  - 0 (zero) - the button for clearing a previously selected date is shown only if a previously selected date
            //  already exists; this means that if the input the date picker is attached to is empty, and the user selects
            //  a date for the first time, this button will not be visible; once the user picked a date and opens the date
            //  picker again, this time the button will be visible.
            //
            //  - TRUE will make the button visible all the time
            //
            //  - FALSE will disable the button
            //
            //  default is "0" (without quotes)
            show_clear_date: 0,

            //  should a calendar icon be added to the elements the plugin is attached to?
            //
            //  default is TRUE
            show_icon: true,

            //  should days from previous and/or next month be visible?
            //
            //  default is TRUE
            show_other_months: true,

            //  should the "Today" button be visible?
            //  setting it to anything but boolean FALSE will enable the button and will use the property's value as
            //  caption for the button; setting it to FALSE will disable the button
            //
            //  default is "Today"
            show_select_today: 'Today',

            //  should an extra column be shown, showing the number of each week?
            //  anything other than FALSE will enable this feature, and use the given value as column title
            //  i.e. show_week_number: 'Wk' would enable this feature and have "Wk" as the column's title
            //
            //  default is FALSE
            show_week_number: false,

            //  a default date to start the date picker with
            //  must be specified in the format defined by the "format" property, or it will be ignored!
            //  note that this value is used only if there is no value in the field the date picker is attached to!
            start_date: false,

            //  should default values, in the input field the date picker is attached to, be deleted if they are not valid
            //  according to "direction" and/or "disabled_dates"?
            //
            //  default is FALSE
            strict: false,

            //  how should the date picker start; valid values are "days", "months" and "years"
            //  note that the date picker is always cycling days-months-years when clicking in the date picker's header,
            //  and years-months-days when selecting dates (unless one or more of the views are missing due to the date's
            //  format)
            //
            //  also note that the value of the "view" property may be overridden if the date's format requires so! (i.e.
            //  "days" for the "view" property makes no sense if the date format doesn't allow the selection of days)
            //
            //  default is "days"
            view: 'days',

            //  days of the week that are considered "weekend days"
            //  valid values are 0 to 6, Sunday to Saturday
            //
            //  default values are 0 and 6 (Saturday and Sunday)
            weekend_days: [0, 6],

            //  when set to TRUE, day numbers < 10 will be prefixed with 0; set to FALSE if you don't want that
            //
            //  default is TRUE
            zero_pad: false,

            //  callback function to be executed whenever the user changes the view (days/months/years), as well as when
            //  the user navigates by clicking on the "next"/"previous" icons in any of the views;
            //
            //  the callback function called by this event takes 3 arguments - the first argument represents the current
            //  view (can be "days", "months" or "years"), the second argument represents an array containing the "active"
            //  elements (not disabled) from the view, as jQuery elements, allowing for easy customization and interaction
            //  with particular cells in the date picker's view, while the third argument is a reference to the element
            //  the date picker is attached to, as a jQuery object (deprecated - use the "this" keyword inside the callback
            //  function to refer to the element the date picker is attached to)
            //
            //  for simplifying searching for particular dates, each element in the second argument will also have a
            //  "date" data attribute whose format depends on the value of the "view" argument:
            //  - YYYY-MM-DD for elements in the "days" view
            //  - YYYY-MM for elements in the "months" view
            //  - YYYY for elements in the "years" view
            //
            //  the "this" keyword inside the callback function refers to the element the date picker is attached to!
            onChange: null,

            //  callback function to be executed when the user clicks the "Clear" button
            //  the callback function takes a single argument:
            //  -   a reference to the element the date picker is attached to, as a jQuery object (deprecated - use the
            //      "this" keyword inside the callback function to refer to the element the date picker is attached to)
            //
            //  the "this" keyword inside the callback function refers to the element the date picker is attached to!
            onClear: null,

            //  callback function to be executed when the date picker is shown
            //  the callback function takes a single argument:
            //  -   a reference to the element the date picker is attached to, as a jQuery object (deprecated - use the
            //      "this" keyword inside the callback function to refer to the element the date picker is attached to)
            //
            //  the "this" keyword inside the callback function refers to the element the date picker is attached to!
            onOpen: null,

            //  callback function to be executed when the date picker is closed, but only when the "always_visible"
            //  property is set to FALSE
            //  the callback function takes a single argument:
            //  -   a reference to the element the date picker is attached to, as a jQuery object (deprecated - use the
            //      "this" keyword inside the callback function to refer to the element the date picker is attached to)
            //
            //  the "this" keyword inside the callback function refers to the element the date picker is attached to!
            onClose: null,

            //  callback function to be executed when a date is selected
            //  the callback function takes 5 arguments:
            //  -   the date in the format specified by the "format" attribute;
            //  -   the date in YYYY-MM-DD format
            //  -   the date as a JavaScript Date object
            //  -   a reference to the element the date picker is attached to, as a jQuery object (deprecated - use the
            //      "this" keyword inside the callback function to refer to the element the date picker is attached to)
            //  -   the ISO 8601 week number of the selected date
            //
            //  the "this" keyword inside the callback function refers to the element the date picker is attached to!
            onSelect: null

        };

        // private properties
        var view, datepicker, icon, header, daypicker, monthpicker, yearpicker, cleardate, current_system_month, current_system_year,
            current_system_day, first_selectable_month, first_selectable_year, first_selectable_day, selected_month, selected_year,
            default_day, default_month, default_year, enabled_dates, disabled_dates, shim, start_date, end_date, last_selectable_day,
            last_selectable_year, last_selectable_month, daypicker_cells, monthpicker_cells, yearpicker_cells, views, clickables,
            selecttoday, footer, show_select_today, timeout, uniqueid, custom_classes, custom_class_names, original_attributes = {};

        var plugin = this;

        plugin.settings = {};

        // the jQuery version of the element
        // "element" (without the $) will point to the DOM element
        var $element = $(element);

        /**
         *  Constructor method. Initializes the date picker.
         *
         *  @return void
         */
        var init = function(update) {

            // generate a random ID for each date picker (we'll use this if later a certain date picker is destroyed to
            // remove related events)
            // the code is taken from http://stackoverflow.com/a/105074
            uniqueid = Math.floor((1 + Math.random()) * 0x10000).toString(16);

            // unless we're not just updating settings
            if (!update) {

                // merge default settings with user-settings (
                plugin.settings = $.extend({}, defaults, options);

                // preserve some of element's original attributes
                original_attributes['readonly'] = $element.attr('readonly');
                original_attributes['style'] = $element.attr('style');

                // iterate through the element's data attributes (if any)
                for (var data in $element.data())

                    // if data attribute's name starts with "zdp_"
                    if (data.indexOf('zdp_') === 0) {

                        // remove the "zdp_" prefix
                        data = data.replace(/^zdp\_/, '');

                        // if such a property exists
                        if (undefined !== defaults[data])

                            // update the property's value
                            // (note that for the "pair" property we need to convert the property to an element)
                            plugin.settings[data] = (data == 'pair' ? $($element.data('zdp_' + data)) : $element.data('zdp_' + data));

                    }

            }

            // if the element should be read-only, set the "readonly" attribute
            if (plugin.settings.readonly_element) $element.attr('readonly', 'readonly');

            // determine the views the user can cycle through, depending on the format
            // that is, if the format doesn't contain the day, the user will be able to cycle only through years and months,
            // whereas if the format doesn't contain months nor days, the user will only be able to select years

            var

                // the characters that may be present in the date format and that represent days, months and years
                date_chars = {
                    days:   ['d', 'j', 'D'],
                    months: ['F', 'm', 'M', 'n', 't'],
                    years:  ['o', 'Y', 'y']
                },

                // some defaults
                has_days = false,
                has_months = false,
                has_years = false,
                type = null;

            // iterate through all the character blocks
            for (type in date_chars)

                // iterate through the characters of each block
                $.each(date_chars[type], function(index, character) {

                    // if current character exists in the "format" property
                    if (plugin.settings.format.indexOf(character) > -1)

                        // set to TRUE the appropriate flag
                        if (type == 'days') has_days = true;
                        else if (type == 'months') has_months = true;
                        else if (type == 'years') has_years = true;

                });

            // if user can cycle through all the views, set the flag accordingly
            if (has_days && has_months && has_years) views = ['years', 'months', 'days'];

            // if user can cycle only through year and months, set the flag accordingly
            else if (!has_days && has_months && has_years) views = ['years', 'months'];

            // if user can cycle only through months and days, set the flag accordingly
            else if (has_days && has_months && !has_years) views = ['months', 'days'];

            // if user can only see the year picker, set the flag accordingly
            else if (!has_days && !has_months && has_years) views = ['years'];

            // if user can only see the month picker, set the flag accordingly
            else if (!has_days && has_months && !has_years) views = ['months'];

            // if invalid format (no days, no months, no years) use the default where the user is able to cycle through
            // all the views
            else views = ['years', 'months', 'days'];

            // if the starting view is not amongst the views the user can cycle through, set the correct starting view
            if ($.inArray(plugin.settings.view, views) == -1) plugin.settings.view = views[views.length - 1];

            // parse the rules for disabling dates and turn them into arrays of arrays

            // array that will hold the rules for enabling/disabling dates
            disabled_dates = []; enabled_dates = []; custom_classes = {}; custom_class_names = [];

            var dates;

            for (var k in plugin.settings.custom_classes) if (plugin.settings.custom_classes.hasOwnProperty(k)) custom_class_names.push(k);

            // it's the same logic for preparing the enabled/disable dates, as well as dates that have custom classes
            for (var l = 0; l < 2 + custom_class_names.length; l++) {

                // first time we're doing disabled dates,
                if (l === 0) dates = plugin.settings.disabled_dates;

                // second time we're doing enabled_dates
                else if (l == 1) dates = plugin.settings.enabled_dates;

                // otherwise, we're doing dates that will have custom classes
                else dates = plugin.settings.custom_classes[custom_class_names[l - 2]];

                // if we have a non-empty array
                if ($.isArray(dates) && dates.length > 0)

                    // iterate through the rules
                    $.each(dates, function() {

                        // split the values in rule by white space
                        var rules = this.split(' ');

                        // there can be a maximum of 4 rules (days, months, years and, optionally, day of the week)
                        for (var i = 0; i < 4; i++) {

                            // if one of the values is not available
                            // replace it with a * (wildcard)
                            if (!rules[i]) rules[i] = '*';

                            // if rule contains a comma, create a new array by splitting the rule by commas
                            // if there are no commas create an array containing the rule's string
                            rules[i] = (rules[i].indexOf(',') > -1 ? rules[i].split(',') : new Array(rules[i]));

                            // iterate through the items in the rule
                            for (var j = 0; j < rules[i].length; j++)

                                // if item contains a dash (defining a range)
                                if (rules[i][j].indexOf('-') > -1) {

                                    // get the lower and upper limits of the range
                                    var limits = rules[i][j].match(/^([0-9]+)\-([0-9]+)/);

                                    // if range is valid
                                    if (null !== limits) {

                                        // iterate through the range
                                        for (var k = to_int(limits[1]); k <= to_int(limits[2]); k++)

                                            // if value is not already among the values of the rule
                                            // add it to the rule
                                            if ($.inArray(k, rules[i]) == -1) rules[i].push(k + '');

