var request = null;
try {
    request = new XMLHttpRequest();
} catch (trymicrosoft) {
    try {
        request = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
    } catch (othermicrosoft) {
        try {
            request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
        } catch (failed) {
            request = null;
        }
    }
}
if (request == null)
    alert("Error creating request object!");