def createnewnamerecord # this method adds a new address record
   require 'fileutils'
   
   newname = "%s" %   [@a_filename] # grab the new filename to create
   newdata =@a_name.to_s + "\n" + @a_address.to_s + "\n" + @a_citystatezip.to_s + "\n" + @a_phone.to_s + "\n" + @a_email.to_s + "\n" + @a_comment1.to_s + "\n" + @a_comment2.to_s + "\n" + @a_comment3.to_s + "\n"
	 fullnewname = newname + ".nam"
        begin # exception trapped block
          fileName = File.join($addressfiles_directory, fullnewname )
        	fd = File.open(fileName,"w")
	        fd.print(newdata) # save the record info to the file
	        fd.close
          @createnewnamerecorddisplay=newdata # show the record info in the browser
        rescue SystemCallError, StandardError
            $stderr.print "system call error: " + $!
        end # exception rescue

  end