                                        // remove the range indicator
                                        rules[i].splice(j, 1);

                                    }

                                }

                            // iterate through the items in the rule
                            // and make sure that numbers are numbers
                            for (j = 0; j < rules[i].length; j++) rules[i][j] = (isNaN(to_int(rules[i][j])) ? rules[i][j] : to_int(rules[i][j]));

                        }

                        // add to the correct list of processed rules
                        // first time we're doing disabled dates,
                        if (l === 0) disabled_dates.push(rules);

                        // second time we're doing enabled_dates
                        else if (l == 1) enabled_dates.push(rules);

                        // otherwise, we're doing the dates to which custom classes need to be applied
                        else {

                            if (undefined === custom_classes[custom_class_names[l - 2]]) custom_classes[custom_class_names[l - 2]] = [];
                            custom_classes[custom_class_names[l - 2]].push(rules);

                        }

                    });

            }

            var

                // cache the current system date
                date = new Date(),

                // when the date picker's starting date depends on the value of another date picker, this value will be
                // set by the other date picker
                // this value will be used as base for all calculations (if not set, will be the same as the current
                // system date)
                reference_date = (!plugin.settings.reference_date ? ($element.data('zdp_reference_date') && undefined !== $element.data('zdp_reference_date') ? $element.data('zdp_reference_date') : date) : plugin.settings.reference_date),

                tmp_start_date, tmp_end_date;

            // reset these values here as this method might be called more than once during a date picker's lifetime
            // (when the selectable dates depend on the values from another date picker)
            start_date = undefined; end_date = undefined;

            // extract the date parts
            // also, save the current system month/day/year - we'll use them to highlight the current system date
            first_selectable_month = reference_date.getMonth();
            current_system_month = date.getMonth();
            first_selectable_year = reference_date.getFullYear();
            current_system_year = date.getFullYear();
            first_selectable_day = reference_date.getDate();
            current_system_day = date.getDate();

            // check if the calendar has any restrictions

            // calendar is future-only, starting today
            // it means we have a starting date (the current system date), but no ending date
            if (plugin.settings.direction === true) start_date = reference_date;

            // calendar is past only, ending today
            else if (plugin.settings.direction === false) {

                // it means we have an ending date (the reference date), but no starting date
                end_date = reference_date;

                // extract the date parts
                last_selectable_month = end_date.getMonth();
                last_selectable_year = end_date.getFullYear();
                last_selectable_day = end_date.getDate();

            } else if (

                // if direction is not given as an array and the value is an integer > 0
                (!$.isArray(plugin.settings.direction) && is_integer(plugin.settings.direction) && to_int(plugin.settings.direction) > 0) ||

                // or direction is given as an array
                ($.isArray(plugin.settings.direction) && (

                    // and first entry is a valid date
                    (tmp_start_date = check_date(plugin.settings.direction[0])) ||
                    // or a boolean TRUE
                    plugin.settings.direction[0] === true ||
                    // or an integer > 0
                    (is_integer(plugin.settings.direction[0]) && plugin.settings.direction[0] > 0)

                ) && (

                    // and second entry is a valid date
                    (tmp_end_date = check_date(plugin.settings.direction[1])) ||
                    // or a boolean FALSE
                    plugin.settings.direction[1] === false ||
                    // or integer >= 0
                    (is_integer(plugin.settings.direction[1]) && plugin.settings.direction[1] >= 0)

                ))

            ) {

                // if an exact starting date was given, use that as a starting date
                if (tmp_start_date) start_date = tmp_start_date;

                // otherwise
                else

                    // figure out the starting date
                    // use the Date object to normalize the date
                    // for example, 2011 05 33 will be transformed to 2011 06 02
                    start_date = new Date(
                        first_selectable_year,
                        first_selectable_month,
                        first_selectable_day + (!$.isArray(plugin.settings.direction) ? to_int(plugin.settings.direction) : to_int(plugin.settings.direction[0] === true ? 0 : plugin.settings.direction[0]))
                    );

                // re-extract the date parts
                first_selectable_month = start_date.getMonth();
                first_selectable_year = start_date.getFullYear();
                first_selectable_day = start_date.getDate();

                // if an exact ending date was given and the date is after the starting date, use that as a ending date
                if (tmp_end_date && +tmp_end_date >= +start_date) end_date = tmp_end_date;

                // if have information about the ending date
                else if (!tmp_end_date && plugin.settings.direction[1] !== false && $.isArray(plugin.settings.direction))

                    // figure out the ending date
                    // use the Date object to normalize the date
                    // for example, 2011 05 33 will be transformed to 2011 06 02
                    end_date = new Date(
                        first_selectable_year,
                        first_selectable_month,
                        first_selectable_day + to_int(plugin.settings.direction[1])
                    );

                // if a valid ending date exists
                if (end_date) {

                    // extract the date parts
                    last_selectable_month = end_date.getMonth();
                    last_selectable_year = end_date.getFullYear();
                    last_selectable_day = end_date.getDate();

                }

            } else if (

                // if direction is not given as an array and the value is an integer < 0
                (!$.isArray(plugin.settings.direction) && is_integer(plugin.settings.direction) && to_int(plugin.settings.direction) < 0) ||

                // or direction is given as an array
                ($.isArray(plugin.settings.direction) && (

                    // and first entry is boolean FALSE
                    plugin.settings.direction[0] === false ||
                    // or an integer < 0
                    (is_integer(plugin.settings.direction[0]) && plugin.settings.direction[0] < 0)

                ) && (

                    // and second entry is a valid date
                    (tmp_start_date = check_date(plugin.settings.direction[1])) ||
                    // or an integer >= 0
                    (is_integer(plugin.settings.direction[1]) && plugin.settings.direction[1] >= 0)

                ))

            ) {

                // figure out the ending date
                // use the Date object to normalize the date
                // for example, 2011 05 33 will be transformed to 2011 06 02
                end_date = new Date(
                    first_selectable_year,
                    first_selectable_month,
                    first_selectable_day + (!$.isArray(plugin.settings.direction) ? to_int(plugin.settings.direction) : to_int(plugin.settings.direction[0] === false ? 0 : plugin.settings.direction[0]))
                );

                // re-extract the date parts
                last_selectable_month = end_date.getMonth();
                last_selectable_year = end_date.getFullYear();
                last_selectable_day = end_date.getDate();

                // if an exact starting date was given, and the date is before the ending date, use that as a starting date
                if (tmp_start_date && +tmp_start_date < +end_date) start_date = tmp_start_date;

                // if have information about the starting date
                else if (!tmp_start_date && $.isArray(plugin.settings.direction))

                    // figure out the staring date
                    // use the Date object to normalize the date
                    // for example, 2011 05 33 will be transformed to 2011 06 02
                    start_date = new Date(
                        last_selectable_year,
                        last_selectable_month,
                        last_selectable_day - to_int(plugin.settings.direction[1])
                    );

                // if a valid starting date exists
                if (start_date) {

                    // extract the date parts
                    first_selectable_month = start_date.getMonth();
                    first_selectable_year = start_date.getFullYear();
                    first_selectable_day = start_date.getDate();

                }

            // if there are disabled dates
            } else if ($.isArray(plugin.settings.disabled_dates) && plugin.settings.disabled_dates.length > 0)

                // iterate through the rules for disabling dates
                for (var interval in disabled_dates)

                    // only if there is a rule that disables *everything*
                    if (disabled_dates[interval][0] == '*' && disabled_dates[interval][1] == '*' && disabled_dates[interval][2] == '*' && disabled_dates[interval][3] == '*') {

                        var tmpDates = [];

                        // iterate through the rules for enabling dates
                        // looking for the minimum/maximum selectable date (if it's the case)
                        $.each(enabled_dates, function() {

                            var rule = this;

                            // if the rule doesn't apply to all years
                            if (rule[2][0] != '*')

                                // format date and store it in our stack
                                tmpDates.push(parseInt(
                                    rule[2][0] +
                                    (rule[1][0] == '*' ? '12' : str_pad(rule[1][0], 2)) +
                                    (rule[0][0] == '*' ? (rule[1][0] == '*' ? '31' : new Date(rule[2][0], rule[1][0], 0).getDate()) : str_pad(rule[0][0], 2)), 10));

                        });

                        // sort dates ascending
                        tmpDates.sort();

                        // if we have any rules
                        if (tmpDates.length > 0) {

                            // get date parts
                            var matches = (tmpDates[0] + '').match(/([0-9]{4})([0-9]{2})([0-9]{2})/);

                            // assign the date parts to the appropriate variables
                            first_selectable_year = parseInt(matches[1], 10);
                            first_selectable_month = parseInt(matches[2], 10) - 1;
                            first_selectable_day = parseInt(matches[3], 10);

                        }

                        // don't look further
                        break;

                    }

            // if first selectable date exists but is disabled, find the actual first selectable date
            if (is_disabled(first_selectable_year, first_selectable_month, first_selectable_day)) {

                // loop until we find the first selectable year
                while (is_disabled(first_selectable_year)) {

                    // if calendar is past-only,
                    if (!start_date) {

                        // decrement the year
                        first_selectable_year--;

                        // because we've changed years, reset the month to December
                        first_selectable_month = 11;

                    // otherwise
                    } else {

                        // increment the year
                        first_selectable_year++;

                        // because we've changed years, reset the month to January
                        first_selectable_month = 0;

                    }

                }

                // loop until we find the first selectable month
                while (is_disabled(first_selectable_year, first_selectable_month)) {

                    // if calendar is past-only
                    if (!start_date) {

                        // decrement the month
                        first_selectable_month--;

                        // because we've changed months, reset the day to the last day of the month
                        first_selectable_day = new Date(first_selectable_year, first_selectable_month + 1, 0).getDate();

                    // otherwise
                    } else {

                        // increment the month
                        first_selectable_month++;

                        // because we've changed months, reset the day to the first day of the month
                        first_selectable_day = 1;

                    }

                    // if we moved to a following year
                    if (first_selectable_month > 11) {

                        // increment the year
                        first_selectable_year++;

                        // reset the month to January
                        first_selectable_month = 0;

                        // because we've changed months, reset the day to the first day of the month
                        first_selectable_day = 1;

                    // if we moved to a previous year
                    } else if (first_selectable_month < 0) {

                        // decrement the year
                        first_selectable_year--;

                        // reset the month to December
                        first_selectable_month = 11;

                        // because we've changed months, reset the day to the last day of the month
                        first_selectable_day = new Date(first_selectable_year, first_selectable_month + 1, 0).getDate();

                    }

                }

                // loop until we find the first selectable day
                while (is_disabled(first_selectable_year, first_selectable_month, first_selectable_day)) {

                    // if calendar is past-only, decrement the day
                    if (!start_date) first_selectable_day--;

                    // otherwise, increment the day
                    else first_selectable_day++;

                    // use the Date object to normalize the date
                    // for example, 2011 05 33 will be transformed to 2011 06 02
                    date = new Date(first_selectable_year, first_selectable_month, first_selectable_day);

                    // re-extract date parts from the normalized date
                    // as we use them in the current loop
                    first_selectable_year = date.getFullYear();
                    first_selectable_month = date.getMonth();
                    first_selectable_day = date.getDate();

