function setColumnHeight()
{
    var left = document.getElementById("colleft"); 
	
    var right = document.getElementById("colright");

    var sidebar = document.getElementById("sidebar");
    
    if( !left || !right || !sidebar ) return;

    var diff =  right.offsetHeight - left.offsetHeight;
    var minheight = sidebar.offsetHeight;
  
    // if the left-hand column is too short, then expand it to match the right-hand column
    if( diff > 0 ) 
    {
        left.style.paddingBottom = (diff-180) + "px";
    }

     // ensure that the columns are at least as tall as the contents of the right-hand column
    if (minheight > left.offsetHeight) 
    {
        left.style.paddingBottom = (minheight - left.offsetHeight) + "px";
    }  

 
}