title: PHP Function Variables Advice Needed
body: <p>I have a simple form that I am passing data from to a php page using session variables. I have two functions in an external function page, but I cannot get the variables in each function to work globally unless I name the variable in each particular function.</p>
  
  <p>Here is an example that I am hoping someone can help with.</p>
  
  <pre><code>$dbName = $_SESSION['dataBaseName'];    
  $tableName = $_SESSION['tableName'];
  $artistName = $_SESSION['artistName'];
  $songName = $_SESSION['songName']; 
  
  function table_exists($tableName)
  {
  
  if(mysql_num_rows(mysql_query("SHOW TABLES LIKE '".$tableName."'"))==1) 
  {
  echo "Table exists &lt;br /&gt;";
  }
  else
  {
  $sql = "CREATE TABLE songList (songId int NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY, artistName varchar(60), songName varchar(25))";
  $result= mysql_query($sql) or die(mysql_error());
  return $result;
  }   
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>In my OTHER function I put the variables INSIDE the function. Doesnt seem to matter what combo I use, my variables have to be REDECLARED every function I use. I tried using GLOBAL in front but that just causes an error. Here is the other function:</p>
  
  <pre><code>function tableWrite() 
  
  {
  
  $dbName = $_SESSION['dataBaseName'];    
  $tableName = $_SESSION['tableName'];
  $artist = $_SESSION['artist'];
  $song = $_SESSION['song']; 
  
  
   if(!empty($_REQUEST['insert']))
   {
    $sql = "INSERT INTO $tableName (artistName, songName) values ('$artist', '$song')";
    $result = mysql_query($sql) or die(mysql_error());
    $showaresult = mysql_query("SELECT * from $tableName where artistName = '$artist' AND songName= '$song' ") or die("Invalid query: " . mysql_error());
    echo ("New entry added"); 
  
    $row = mysql_fetch_array($showaresult);
    echo ("&lt;br&gt; Catalog Number = ". $row["songId"] . "&lt;br&gt; Artist Name =  " . $row["artistName"] . "&lt;br&gt;");
    echo("Song Name = " . $row["songName"] . "&lt;br&gt;");
  
    echo ("&lt;h1&gt; Current Catalog &lt;/h1&gt;");
  
    $showresult = mysql_query("SELECT * from $tableName") or die("Invalid query: " . mysql_error());
    while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($showresult))
    {
     echo ("&lt;br&gt; Catalog Number = ". $row["songId"] . "&lt;br&gt; Artist Name =  " .    $row["artistName"] . "&lt;br&gt;");
    echo("Song Name = " . $row["songName"] . "&lt;br&gt;");
  
    }
  
    }
    }
  </code></pre>