javascript timer & php problem

hi folks, iam developing a site for online test. my main screen contains two horizontal frames. in the upper frame i've got a timer which i wrote in js.and in the lower frame i have question and 4 choices for selection.which iam calling from a mysql database using $PHP_SELF.well, the time period to complete the test is 1 hr. but then if i reload my page the lower frame is not reloading.and only the upper frame is reloading thereby restarting my timer again. what i mean is suppose i've started my test and am attending some 12th questn.in between i'll reload the page then what i have on my screen is 12th qtn. is as it is displayed but my timer in the upper frame restarts.is there any other way of using timer on the same web page?? but if i use $php_self the moment next qtn gets displayed on the screen the timer also gets restarted which shouldn't happen at all.?? if there is any other way please help me out. thanks in advance. -- kapil kkb@onebox.com - email (202) 777-2645 x3298 - voicemail/fax __________________________________________________ FREE voicemail, email, and fax...all in one place. Sign Up Now! http://www.onebox.com