var maxLength=500;
function charLimit(el) {
    if (el.value.length > maxLength) return false;
    return true;
}
function characterCount(el) {
    var charCount = document.getElementById('charCount');
    if (el.value.length > maxLength) el.value = el.value.substring(0,maxLength);
    if (charCount) charCount.innerHTML = maxLength - el.value.length;
    return true;
}