//Set properties
            public var baseURL:String = new String();
            private var sessionID:String;

            /******************************************
             *
             *  Method for processing HTTP Requests
             *  to the docSTAR server.
             *
             * ***************************************/
            private function processRequest(targetURL:String, targetMethod:String,
                                            successListner:Function, failListner:Function = null):void
            {
                //Create a new HTTP service to connect to the docSTAR server.
                var currentHS:mx.rpc.http.HTTPService= new mx.rpc.http.mxml.HTTPService;

                //Set the properties of the service
                currentHS.url = targetURL;
                currentHS.method = targetMethod;

                //Set the cursor to busy
                cursorManager.setBusyCursor();

                //Send the service and then listen for completion
                currentHS.send();
                currentHS.addEventListener("result", successListner);

                //If a failListner was passed attach it to the http service
                //If one was not passed, ignor this.
                if(failListner != null)
                    currentHS.addEventListener("fault", failListner);
            }

            /******************************************
             *
             *  Method for general HTTP Request
             * failures.
             *
             * ***************************************/
            private function generalHTTPFailure():void
            {
                //A general error message to the user.
                Alert.show("There was an error in your request");
            }

            /******************************************
             *
             *  Method for retrieving a session ID.
             *  A session ID is used by almost all
             *  other methods.
             *
             * ***************************************/
            private function retrieveSessionID():void
            {
                //Create and generate  a string containing
                //a url of the location of the docSTAR server's
                //REST endpoint for connecting.
                var targetURL:String = baseURL + 'systemservice.svc/rest/connect';

                //Call the process request method and pass it the target URl and function cointaining
                //instructions on what to do with the resulting XML from docSTAR
                processRequest(targetURL,"GET",function(passedEvent:ResultEvent):void
                {
                    //Process the returned XML file and set the seesionID accordingly
                    sessionID = passedEvent.result.ConnectResponse.ConnectResult;
                    sessionIDLB.text = sessionID;

                    //Set cursor back to normal
                    cursorManager.removeBusyCursor();
                },generalHTTPFailure);
            }