                }

                // use the Date object to normalize the date
                // for example, 2011 05 33 will be transformed to 2011 06 02
                date = new Date(first_selectable_year, first_selectable_month, first_selectable_day);

                // re-extract date parts from the normalized date
                // as we use them in the current loop
                first_selectable_year = date.getFullYear();
                first_selectable_month = date.getMonth();
                first_selectable_day = date.getDate();

            }

            // get the default date, from the element, and check if it represents a valid date, according to the required format
            var default_date = check_date($element.val() || (plugin.settings.start_date ? plugin.settings.start_date : ''));

            // if there is a default date, date picker is in "strict" mode, and the default date is disabled
            if (default_date && plugin.settings.strict && is_disabled(default_date.getFullYear(), default_date.getMonth(), default_date.getDate()))

                // clear the value of the parent element
                $element.val('');

            // updates value for the date picker whose starting date depends on the selected date (if any)
            if (!update && (undefined !== start_date || undefined !== default_date))
                update_dependent(undefined !== default_date ? default_date : start_date);

            // if date picker is not always visible
            if (!plugin.settings.always_visible) {

                // if we're just creating the date picker
                if (!update) {

                    // if a calendar icon should be added to the element the plugin is attached to, create the icon now
                    if (plugin.settings.show_icon) {

                        // strangely, in Firefox 21+ (or maybe even earlier) input elements have their "display" property
                        // set to "inline" instead of "inline-block" as do all the other browsers.
                        // because this behavior brakes the positioning of the icon, we'll set the "display" property to
                        // "inline-block" before anything else;
                        if (browser.name == 'firefox' && $element.is('input[type="text"]') && $element.css('display') == 'inline') $element.css('display', 'inline-block');

                        // we create a wrapper for the parent element so that we can later position the icon
                        // also, make sure the wrapper inherits some important css properties of the parent element
                        var icon_wrapper = $('<span class="Zebra_DatePicker_Icon_Wrapper"></span>').css({
                            'display':  $element.css('display'),
                            'position': $element.css('position') == 'static' ? 'relative' : $element.css('position'),
                            'float':    $element.css('float'),
                            'top':      $element.css('top'),
                            'right':    $element.css('right'),
                            'bottom':   $element.css('bottom'),
                            'left':     $element.css('left')
                        });

                        // if parent element has its "display" property set to "block"
                        // the wrapper has to have its "width" set
                        if ($element.css('display') == 'block') icon_wrapper.css('width', $element.outerWidth(true));

                        // put wrapper around the element
                        // also, make sure we set some important css properties for it
                        $element.wrap(icon_wrapper).css({
                            'position': 'relative',
                            'top':      'auto',
                            'right':    'auto',
                            'bottom':   'auto',
                            'left':     'auto'
                        });

                        // create the actual calendar icon (show a disabled icon if the element is disabled)
                        icon = $('<button type="button" class="Zebra_DatePicker_Icon' + ($element.attr('disabled') == 'disabled' ? ' Zebra_DatePicker_Icon_Disabled' : '') + '">Pick a date</button>');

                        // a reference to the icon, as a global property
                        plugin.icon = icon;

                        // the date picker will open when clicking both the icon and the element the plugin is attached to
                        // (or the icon only, if set so)
                        clickables = plugin.settings.open_icon_only ? icon : icon.add($element);

                    // if calendar icon is not visible, the date picker will open when clicking the element
                    } else clickables = $element;

                    // attach the click event to the clickable elements (icon and/or element)
                    clickables.bind('click.Zebra_DatePicker_' + uniqueid, function(e) {

                        e.preventDefault();

                        // if element is not disabled
                        if (!$element.attr('disabled'))

                            // if the date picker is visible, hide it
                            if (datepicker.hasClass('dp_visible')) plugin.hide();

                            // if the date picker is not visible, show it
                            else plugin.show();

                    });

                    // if users can manually enter dates and a pair date element exists
                    if (!plugin.settings.readonly_element && plugin.settings.pair)

                        // whenever the element looses focus
                        $element.bind('blur.Zebra_DatePicker_' + uniqueid, function() {

                            var date;

                            // if a valid date was entered, update the paired date picker
                            if ((date = check_date($(this).val())) && !is_disabled(date.getFullYear(), date.getMonth(), date.getDate())) update_dependent(date);

                        });

                    // if icon exists, inject it into the DOM, right after the parent element (and inside the wrapper)
                    if (undefined !== icon) icon.insertAfter($element);

                }

                // if calendar icon exists
                if (undefined !== icon) {

                    // needed when updating: remove any inline style set previously by library,
                    // so we get the right values below
                    icon.attr('style', '');

                    // if calendar icon is to be placed *inside* the element
                    // add an extra class to the icon
                    if (plugin.settings.inside) icon.addClass('Zebra_DatePicker_Icon_Inside_' + (plugin.settings.icon_position == 'right' ? 'Right' : 'Left'));

                    var

                        // get element's width and height (including margins)
                        element_width = $element.outerWidth(),
                        element_height = $element.outerHeight(),
                        element_margin_left = parseInt($element.css('marginLeft'), 10) || 0,
                        element_margin_top = parseInt($element.css('marginTop'), 10) || 0,

                        // get icon's width, height and margins
                        icon_width = icon.outerWidth(),
                        icon_height = icon.outerHeight(),
                        icon_margin_left = parseInt(icon.css('marginLeft'), 10) || 0,
                        icon_margin_right = parseInt(icon.css('marginRight'), 10) || 0;

                    // if icon is to be placed *inside* the element
                    // position the icon accordingly
                    if (plugin.settings.inside) {

                        // set icon's top
                        icon.css('top', element_margin_top + ((element_height - icon_height) / 2));

                        // place icon to the right or to the left, according to the settings
                        if (plugin.settings.icon_position == 'right') icon.css('right', 0);
                        else icon.css('left', 0);

                    // if icon is to be placed to the right of the element
                    // position the icon accordingly
                    } else

                        icon.css({
                            'top':  element_margin_top + ((element_height - icon_height) / 2),
                            'left': element_margin_left + element_width + icon_margin_left
                        });

                    // assume the datepicker is not disabled
                    icon.removeClass(' Zebra_DatePicker_Icon_Disabled');

                    // if element the datepicker is attached to became disabled, disable the calendar icon, too
                    if ($element.attr('disabled') == 'disabled') icon.addClass('Zebra_DatePicker_Icon_Disabled');

                }

            }

            // if the "Today" button is to be shown and it makes sense to be shown
            // (the "days" view is available and "today" is not a disabled date)
            show_select_today = (plugin.settings.show_select_today !== false && $.inArray('days', views) > -1 && !is_disabled(current_system_year, current_system_month, current_system_day) ? plugin.settings.show_select_today : false);

            // if we just needed to recompute the things above
            if (update) {

                // make sure we update these strings, in case they've changed
                $('.dp_previous', datepicker).html(plugin.settings.header_navigation[0]);
                $('.dp_next', datepicker).html(plugin.settings.header_navigation[1]);
                $('.dp_clear', datepicker).html(plugin.settings.lang_clear_date);
                $('.dp_today', datepicker).html(plugin.settings.show_select_today);

                // don't go further
                return;

            }

            // update icon/date picker position on resize and/or changing orientation
            $(window).bind('resize.Zebra_DatePicker_' + uniqueid + ', orientationchange.Zebra_DatePicker_' + uniqueid, function() {

                // hide the date picker
                plugin.hide();

                // if the icon is visible, update its position as the parent element might have changed position
                if (icon !== undefined) {

                      // we use timeouts so that we do not call the "update" method on *every* step of the resize event

                      // clear a previously set timeout
                      clearTimeout(timeout);

                      // set timeout again
                      timeout = setTimeout(function() {

                          // update the date picker
                          plugin.update();

                      }, 100);

                }

            });

            // generate the container that will hold everything
            var html = '' +
                '<div class="Zebra_DatePicker">' +
                    '<table class="dp_header">' +
                        '<tr>' +
                            '<td class="dp_previous">' + plugin.settings.header_navigation[0] + '</td>' +
                            '<td class="dp_caption">&#032;</td>' +
                            '<td class="dp_next">' + plugin.settings.header_navigation[1] + '</td>' +
                        '</tr>' +
                    '</table>' +
                    '<table class="dp_daypicker"></table>' +
                    '<table class="dp_monthpicker"></table>' +
                    '<table class="dp_yearpicker"></table>' +
                    '<table class="dp_footer"><tr>' +
                        '<td class="dp_today"' + (plugin.settings.show_clear_date !== false ? ' style="width:50%"' : '') + '>' + show_select_today + '</td>' +
                        '<td class="dp_clear"' + (show_select_today !== false ? ' style="width:50%"' : '') + '>' + plugin.settings.lang_clear_date + '</td>' +
                    '</tr></table>' +
                '</div>';

            // create a jQuery object out of the HTML above and create a reference to it
            datepicker = $(html);

            // a reference to the calendar, as a global property
            plugin.datepicker = datepicker;

            // create references to the different parts of the date picker
            header = $('table.dp_header', datepicker);
            daypicker = $('table.dp_daypicker', datepicker);
            monthpicker = $('table.dp_monthpicker', datepicker);
            yearpicker = $('table.dp_yearpicker', datepicker);
            footer = $('table.dp_footer', datepicker);
            selecttoday = $('td.dp_today', footer);
            cleardate = $('td.dp_clear', footer);

            // if date picker is not always visible
            if (!plugin.settings.always_visible)

                // inject the container into the DOM
                plugin.settings.container.append(datepicker);

            // otherwise, if element is not disabled
            else if (!$element.attr('disabled')) {

                // inject the date picker into the designated container element
                plugin.settings.always_visible.append(datepicker);

                // and make it visible right away
                plugin.show();

            }

            // add the mouseover/mousevents to all to the date picker's cells
            // except those that are not selectable
            datepicker.
                delegate('td:not(.dp_disabled, .dp_weekend_disabled, .dp_not_in_month, .dp_week_number)', 'mouseover', function() {
                    $(this).addClass('dp_hover');
                }).
                delegate('td:not(.dp_disabled, .dp_weekend_disabled, .dp_not_in_month, .dp_week_number)', 'mouseout', function() {
                    $(this).removeClass('dp_hover');
                });

            // prevent text highlighting for the text in the header
            // (for the case when user keeps clicking the "next" and "previous" buttons)
            disable_text_select($('td', header));

            // event for when clicking the "previous" button
            $('.dp_previous', header).bind('click', function() {

                // if view is "months"
                // decrement year by one
                if (view == 'months') selected_year--;

                // if view is "years"
                // decrement years by 12
                else if (view == 'years') selected_year -= 12;

                // if view is "days"
                // decrement the month and
                // if month is out of range
                else if (--selected_month < 0) {

                    // go to the last month of the previous year
                    selected_month = 11;
                    selected_year--;

                }

                // generate the appropriate view
                manage_views();

            });

            // attach a click event to the caption in header
            $('.dp_caption', header).bind('click', function() {

                // if current view is "days", take the user to the next view, depending on the format
                if (view == 'days') view = ($.inArray('months', views) > -1 ? 'months' : ($.inArray('years', views) > -1 ? 'years' : 'days'));

                // if current view is "months", take the user to the next view, depending on the format
                else if (view == 'months') view = ($.inArray('years', views) > -1 ? 'years' : ($.inArray('days', views) > -1 ? 'days' : 'months'));

