$.fn.clear_whitespace = function (dollar) {
    var rval = "";
    try {
        if (!(dollar == true))
        { rval = $(this).html().replace(/[\/ \/\t\n\r]/gi, ""); }
        else
        { rval = $(this).html().replace(/[$\/ \/\t\n\r]/gi, ""); }
    }
    catch (ex) { }
    return rval;
}