/* 先読みする画像の配列 */
        var images_ary=new Array(
        '../img/topContents_bg.jpg',
        '../img/main_bgTop.jpg',
        '../img/main_bgBottom.jpg',
        'images/4.gif',
        'images/5.gif'
        );
        /* 画像先読み処理関数 */
        function preLoad(imgAry) {
            var imgMax=imgAry.length;
            var images=new Array(imgMax);
            for (var i=0; i<imgMax; i++) {
                images[i]=new Image();
                images[i].src=imgAry[i];
            }
        }


/* トップページカルーセル */
  $(document).ready(function() {
        //move he last list item before the first item. The purpose of this is if the user clicks to slide left he will be able to see the last item.
        $('#carousel_ul li:first').before($('#carousel_ul li:last')); 
        
        
        //when user clicks the image for sliding right        
        $('#right_scroll img').click(function(){
        
            //get the width of the items ( i like making the jquery part dynamic, so if you change the width in the css you won't have o change it here too ) '
            var item_width = $('#carousel_ul li').outerWidth() + 10;
            
            //calculae the new left indent of the unordered list
            var left_indent = parseInt($('#carousel_ul').css('left')) - item_width;
            
            //make the sliding effect using jquery's anumate function '
            $('#carousel_ul:not(:animated)').animate({'left' : left_indent},500,function(){    
                
                //get the first list item and put it after the last list item (that's how the infinite effects is made) '
                $('#carousel_ul li:last').after($('#carousel_ul li:first')); 
                
                //and get the left indent to the default -210px
                $('#carousel_ul').css({'left' : '-210px'});
            }); 
        });
        
        //when user clicks the image for sliding left
        $('#left_scroll img').click(function(){
            
            var item_width = $('#carousel_ul li').outerWidth() + 10;
            
            /* same as for sliding right except that it's current left indent + the item width (for the sliding right it's - item_width) */
            var left_indent = parseInt($('#carousel_ul').css('left')) + item_width;
            
            $('#carousel_ul:not(:animated)').animate({'left' : left_indent},500,function(){    
            
            /* when sliding to left we are moving the last item before the first list item */            
            $('#carousel_ul li:first').before($('#carousel_ul li:last')); 
            
            /* and again, when we make that change we are setting the left indent of our unordered list to the default -210px */
            $('#carousel_ul').css({'left' : '-210px'});
            });
            
            
        });
  });