                // if current view is "years", take the user to the next view, depending on the format
                else view = ($.inArray('days', views) > -1 ? 'days' : ($.inArray('months', views) > -1 ? 'months' : 'years'));

                // generate the appropriate view
                manage_views();

            });

            // event for when clicking the "next" button
            $('.dp_next', header).bind('click', function() {

                // if view is "months"
                // increment year by 1
                if (view == 'months') selected_year++;

                // if view is "years"
                // increment years by 12
                else if (view == 'years') selected_year += 12;

                // if view is "days"
                // increment the month and
                // if month is out of range
                else if (++selected_month == 12) {

                    // go to the first month of the next year
                    selected_month = 0;
                    selected_year++;

                }

                // generate the appropriate view
                manage_views();

            });

            // attach a click event for the cells in the day picker
            daypicker.delegate('td:not(.dp_disabled, .dp_weekend_disabled, .dp_not_in_month, .dp_week_number)', 'click', function() {

                // if other months are selectable and currently clicked cell contains a class with the cell's date
                if (plugin.settings.select_other_months && $(this).attr('class') && null !== (matches = $(this).attr('class').match(/date\_([0-9]{4})(0[1-9]|1[012])(0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])/)))

                    // use the stored date
                    select_date(matches[1], matches[2] - 1, matches[3], 'days', $(this));

                // put selected date in the element the plugin is attached to, and hide the date picker
                else select_date(selected_year, selected_month, to_int($(this).html()), 'days', $(this));

            });

            // attach a click event for the cells in the month picker
            monthpicker.delegate('td:not(.dp_disabled)', 'click', function() {

                // get the month we've clicked on
                var matches = $(this).attr('class').match(/dp\_month\_([0-9]+)/);

                // set the selected month
                selected_month = to_int(matches[1]);

                // if user can select only years and months
                if ($.inArray('days', views) == -1)

                    // put selected date in the element the plugin is attached to, and hide the date picker
                    select_date(selected_year, selected_month, 1, 'months', $(this));

                else {

                    // direct the user to the "days" view
                    view = 'days';

                    // if date picker is always visible
                    // empty the value in the text box the date picker is attached to
                    if (plugin.settings.always_visible) $element.val('');

                    // generate the appropriate view
                    manage_views();

                }

            });

            // attach a click event for the cells in the year picker
            yearpicker.delegate('td:not(.dp_disabled)', 'click', function() {

                // set the selected year
                selected_year = to_int($(this).html());

                // if user can select only years
                if ($.inArray('months', views) == -1)

                    // put selected date in the element the plugin is attached to, and hide the date picker
                    select_date(selected_year, 1, 1, 'years', $(this));

                else {

                    // direct the user to the "months" view
                    view = 'months';

                    // if date picker is always visible
                    // empty the value in the text box the date picker is attached to
                    if (plugin.settings.always_visible) $element.val('');

                    // generate the appropriate view
                    manage_views();

                }

            });

            // function to execute when the "Today" button is clicked
            $(selecttoday).bind('click', function(e) {

                e.preventDefault();

                // select the current date
                select_date(current_system_year, current_system_month, current_system_day, 'days', $('.dp_current', daypicker));

                // if date picker is always visible
                if (plugin.settings.always_visible)

                    // repaint the datepicker so it centers on the currently selected date
                    plugin.show();

                // hide the date picker
                plugin.hide();

            });

            // function to execute when the "Clear" button is clicked
            $(cleardate).bind('click', function(e) {

                e.preventDefault();

                // clear the element's value
                $element.val('');

                // if date picker is not always visible
                if (!plugin.settings.always_visible) {

                    // reset these values
                    default_day = null; default_month = null; default_year = null; selected_month = null; selected_year = null;

                // if date picker is always visible
                } else {

                    // reset these values
                    default_day = null; default_month = null; default_year = null;

                    // remove the "selected" class from all cells that have it
                    $('td.dp_selected', datepicker).removeClass('dp_selected');

                }

                // hide the date picker
                plugin.hide();

                // if a callback function exists for when clearing a date
                if (plugin.settings.onClear && typeof plugin.settings.onClear == 'function')

                    // execute the callback function and pass as argument the element the plugin is attached to
                    plugin.settings.onClear.call($element, $element);

            });

            // if date picker is not always visible
            if (!plugin.settings.always_visible) {

                //whenever anything is clicked on the page
                $(document).bind('mousedown.Zebra_DatePicker_' + uniqueid + ', touchstart.Zebra_DatePicker_' + uniqueid, function(e) {

                    // if the date picker is visible
                    if (datepicker.hasClass('dp_visible')) {

                        // if the calendar icon is visible and we clicked it, let the onClick event of the icon to handle the event
                        // (we want it to toggle the date picker)
                        if (plugin.settings.show_icon && $(e.target).get(0) === icon.get(0)) return true;

                        // if what's clicked is not inside the date picker
                        // hide the date picker
                        if ($(e.target).parents().filter('.Zebra_DatePicker').length === 0) plugin.hide();

                    }

                });

                //whenever a key is pressed on the page
                $(document).bind('keyup.Zebra_DatePicker_' + uniqueid, function(e) {

                    // if the date picker is visible
                    // and the pressed key is ESC
                    // hide the date picker
                    if (datepicker.hasClass('dp_visible') && e.which == 27) plugin.hide();

                });

            }

            // last thing is to pre-render some of the date picker right away
            manage_views();

        };

        /**
         *  Clears the selected date.
         *
         *  @return void
         */
        plugin.clear_date = function() {

            $(cleardate).trigger('click');

        };

        /**
         *  Destroys the date picker.
         *
         *  @return void
         */
        plugin.destroy = function() {

            // remove the attached icon (if it exists)...
            if (undefined !== plugin.icon) plugin.icon.remove();

            // ...and the calendar
            plugin.datepicker.remove();

            // if calendar icon was shown and the date picker was not always visible,
            // also remove the wrapper needed for positioning it
            if (plugin.settings.show_icon && !plugin.settings.always_visible) $element.unwrap();

            // remove associated event handlers from the element
            $element.unbind('click.Zebra_DatePicker_' + uniqueid);
            $element.unbind('blur.Zebra_DatePicker_' + uniqueid);

            // remove associated event handlers from the document
            $(document).unbind('keyup.Zebra_DatePicker_' + uniqueid);
            $(document).unbind('mousedown.Zebra_DatePicker_' + uniqueid);
            $(window).unbind('resize.Zebra_DatePicker_' + uniqueid);
            $(window).unbind('orientationchange.Zebra_DatePicker_' + uniqueid);

            // remove association with the element
            $element.removeData('Zebra_DatePicker');

            // restore element's modified attributes
            $element.attr('readonly', original_attributes['readonly'] ? true : false);
            $element.attr('style', original_attributes['style'] ? original_attributes['style'] : '');

        };

        /**
         *  Hides the date picker.
         *
         *  @return void
         */
        plugin.hide = function() {

            // if date picker is not always visible
            if (!plugin.settings.always_visible) {

                // hide the iFrameShim in Internet Explorer 6
                iframeShim('hide');

                // hide the date picker
                datepicker.removeClass('dp_visible').addClass('dp_hidden');

                // if a callback function exists for when hiding the date picker
                if (plugin.settings.onClose && typeof plugin.settings.onClose == 'function')

                    // execute the callback function and pass as argument the element the plugin is attached to
                    plugin.settings.onClose.call($element, $element);
            }

        };

        /**
         *  Set the date picker's value
         *
         *  Must be in the format set by the "format" property!
         *
         *  @return void
         */
        plugin.set_date = function(date) {

            var dateObj;

            // if a valid date was entered, and date is not disabled
            if ((dateObj = check_date(date)) && !is_disabled(dateObj.getFullYear(), dateObj.getMonth(), dateObj.getDate())) {

                // set the element's value
                $element.val(date);

                // update the paired date picker (if any)
                update_dependent(dateObj);

            }

        };

        /**
         *  Shows the date picker.
         *
         *  @return void
         */
        plugin.show = function() {

            // always show the view defined in settings
            view = plugin.settings.view;

            // get the default date, from the element, and check if it represents a valid date, according to the required format
            var default_date = check_date($element.val() || (plugin.settings.start_date ? plugin.settings.start_date : ''));

            // if the value represents a valid date
            if (default_date) {

                // extract the date parts
                // we'll use these to highlight the default date in the date picker and as starting point to
                // what year and month to start the date picker with
                // why separate values? because selected_* will change as user navigates within the date picker
                default_month = default_date.getMonth();
                selected_month = default_date.getMonth();
                default_year = default_date.getFullYear();
                selected_year = default_date.getFullYear();
                default_day = default_date.getDate();

                // if the default date represents a disabled date
                if (is_disabled(default_year, default_month, default_day)) {

                    // if date picker is in "strict" mode, clear the value of the parent element
                    if (plugin.settings.strict) $element.val('');

                    // the calendar will start with the first selectable year/month
                    selected_month = first_selectable_month;
                    selected_year = first_selectable_year;

                }

            // if a default value is not available, or value does not represent a valid date
            } else {

                // the calendar will start with the first selectable year/month
                selected_month = first_selectable_month;
                selected_year = first_selectable_year;

            }

            // generate the appropriate view
            manage_views();

            // if date picker is not always visible and the calendar icon is visible
            if (!plugin.settings.always_visible) {

                // if date picker is to be injected into the <body>
                if (plugin.settings.container.is('body')) {

                    var

                        // get the date picker width and height
                        datepicker_width = datepicker.outerWidth(),
                        datepicker_height = datepicker.outerHeight(),

                        // compute the date picker's default left and top
                        // this will be computed relative to the icon's top-right corner (if the calendar icon exists), or
                        // relative to the element's top-right corner otherwise, to which the offsets given at initialization
                        // are added/subtracted
                        left = (undefined !== icon ? icon.offset().left + icon.outerWidth(true) : $element.offset().left + $element.outerWidth(true)) + plugin.settings.offset[0],
                        top = (undefined !== icon ? icon.offset().top : $element.offset().top) - datepicker_height + plugin.settings.offset[1],

                        // get browser window's width and height
                        window_width = $(window).width(),
                        window_height = $(window).height(),

                        // get browser window's horizontal and vertical scroll offsets
                        window_scroll_top = $(window).scrollTop(),
                        window_scroll_left = $(window).scrollLeft();

                    if (plugin.settings.default_position == 'below')
                        top = (undefined !== icon ? icon.offset().top : $element.offset().top) + plugin.settings.offset[1];

                    // if date picker is outside the viewport, adjust its position so that it is visible
                    if (left + datepicker_width > window_scroll_left + window_width) left = window_scroll_left + window_width - datepicker_width;
                    if (left < window_scroll_left) left = window_scroll_left;

                    if (top + datepicker_height > window_scroll_top + window_height) top = window_scroll_top + window_height - datepicker_height;
                    if (top < window_scroll_top) top = window_scroll_top;

                    // make the date picker visible
                    datepicker.css({
                        'left': left,
                        'top':  top
                    });

                // if date picker is to be injected into a custom container element
                } else

                    datepicker.css({
                        'left': 0,
                        'top':  0
                    });

                // fade-in the date picker
                // for Internet Explorer < 9 show the date picker instantly or fading alters the font's weight
                datepicker.removeClass('dp_hidden').addClass('dp_visible');

