var parm = centerParms(600,500) + ",width=600,height=500,status=yes,scrollbars=yes";
   var name = document.getElementsByName(input_name)[0].value;
   url = "common.pl?" +
+    "INPUT_ENCODING=UTF-8&" +
     "action=vendor_selection&" +
-    "name=" + escape(name) + "&" +
-    "input_name=" + escape(input_name) + "&" +
-    "input_id=" + escape(input_id)
+    "name=" + encodeURIComponent(name) + "&" +
+    "input_name=" + encodeURIComponent(input_name) + "&" +
+    "input_id=" + encodeURIComponent(input_id)
   //alert(url);
   window.open(url, "_new_generic", parm);
 }