Help with variable scope

[zebedee]

I think i am being completely stupid but can someone tell my neither of these bits of code will work ?

global $criteria;
$criteria =  $_HTTP_POST_VARS["seachby"];
echo "criteria: ".$criteria."<br>";
testFunction();

function testFunction(){
echo "criteria: ".$criteria."<br>";
}

the variable $criteria is printed out fine before the function, yet in the function the value is lost. I thought making a variable
global allowed you to use it within functions too ?

I also tried accessing the form variable from inside the function
as so, but it still doesn't work ?:

testFunction();

function testFunction(){
global $criteria;
$criteria =  $_HTTP_POST_VARS["seachby"];
echo "criteria: ".$criteria."<br>";
}

Please help as i am going mad !!!
Thanks

[volleytotal_ch]

this should work:

function testFunction(){
global $criteria;
echo "criteria: ".$criteria."<br>";
}

[elacdude]

you have to add global $criteria; inside your function....

global $criteria;
$criteria =  "abc123";

echo "criteria: ".$criteria."<br>";
testFunction();

function testFunction(){
global $criteria;
echo "criteria: ".$criteria."<br>";
}