                // show the iFrameShim in Internet Explorer 6
                iframeShim();

            // if date picker is always visible, show it
            } else datepicker.removeClass('dp_hidden').addClass('dp_visible');

            // if a callback function exists for when showing the date picker
            if (plugin.settings.onOpen && typeof plugin.settings.onOpen == 'function')

                // execute the callback function and pass as argument the element the plugin is attached to
                plugin.settings.onOpen.call($element, $element);

        };

        /**
         *  Updates the configuration options given as argument
         *
         *  @param  object  values  An object containing any number of configuration options to be updated
         *
         *  @return void
         */
        plugin.update = function(values) {

            // if original direction not saved, save it now
            if (plugin.original_direction) plugin.original_direction = plugin.direction;

            // update configuration options
            plugin.settings = $.extend(plugin.settings, values);

            // reinitialize the object with the new options
            init(true);

        };

        /**
         *  Checks if a string represents a valid date according to the format defined by the "format" property.
         *
         *  @param  string  str_date    A string representing a date, formatted accordingly to the "format" property.
         *                              For example, if "format" is "Y-m-d" the string should look like "2011-06-01"
         *
         *  @return mixed               Returns a JavaScript Date object if string represents a valid date according
         *                              formatted according to the "format" property, or FALSE otherwise.
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var check_date = function(str_date) {

            // treat argument as a string
            str_date += '';

            // if value is given
            if ($.trim(str_date) !== '') {

                var

                    // prepare the format by removing white space from it
                    // and also escape characters that could have special meaning in a regular expression
                    format = escape_regexp(plugin.settings.format),

                    // allowed characters in date's format
                    format_chars = ['d','D','j','l','N','S','w','F','m','M','n','Y','y'],

                    // "matches" will contain the characters defining the date's format
                    matches = [],

                    // "regexp" will contain the regular expression built for each of the characters used in the date's format
                    regexp = [],

                    // "position" will contain the position of the caracter found in the date's format
                    position = null,

                    // "segments" will contain the matches of the regular expression
                    segments = null;

                // iterate through the allowed characters in date's format
                for (var i = 0; i < format_chars.length; i++)

                    // if character is found in the date's format
                    if ((position = format.indexOf(format_chars[i])) > -1)

                        // save it, alongside the character's position
                        matches.push({character: format_chars[i], position: position});

                // sort characters defining the date's format based on their position, ascending
                matches.sort(function(a, b){ return a.position - b.position; });

                // iterate through the characters defining the date's format
                $.each(matches, function(index, match) {

                    // add to the array of regular expressions, based on the character
                    switch (match.character) {

                        case 'd': regexp.push('0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01]'); break;
                        case 'D': regexp.push('[a-z]{3}'); break;
                        case 'j': regexp.push('[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01]'); break;
                        case 'l': regexp.push('[a-z]+'); break;
                        case 'N': regexp.push('[1-7]'); break;
                        case 'S': regexp.push('st|nd|rd|th'); break;
                        case 'w': regexp.push('[0-6]'); break;
                        case 'F': regexp.push('[a-z]+'); break;
                        case 'm': regexp.push('0[1-9]|1[012]+'); break;
                        case 'M': regexp.push('[a-z]{3}'); break;
                        case 'n': regexp.push('[1-9]|1[012]'); break;
                        case 'Y': regexp.push('[0-9]{4}'); break;
                        case 'y': regexp.push('[0-9]{2}'); break;

                    }

                });

                // if we have an array of regular expressions
                if (regexp.length) {

                    // we will replace characters in the date's format in reversed order
                    matches.reverse();

                    // iterate through the characters in date's format
                    $.each(matches, function(index, match) {

                        // replace each character with the appropriate regular expression
                        format = format.replace(match.character, '(' + regexp[regexp.length - index - 1] + ')');

                    });

                    // the final regular expression
                    regexp = new RegExp('^' + format + '$', 'ig');

                    // if regular expression was matched
                    if ((segments = regexp.exec(str_date))) {

                        // check if date is a valid date (i.e. there's no February 31)

                        var tmpdate = new Date(),
                            original_day = 1,
                            original_month = tmpdate.getMonth() + 1,
                            original_year = tmpdate.getFullYear(),
                            english_days   = ['Sunday','Monday','Tuesday','Wednesday','Thursday','Friday','Saturday'],
                            english_months = ['January','February','March','April','May','June','July','August','September','October','November','December'],
                            iterable,

                            // by default, we assume the date is valid
                            valid = true;

                        // reverse back the characters in the date's format
                        matches.reverse();

                        // iterate through the characters in the date's format
                        $.each(matches, function(index, match) {

                            // if the date is not valid, don't look further
                            if (!valid) return true;

                            // based on the character
                            switch (match.character) {

                                case 'm':
                                case 'n':

                                    // extract the month from the value entered by the user
                                    original_month = to_int(segments[index + 1]);

                                    break;

                                case 'd':
                                case 'j':

                                    // extract the day from the value entered by the user
                                    original_day = to_int(segments[index + 1]);

                                    break;

                                case 'D':
                                case 'l':
                                case 'F':
                                case 'M':

                                    // if day is given as day name, we'll check against the names in the used language
                                    if (match.character == 'D' || match.character == 'l') iterable = plugin.settings.days;

                                    // if month is given as month name, we'll check against the names in the used language
                                    else iterable = plugin.settings.months;

                                    // by default, we assume the day or month was not entered correctly
                                    valid = false;

                                    // iterate through the month/days in the used language
                                    $.each(iterable, function(key, value) {

                                        // if month/day was entered correctly, don't look further
                                        if (valid) return true;

                                        // if month/day was entered correctly
                                        if (segments[index + 1].toLowerCase() == value.substring(0, (match.character == 'D' || match.character == 'M' ? 3 : value.length)).toLowerCase()) {

                                            // extract the day/month from the value entered by the user
                                            switch (match.character) {

                                                case 'D': segments[index + 1] = english_days[key].substring(0, 3); break;
                                                case 'l': segments[index + 1] = english_days[key]; break;
                                                case 'F': segments[index + 1] = english_months[key]; original_month = key + 1; break;
                                                case 'M': segments[index + 1] = english_months[key].substring(0, 3); original_month = key + 1; break;

                                            }

                                            // day/month value is valid
                                            valid = true;

                                        }

                                    });

                                    break;

                                case 'Y':

                                    // extract the year from the value entered by the user
                                    original_year = to_int(segments[index + 1]);

                                    break;

                                case 'y':

                                    // extract the year from the value entered by the user
                                    original_year = '19' + to_int(segments[index + 1]);

                                    break;

                            }
                        });

                        // if everything is ok so far
                        if (valid) {

                            // generate a Date object using the values entered by the user
                            // (handle also the case when original_month and/or original_day are undefined - i.e date format is "Y-m" or "Y")
                            var date = new Date(original_year, (original_month || 1) - 1, original_day || 1);

                            // if, after that, the date is the same as the date entered by the user
                            if (date.getFullYear() == original_year && date.getDate() == (original_day || 1) && date.getMonth() == ((original_month || 1) - 1))

                                // return the date as JavaScript date object
                                return date;

                        }

                    }

                }

                // if script gets this far, return false as something must've went wrong
                return false;

            }

        };

        /**
         *  Prevents the possibility of selecting text on a given element. Used on the "previous" and "next" buttons
         *  where text might get accidentally selected when user quickly clicks on the buttons.
         *
         *  Code by http://chris-barr.com/index.php/entry/disable_text_selection_with_jquery/
         *
         *  @param  jQuery Element  el  A jQuery element on which to prevents text selection.
         *
         *  @return void
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var disable_text_select = function(el) {

            // if browser is Firefox
            if (browser.name == 'firefox') el.css('MozUserSelect', 'none');

            // if browser is Internet Explorer
            else if (browser.name == 'explorer') el.bind('selectstart', function() { return false; });

            // for the other browsers
            else el.mousedown(function() { return false; });

        };

        /**
         *  Escapes special characters in a string, preparing it for use in a regular expression.
         *
         *  @param  string  str     The string in which special characters should be escaped.
         *
         *  @return string          Returns the string with escaped special characters.
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var escape_regexp = function(str) {

            // return string with special characters escaped
            return str.replace(/([-.,*+?^${}()|[\]\/\\])/g, '\\$1');

        };

        /**
         *  Formats a JavaScript date object to the format specified by the "format" property.
         *  Code taken from http://electricprism.com/aeron/calendar/
         *
         *  @param  date    date    A valid JavaScript date object
         *
         *  @return string          Returns a string containing the formatted date
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var format = function(date) {

            var result = '',

                // extract parts of the date:
                // day number, 1 - 31
                j = date.getDate(),

                // day of the week, 0 - 6, Sunday - Saturday
                w = date.getDay(),

                // the name of the day of the week Sunday - Saturday
                l = plugin.settings.days[w],

                // the month number, 1 - 12
                n = date.getMonth() + 1,

                // the month name, January - December
                f = plugin.settings.months[n - 1],

                // the year (as a string)
                y = date.getFullYear() + '';

            // iterate through the characters in the format
            for (var i = 0; i < plugin.settings.format.length; i++) {

                // extract the current character
                var chr = plugin.settings.format.charAt(i);

                // see what character it is
                switch(chr) {

                    // year as two digits
                    case 'y': y = y.substr(2);

                    // year as four digits
                    case 'Y': result += y; break;

                    // month number, prefixed with 0
                    case 'm': n = str_pad(n, 2);

                    // month number, not prefixed with 0
                    case 'n': result += n; break;

                    // month name, three letters
                    case 'M': f = ($.isArray(plugin.settings.months_abbr) && undefined !== plugin.settings.months_abbr[n - 1] ? plugin.settings.months_abbr[n - 1] : plugin.settings.months[n - 1].substr(0, 3));

                    // full month name
                    case 'F': result += f; break;

                    // day number, prefixed with 0
                    case 'd': j = str_pad(j, 2);

                    // day number not prefixed with 0
                    case 'j': result += j; break;

                    // day name, three letters
                    case 'D': l = ($.isArray(plugin.settings.days_abbr) && undefined !== plugin.settings.days_abbr[w] ? plugin.settings.days_abbr[w] : plugin.settings.days[w].substr(0, 3));

                    // full day name
                    case 'l': result += l; break;

                    // ISO-8601 numeric representation of the day of the week, 1 - 7
                    case 'N': w++;

                    // day of the week, 0 - 6
                    case 'w': result += w; break;

                    // English ordinal suffix for the day of the month, 2 characters
                    // (st, nd, rd or th (works well with j))
                    case 'S':

                        if (j % 10 == 1 && j != '11') result += 'st';

                        else if (j % 10 == 2 && j != '12') result += 'nd';

                        else if (j % 10 == 3 && j != '13') result += 'rd';

                        else result += 'th';

                        break;

                    // this is probably the separator
                    default: result += chr;

                }

            }

            // return formated date
            return result;

        };

        /**
         *  Generates the day picker view, and displays it
         *
         *  @return void
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var generate_daypicker = function() {

            var

                // get the number of days in the selected month
                days_in_month = new Date(selected_year, selected_month + 1, 0).getDate(),

                // get the selected month's starting day (from 0 to 6)
                first_day = new Date(selected_year, selected_month, 1).getDay(),

                // how many days are there in the previous month
                days_in_previous_month = new Date(selected_year, selected_month, 0).getDate(),

                // how many days are there to be shown from the previous month
                days_from_previous_month = first_day - plugin.settings.first_day_of_week;

            // the final value of how many days are there to be shown from the previous month
            days_from_previous_month = days_from_previous_month < 0 ? 7 + days_from_previous_month : days_from_previous_month;

            // manage header caption and enable/disable navigation buttons if necessary
            manage_header(plugin.settings.header_captions['days']);

            // start generating the HTML
            var html = '<tr>';

            // if a column featuring the number of the week is to be shown
            if (plugin.settings.show_week_number)

                // column title
                html += '<th>' + plugin.settings.show_week_number + '</th>';

            // name of week days
            // show the abbreviated day names (or only the first two letters of the full name if no abbreviations are specified)
            // and also, take in account the value of the "first_day_of_week" property
            for (var i = 0; i < 7; i++)

                html += '<th>' + ($.isArray(plugin.settings.days_abbr) && undefined !== plugin.settings.days_abbr[(plugin.settings.first_day_of_week + i) % 7] ? plugin.settings.days_abbr[(plugin.settings.first_day_of_week + i) % 7] : plugin.settings.days[(plugin.settings.first_day_of_week + i) % 7].substr(0, 2)) + '</th>';

            html += '</tr><tr>';

            // the calendar shows a total of 42 days
            for (i = 0; i < 42; i++) {

                // seven days per row
                if (i > 0 && i % 7 === 0) html += '</tr><tr>';

                // if week number is to be shown
                if (i % 7 === 0 && plugin.settings.show_week_number)

                    // show ISO 8601 week number
                    html += '<td class="dp_week_number">' + getWeekNumber(new Date(selected_year, selected_month, (i - days_from_previous_month + 1))) + '</td>';

                // the number of the day in month
                var day = (i - days_from_previous_month + 1);

                // if dates in previous/next month can be selected, and this is one of those days
                if (plugin.settings.select_other_months && (i < days_from_previous_month || day > days_in_month)) {

                    // use the Date object to normalize the date
                    // for example, 2011 05 33 will be transformed to 2011 06 02
                    var real_date = new Date(selected_year, selected_month, day),
                        real_year = real_date.getFullYear(),
                        real_month = real_date.getMonth(),
                        real_day = real_date.getDate();

                    // extract normalized date parts and merge them
                    real_date =  real_year + str_pad(real_month + 1, 2) + str_pad(real_day, 2);

                }

                // if this is a day from the previous month
                if (i < days_from_previous_month)

                    html += '<td class="' + (plugin.settings.select_other_months && !is_disabled(real_year, real_month, real_day) ? 'dp_not_in_month_selectable date_' + real_date : 'dp_not_in_month') + '">' + (plugin.settings.select_other_months || plugin.settings.show_other_months ? str_pad(days_in_previous_month - days_from_previous_month + i + 1, plugin.settings.zero_pad ? 2 : 0) : '&nbsp;') + '</td>';

                // if this is a day from the next month
                else if (day > days_in_month)

                    html += '<td class="' + (plugin.settings.select_other_months && !is_disabled(real_year, real_month, real_day) ? 'dp_not_in_month_selectable date_' + real_date : 'dp_not_in_month') + '">' + (plugin.settings.select_other_months || plugin.settings.show_other_months ? str_pad(day - days_in_month, plugin.settings.zero_pad ? 2 : 0) : '&nbsp;') + '</td>';

                // if this is a day from the current month
                else {

                    var

                        // get the week day (0 to 6, Sunday to Saturday)
                        weekday = (plugin.settings.first_day_of_week + i) % 7,

                        class_name = '',

                        // custom class, if any
                        custom_class_name = get_custom_class(selected_year, selected_month, day);

                    // if date needs to be disabled
                    if (is_disabled(selected_year, selected_month, day)) {

                        // if day is in weekend
                        if ($.inArray(weekday, plugin.settings.weekend_days) > -1) class_name = 'dp_weekend_disabled';

                        // if work day
                        else class_name += ' dp_disabled';

                        // highlight the current system date
                        if (selected_month == current_system_month && selected_year == current_system_year && current_system_day == day) class_name += ' dp_disabled_current';

                        // apply custom class, with the "_disabled" suffix, if a custom class exists
                        if (custom_class_name != '') class_name += ' ' + custom_class_name + '_disabled';

                    // if there are no restrictions
                    } else {

                        // if day is in weekend
                        if ($.inArray(weekday, plugin.settings.weekend_days) > -1) class_name = 'dp_weekend';

                        // highlight the currently selected date
                        if (selected_month == default_month && selected_year == default_year && default_day == day) class_name += ' dp_selected';

                        // highlight the current system date
                        if (selected_month == current_system_month && selected_year == current_system_year && current_system_day == day) class_name += ' dp_current';

                        // apply custom class, if a custom class exists
                        if (custom_class_name != '') class_name += ' ' + custom_class_name;

                    }

                    // print the day of the month (if "day" is NaN, use an empty string instead)
                    html += '<td' + (class_name !== '' ? ' class="' + $.trim(class_name) + '"' : '') + '>' + ((plugin.settings.zero_pad ? str_pad(day, 2) : day) || '&nbsp;') + '</td>';

                }

            }

            // wrap up generating the day picker
            html += '</tr>';

            // inject the day picker into the DOM
            daypicker.html($(html));

            // if date picker is always visible
            if (plugin.settings.always_visible)

                // cache all the cells
                // (we need them so that we can easily remove the "dp_selected" class from all of them when user selects a date)
                daypicker_cells = $('td:not(.dp_disabled, .dp_weekend_disabled, .dp_not_in_month, .dp_week_number)', daypicker);

            // make the day picker visible
            daypicker.show();

        };

        /**
         *  Generates the month picker view, and displays it
         *
         *  @return void
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var generate_monthpicker = function() {

            // manage header caption and enable/disable navigation buttons if necessary
            manage_header(plugin.settings.header_captions['months']);

            // start generating the HTML
            var html = '<tr>';

            // iterate through all the months
            for (var i = 0; i < 12; i++) {

                // three month per row
                if (i > 0 && i % 3 === 0) html += '</tr><tr>';

                var class_name = 'dp_month_' + i;

                // if month needs to be disabled
                if (is_disabled(selected_year, i)) class_name += ' dp_disabled';

                // else, if a date is already selected and this is that particular month, highlight it
                else if (default_month !== false && default_month == i && selected_year == default_year) class_name += ' dp_selected';

                // else, if this the current system month, highlight it
                else if (current_system_month == i && current_system_year == selected_year) class_name += ' dp_current';

                // first three letters of the month's name
                html += '<td class="' + $.trim(class_name) + '">' + ($.isArray(plugin.settings.months_abbr) && undefined !== plugin.settings.months_abbr[i] ? plugin.settings.months_abbr[i] : plugin.settings.months[i].substr(0, 3)) + '</td>';

            }

            // wrap up
            html += '</tr>';

            // inject into the DOM
            monthpicker.html($(html));

            // if date picker is always visible
            if (plugin.settings.always_visible)

                // cache all the cells
                // (we need them so that we can easily remove the "dp_selected" class from all of them when user selects a month)
                monthpicker_cells = $('td:not(.dp_disabled)', monthpicker);

            // make the month picker visible
            monthpicker.show();

        };

        /**
         *  Generates the year picker view, and displays it
         *
         *  @return void
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var generate_yearpicker = function() {

            // manage header caption and enable/disable navigation buttons if necessary
            manage_header(plugin.settings.header_captions['years']);

            // start generating the HTML
            var html = '<tr>';

            // we're showing 9 years at a time, current year in the middle
            for (var i = 0; i < 12; i++) {

                // three years per row
                if (i > 0 && i % 3 === 0) html += '</tr><tr>';

                var class_name = '';

                // if year needs to be disabled
                if (is_disabled(selected_year - 7 + i)) class_name += ' dp_disabled';

                // else, if a date is already selected and this is that particular year, highlight it
                else if (default_year && default_year == selected_year - 7 + i) class_name += ' dp_selected';

                // else, if this is the current system year, highlight it
                else if (current_system_year == (selected_year - 7 + i)) class_name += ' dp_current';

                // first three letters of the month's name
                html += '<td' + ($.trim(class_name) !== '' ? ' class="' + $.trim(class_name) + '"' : '') + '>' + (selected_year - 7 + i) + '</td>';

            }

            // wrap up
            html += '</tr>';

            // inject into the DOM
            yearpicker.html($(html));

            // if date picker is always visible
            if (plugin.settings.always_visible)

                // cache all the cells
                // (we need them so that we can easily remove the "dp_selected" class from all of them when user selects a year)
                yearpicker_cells = $('td:not(.dp_disabled)', yearpicker);

            // make the year picker visible
            yearpicker.show();

        };

        /**
         *  Return the name of a custom class to be applied to the given date.
         *
         *  @return string  The name of a custom class to be applied to the given date, or an empty string if no custom
         *                  class needs to be applied.
         *
         *  @param  integer     year    The year to check
         *  @param  integer     month   The month to check
         *  @param  integer     day     The day to check
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var get_custom_class = function(year, month, day) {

            var class_name, i, found;

            // if month is given as argument, increment it (as JavaScript uses 0 for January, 1 for February...)
            if (typeof month != 'undefined') month = month + 1;

            // iterate through the custom classes
            for (i in custom_class_names) {

                // the class name we're currently checking
                class_name = custom_class_names[i]; found = false;

                // if there are any custom classes defined
                if ($.isArray(custom_classes[class_name]))

                    // iterate through the rules for which the custom class to be applied
                    $.each(custom_classes[class_name], function() {
    
                        // if a custom class needs to be applied to the date we're checking, don't look further
                        if (found) return;
    
                        var rule = this;
    
                        // if the rules apply for the current year
                        if ($.inArray(year, rule[2]) > -1 || $.inArray('*', rule[2]) > -1)
    
                            // if the rules apply for the current month
                            if ((typeof month != 'undefined' && $.inArray(month, rule[1]) > -1) || $.inArray('*', rule[1]) > -1)
    
                                // if the rules apply for the current day
                                if ((typeof day != 'undefined' && $.inArray(day, rule[0]) > -1) || $.inArray('*', rule[0]) > -1) {
    
                                    // if custom class is to be applied whatever the day
                                    // don't look any further
                                    if (rule[3] == '*') return (found = class_name);
    
                                    // get the weekday
                                    var weekday = new Date(year, month - 1, day).getDay();
    
                                    // if custom class is to be applied to weekday 
                                    // don't look any further
                                    if ($.inArray(weekday, rule[3]) > -1) return (found = class_name);
    
                                }
    
                    });

                // if a custom class needs to be applied to the date we're checking, don't look further
                if (found) return found;

            }

            // return what we've found
            return found || '';

        };

        /**
         *  Generates an iFrame shim in Internet Explorer 6 so that the date picker appears above select boxes.
         *
         *  @return void
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var iframeShim = function(action) {

            // this is necessary only if browser is Internet Explorer 6
            if (browser.name == 'explorer' && browser.version == 6) {

                // if the iFrame was not yet created
                // "undefined" evaluates as FALSE
                if (!shim) {

                    // the iFrame has to have the element's zIndex minus 1
                    var zIndex = to_int(datepicker.css('zIndex')) - 1;

                    // create the iFrame
                    shim = $('<iframe>', {
                        'src':                  'javascript:document.write("")',
                        'scrolling':            'no',
                        'frameborder':          0,
                        css: {
                            'zIndex':       zIndex,
                            'position':     'absolute',
                            'top':          -1000,
                            'left':         -1000,
                            'width':        datepicker.outerWidth(),
                            'height':       datepicker.outerHeight(),
                            'filter':       'progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Alpha(opacity=0)',
                            'display':      'none'
                        }
                    });

                    // inject iFrame into DOM
                    $('body').append(shim);

                }

                // what do we need to do
                switch (action) {

                    // hide the iFrame?
                    case 'hide':

                        // set the iFrame's display property to "none"
                        shim.hide();

                        break;

                    // show the iFrame?
                    default:

                        // get date picker top and left position
                        var offset = datepicker.offset();

                        // position the iFrame shim right underneath the date picker
                        // and set its display to "block"
                        shim.css({
                            'top':      offset.top,
                            'left':     offset.left,
                            'display':  'block'
                        });

                }

            }

        };

        /**
         *  Checks if, according to the restrictions of the calendar and/or the values defined by the "disabled_dates"
         *  property, a day, a month or a year needs to be disabled.
         *
         *  @param  integer     year    The year to check
         *  @param  integer     month   The month to check
         *  @param  integer     day     The day to check
         *
         *  @return boolean         Returns TRUE if the given value is not disabled or FALSE otherwise
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var is_disabled = function(year, month, day) {

            // don't check bogus values
            if ((undefined === year || isNaN(year)) && (undefined === month || isNaN(month)) && (undefined === day || isNaN(day))) return false;

            // this date picker cannot handle years before 1000, so we return false in this case
            else if (year < 1000) return true;

            // if calendar has direction restrictions
            if (!(!$.isArray(plugin.settings.direction) && to_int(plugin.settings.direction) === 0)) {

                var
                    // normalize and merge arguments then transform the result to an integer
                    now = to_int(str_concat(year, (typeof month != 'undefined' ? str_pad(month, 2) : ''), (typeof day != 'undefined' ? str_pad(day, 2) : ''))),

                    // get the length of the argument
                    len = (now + '').length;

                // if we're checking days
                if (len == 8 && (

                    // day is before the first selectable date
                    (typeof start_date != 'undefined' && now < to_int(str_concat(first_selectable_year, str_pad(first_selectable_month, 2), str_pad(first_selectable_day, 2)))) ||

                    // or day is after the last selectable date
                    (typeof end_date != 'undefined' && now > to_int(str_concat(last_selectable_year, str_pad(last_selectable_month, 2), str_pad(last_selectable_day, 2))))

                // day needs to be disabled
                )) return true;

                // if we're checking months
                else if (len == 6 && (

                    // month is before the first selectable month
                    (typeof start_date != 'undefined' && now < to_int(str_concat(first_selectable_year, str_pad(first_selectable_month, 2)))) ||

                    // or day is after the last selectable date
                    (typeof end_date != 'undefined' && now > to_int(str_concat(last_selectable_year, str_pad(last_selectable_month, 2))))

                // month needs to be disabled
                )) return true;

                // if we're checking years
                else if (len == 4 && (

                    // year is before the first selectable year
                    (typeof start_date != 'undefined' && now < first_selectable_year) ||

                    // or day is after the last selectable date
                    (typeof end_date != 'undefined'  && now > last_selectable_year)

                // year needs to be disabled
                )) return true;

            }

            // if month is given as argument, increment it (as JavaScript uses 0 for January, 1 for February...)
            if (typeof month != 'undefined') month = month + 1;

            // by default, we assume the day/month/year is not enabled nor disabled
            var disabled = false, enabled = false;

            // if there are rules for disabling dates
            if ($.isArray(disabled_dates) && disabled_dates.length)

                // iterate through the rules for disabling dates
                $.each(disabled_dates, function() {

                    // if the date is to be disabled, don't look any further
                    if (disabled) return;

                    var rule = this;

                    // if the rules apply for the current year
                    if ($.inArray(year, rule[2]) > -1 || $.inArray('*', rule[2]) > -1)

                        // if the rules apply for the current month
                        if ((typeof month != 'undefined' && $.inArray(month, rule[1]) > -1) || $.inArray('*', rule[1]) > -1)

                            // if the rules apply for the current day
                            if ((typeof day != 'undefined' && $.inArray(day, rule[0]) > -1) || $.inArray('*', rule[0]) > -1) {

                                // if day is to be disabled whatever the day
                                // don't look any further
                                if (rule[3] == '*') return (disabled = true);

                                // get the weekday
                                var weekday = new Date(year, month - 1, day).getDay();

                                // if weekday is to be disabled
                                // don't look any further
                                if ($.inArray(weekday, rule[3]) > -1) return (disabled = true);

                            }

                });

            // if there are rules that explicitly enable dates
            if (enabled_dates)

                // iterate through the rules for enabling dates
                $.each(enabled_dates, function() {

                    // if the date is to be enabled, don't look any further
                    if (enabled) return;

                    var rule = this;

                    // if the rules apply for the current year
                    if ($.inArray(year, rule[2]) > -1 || $.inArray('*', rule[2]) > -1) {

                        // the year is enabled
                        enabled = true;

                        // if we're also checking months
                        if (typeof month != 'undefined') {

                            // we assume the month is enabled
                            enabled = true;

                            // if the rules apply for the current month
                            if ($.inArray(month, rule[1]) > -1 || $.inArray('*', rule[1]) > -1) {

                                // if we're also checking days
                                if (typeof day != 'undefined') {

                                    // we assume the day is enabled
                                    enabled = true;

                                    // if the rules apply for the current day
                                    if ($.inArray(day, rule[0]) > -1 || $.inArray('*', rule[0]) > -1) {

                                        // if day is to be enabled whatever the day
                                        // don't look any further
                                        if (rule[3] == '*') return (enabled = true);

                                        // get the weekday
                                        var weekday = new Date(year, month - 1, day).getDay();

                                        // if weekday is to be enabled
                                        // don't look any further
                                        if ($.inArray(weekday, rule[3]) > -1) return (enabled = true);

                                        // if we get this far, it means the day is not enabled
                                        enabled = false;

                                    // if day is not enabled
                                    } else enabled = false;

                                }

                            // if month is not enabled
                            } else enabled = false;

                        }

                    }

                });

            // if checked date is enabled, return false
            if (enabled_dates && enabled) return false;

            // if checked date is disabled return false
            else if (disabled_dates && disabled) return true;

            // if script gets this far it means that the day/month/year doesn't need to be disabled
            return false;

        };

        /**
         *  Checks whether a value is an integer number.
         *
         *  @param  mixed   value   Value to check
         *
         *  @return                 Returns TRUE if the value represents an integer number, or FALSE otherwise
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var is_integer = function(value) {

            // return TRUE if value represents an integer number, or FALSE otherwise
            return (value + '').match(/^\-?[0-9]+$/) ? true : false;

        };

        /**
         *  Sets the caption in the header of the date picker and enables or disables navigation buttons when necessary.
         *
         *  @param  string  caption     String that needs to be displayed in the header
         *
         *  @return void
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var manage_header = function(caption) {

            // if "selected_month" has a value
            // $.isNumeric is available only from jQuery 1.7 - thanks to birla for the fix!
            if (!isNaN(parseFloat(selected_month)) && isFinite(selected_month))

                caption = caption.replace(/\bm\b|\bn\b|\bF\b|\bM\b/, function (match) {

                    switch (match) {

                        // month number, prefixed with 0
                        case 'm':
                            return str_pad(selected_month + 1, 2);

                        // month number, not prefixed with 0
                        case 'n':
                            return selected_month + 1;

                        // full month name
                        case 'F':
                            return plugin.settings.months[selected_month];

                        // month name, three letters
                        case 'M':
                            return ($.isArray(plugin.settings.months_abbr) && undefined !== plugin.settings.months_abbr[selected_month] ? plugin.settings.months_abbr[selected_month] : plugin.settings.months[selected_month].substr(0, 3));

                        // unknown replace
                        default:
                            return match;

                    }

                });

            // if "selected_year" has a value
            // $.isNumeric is available only from jQuery 1.7 - thanks to birla for the fix!
            if (!isNaN(parseFloat(selected_year)) && isFinite(selected_year))

                // replace year-related patterns
                caption =

                    caption.

                    // year as four digits
                    replace(/\bY\b/, selected_year).

                    // year as two digits
                    replace(/\by\b/, (selected_year + '').substr(2)).

                    // lower limit of year as two or four digits
                    replace(/\bY1\b/i, selected_year - 7).

                    // upper limit of year as two or four digits
                    replace(/\bY2\b/i, selected_year + 4);

            // update the caption in the header
            $('.dp_caption', header).html(caption);

        };

        /**
         *  Shows the appropriate view (days, months or years) according to the current value of the "view" property.
         *
         *  @return void
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var manage_views = function() {

            // if the day picker was not yet generated
            if (daypicker.text() === '' || view == 'days') {

                // if the day picker was not yet generated
                if (daypicker.text() === '') {

                    // if date picker is not always visible
                    if (!plugin.settings.always_visible)

                        // temporarily set the date picker's left outside of view
                        // so that we can later grab its width and height
                        datepicker.css('left', -1000);

                    // temporarily make the date picker visible
                    // so that we can later grab its width and height
                    datepicker.css('visibility', 'visible');

                    // generate the day picker
                    generate_daypicker();

                    // get the day picker's width and height
                    var width = daypicker.outerWidth(),
                        height = daypicker.outerHeight();

                    // make the month picker have the same size as the day picker
                    monthpicker.css({
                        'width':    width,
                        'height':   height
                    });

                    // make the year picker have the same size as the day picker
                    yearpicker.css({
                        'width':    width,
                        'height':   height
                    });

                    // make the header and the footer have the same size as the day picker
                    header.css('width', width);
                    footer.css('width', width);

                    // hide the date picker again
                    datepicker.css('visibility', '').addClass('dp_hidden');

                // if the day picker was previously generated at least once
                // generate the day picker
                } else generate_daypicker();

                // hide the year and the month pickers
                monthpicker.hide();
                yearpicker.hide();

            // if the view is "months"
            } else if (view == 'months') {

                // generate the month picker
                generate_monthpicker();

                // hide the day and the year pickers
                daypicker.hide();
                yearpicker.hide();

            // if the view is "years"
            } else if (view == 'years') {

                // generate the year picker
                generate_yearpicker();

                // hide the day and the month pickers
                daypicker.hide();
                monthpicker.hide();

            }

            // if a callback function exists for when navigating through months/years
            if (plugin.settings.onChange && typeof plugin.settings.onChange == 'function' && undefined !== view) {

                // get the "active" elements in the view (ignoring the disabled ones)
                var elements = (view == 'days' ?
                                    daypicker.find('td:not(.dp_disabled, .dp_weekend_disabled, .dp_not_in_month)') :
                                        (view == 'months' ?
                                            monthpicker.find('td:not(.dp_disabled, .dp_weekend_disabled, .dp_not_in_month)') :
                                                yearpicker.find('td:not(.dp_disabled, .dp_weekend_disabled, .dp_not_in_month)')));

                // iterate through the active elements
                // and attach a "date" data attribute to each element in the form of
                // YYYY-MM-DD if the view is "days"
                // YYYY-MM if the view is "months"
                // YYYY if the view is "years"
                // so it's easy to identify elements in the list
                elements.each(function() {

                    var matches;

                    // if view is "days"
                    if (view == 'days') {

                        // if date is from a next/previous month and is selectable
                        if ($(this).hasClass('dp_not_in_month_selectable')) {

                            // extract date from the attached class
                            matches = $(this).attr('class').match(/date\_([0-9]{4})(0[1-9]|1[012])(0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])/);

                            // attach a "date" data attribute to each element in the form of of YYYY-MM-DD for easily identifying sought elements
                            $(this).data('date', matches[1] + '-' + matches[2] + '-' + matches[3]);

                        // if date is from the currently selected month
                        } else

                            // attach a "date" data attribute to each element in the form of of YYYY-MM-DD for easily identifying sought elements
                            $(this).data('date', selected_year + '-' + str_pad(selected_month + 1, 2) + '-' + str_pad(to_int($(this).text()), 2));

                    // if view is "months"
                    } else if (view == 'months') {

                        // get the month's number for the element's class
                        matches = $(this).attr('class').match(/dp\_month\_([0-9]+)/);

                        // attach a "date" data attribute to each element in the form of of YYYY-MM for easily identifying sought elements
                        $(this).data('date', selected_year + '-' + str_pad(to_int(matches[1]) + 1, 2));

                    // if view is "years"
                    } else

                        // attach a "date" data attribute to each element in the form of of YYYY for easily identifying sought elements
                        $(this).data('date', to_int($(this).text()));

                });

                // execute the callback function and send as arguments the current view, the elements in the view, and
                // the element the plugin is attached to
                plugin.settings.onChange.call($element, view, elements, $element);

            }

            // assume the footer is visible
            footer.show();

            // if the button for clearing a previously selected date needs to be visible all the time,
            // or the "Clear" button needs to be shown only when a date was previously selected, and now it's the case,
            // or the date picker is always visible and the "Clear" button was not explicitly disabled
            if (
                plugin.settings.show_clear_date === true ||
                (plugin.settings.show_clear_date === 0 && $element.val() !== '') ||
                (plugin.settings.always_visible && plugin.settings.show_clear_date !== false)
            ) {

                // show the "Clear" button
                cleardate.show();

                // if the "Today" button is visible
                if (show_select_today) {

                    // show it, and set it's width to 50% of the available space
                    selecttoday.css('width', '50%');

                    // the "Clear date" button only takes up 50% of the available space
                    cleardate.css('width', '50%');

                // if the "Today" button is not visible
                } else {

                    // hide the "Today" button
                    selecttoday.hide();

                    // the "Clear date" button takes up 100% of the available space
                    cleardate.css('width', '100%');

                }

            // otherwise
            } else {

                // hide the "Clear" button
                cleardate.hide();

                // if the "Today" button is visible, it will now take up all the available space
                if (show_select_today) selecttoday.show().css('width', '100%');

                // if the "Today" button is also not visible, hide the footer entirely
                else footer.hide();

            }


        };

        /**
         *  Puts the specified date in the element the plugin is attached to, and hides the date picker.
         *
         *  @param  integer     year    The year
         *
         *  @param  integer     month   The month
         *
         *  @param  integer     day     The day
         *
         *  @param  string      view    The view from where the method was called
         *
         *  @param  object      cell    The element that was clicked
         *
         *  @return void
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var select_date = function(year, month, day, view, cell) {

            var

                // construct a new date object from the arguments
                default_date = new Date(year, month, day, 12, 0, 0),

                // pointer to the cells in the current view
                view_cells = (view == 'days' ? daypicker_cells : (view == 'months' ? monthpicker_cells : yearpicker_cells)),

                // the selected date, formatted correctly
                selected_value = format(default_date);

            // set the currently selected and formated date as the value of the element the plugin is attached to
            $element.val(selected_value);

            // if date picker is always visible
            if (plugin.settings.always_visible) {

                // extract the date parts and reassign values to these variables
                // so that everything will be correctly highlighted
                default_month = default_date.getMonth();
                selected_month = default_date.getMonth();
                default_year = default_date.getFullYear();
                selected_year = default_date.getFullYear();
                default_day = default_date.getDate();

                // remove the "selected" class from all cells in the current view
                view_cells.removeClass('dp_selected');

                // add the "selected" class to the currently selected cell
                cell.addClass('dp_selected');

                // if we're on the "days" view and days from other months are selectable and one of those days was
                // selected, repaint the datepicker so it will take us to the selected month
                if (view == 'days' && cell.hasClass('dp_not_in_month_selectable')) plugin.show();

            }

            // hide the date picker
            plugin.hide();

            // updates value for the date picker whose starting date depends on the selected date (if any)
            update_dependent(default_date);

            // if a callback function exists for when selecting a date
            if (plugin.settings.onSelect && typeof plugin.settings.onSelect == 'function')

                // execute the callback function
                // make "this" inside the callback function refer to the element the date picker is attached to
                plugin.settings.onSelect.call($element, selected_value, year + '-' + str_pad(month + 1, 2) + '-' + str_pad(day, 2), default_date, $element, getWeekNumber(default_date));

            // move focus to the element the plugin is attached to
            $element.focus();

        };

        /**
         *  Concatenates any number of arguments and returns them as string.
         *
         *  @return string  Returns the concatenated values.
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var str_concat = function() {

            var str = '';

            // concatenate as string
            for (var i = 0; i < arguments.length; i++) str += (arguments[i] + '');

            // return the concatenated values
            return str;

        };

        /**
         *  Left-pad a string to a certain length with zeroes.
         *
         *  @param  string  str     The string to be padded.
         *
         *  @param  integer len     The length to which the string must be padded
         *
         *  @return string          Returns the string left-padded with leading zeroes
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var str_pad = function(str, len) {

            // make sure argument is a string
            str += '';

            // pad with leading zeroes until we get to the desired length
            while (str.length < len) str = '0' + str;

            // return padded string
            return str;

        };

        /**
         *  Returns the integer representation of a string
         *
         *  @return int     Returns the integer representation of the string given as argument
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var to_int = function(str) {

            // return the integer representation of the string given as argument
            return parseInt(str, 10);

        };

        /**
         *  Updates the paired date picker (whose starting date depends on the value of the current date picker)
         *
         *  @param  date    date    A JavaScript date object representing the currently selected date
         *
         *  @return void
         *
         *  @access private
         */
        var update_dependent = function(date) {

            // if the pair element exists
            if (plugin.settings.pair) {

                // iterate through the pair elements (as there may be more than just one)
                $.each(plugin.settings.pair, function() {

                    var $pair = $(this);

                    // chances are that in the beginning the pair element doesn't have the Zebra_DatePicker attached to it yet
                    // (as the "start" element is usually created before the "end" element)
                    // so we'll have to rely on "data" to send the starting date to the pair element

                    // therefore, if Zebra_DatePicker is not yet attached
                    if (!($pair.data && $pair.data('Zebra_DatePicker')))

                        // set the starting date like this
                        $pair.data('zdp_reference_date', date);

                    // if Zebra_DatePicker is attached to the pair element
                    else {

                        // reference the date picker object attached to the other element
                        var dp = $pair.data('Zebra_DatePicker');

                        // update the other date picker's starting date
                        // the value depends on the original value of the "direction" attribute
                        // (also, if the pair date picker does not have a direction, set it to 1)
                        dp.update({
                            'reference_date':   date,
                            'direction':        dp.settings.direction === 0 ? 1 : dp.settings.direction
                        });

                        // if the other date picker is always visible, update the visuals now
                        if (dp.settings.always_visible) dp.show();

                    }

                });

            }

        };

        /**
         *  Calculate the ISO 8601 week number for a given date.
         *
         *  Code is based on the algorithm at http://www.tondering.dk/claus/cal/week.php#calcweekno
         */
        var getWeekNumber = function(date) {

            var y = date.getFullYear(),
                m = date.getMonth() + 1,
                d = date.getDate(),
                a, b, c, s, e, f, g, n, w;

            // If month jan. or feb.
            if (m < 3) {

                a = y - 1;
                b = (a / 4 | 0) - (a / 100 | 0) + (a / 400 | 0);
                c = ((a - 1) / 4 | 0) - ((a - 1) / 100 | 0) + ((a - 1) / 400 | 0);
                s = b - c;
                e = 0;
                f = d - 1 + 31 * (m - 1);

            // If month mar. through dec.
            } else {

                a = y;
                b = (a / 4 | 0) - (a / 100 | 0) + (a / 400 | 0);
                c = ((a - 1) / 4 | 0) - ((a - 1) / 100 | 0) + ((a - 1) / 400 | 0);
                s = b - c;
                e = s + 1;
                f = d + ((153 * (m - 3) + 2) / 5 | 0) + 58 + s;

            }

            g = (a + b) % 7;
            // ISO Weekday (0 is monday, 1 is tuesday etc.)
            d = (f + g - e) % 7;
            n = f + 3 - d;

            if (n < 0) w = 53 - ((g - s) / 5 | 0);

            else if (n > 364 + s) w = 1;

            else w = (n / 7 | 0) + 1;

            return w;

        };

        // since with jQuery 1.9.0 the $.browser object was removed, we rely on this piece of code from
        // http://www.quirksmode.org/js/detect.html to detect the browser
        var browser = {
            init: function () {
                this.name = this.searchString(this.dataBrowser) || '';
                this.version = this.searchVersion(navigator.userAgent) || this.searchVersion(navigator.appVersion) || '';
            },
            searchString: function (data) {
                for (var i=0;i<data.length;i++) {
                    var dataString = data[i].string;
                    var dataProp = data[i].prop;
                    this.versionSearchString = data[i].versionSearch || data[i].identity;
                    if (dataString) {
                        if (dataString.indexOf(data[i].subString) != -1)
                            return data[i].identity;
                    }
                    else if (dataProp)
                        return data[i].identity;
                }
            },
            searchVersion: function (dataString) {
                var index = dataString.indexOf(this.versionSearchString);
                if (index == -1) return;
                return parseFloat(dataString.substring(index+this.versionSearchString.length+1));
            },
            dataBrowser: [
                {
                    string: navigator.userAgent,
                    subString: 'Firefox',
                    identity: 'firefox'
                },
                {
                    string: navigator.userAgent,
                    subString: 'MSIE',
                    identity: 'explorer',
                    versionSearch: 'MSIE'
                }
            ]
        };

        browser.init();

        // initialize the plugin
        init();

    };

    $.fn.Zebra_DatePicker = function(options) {

        // iterate through all the elements to which we need to attach the date picker to
        return this.each(function() {

            // if element has a date picker already attached
            if (undefined !== $(this).data('Zebra_DatePicker'))

                // remove the attached date picker
                $(this).data('Zebra_DatePicker').destroy();

            // create an instance of the plugin
            var plugin = new $.Zebra_DatePicker(this, options);

            // save a reference to the newly created object
            $(this).data('Zebra_DatePicker', plugin);

        });

    };

}));
