Variable Scope of Files Included Within Functions

From: Deane Barker (deane_at_slingandrock.com)
Date: 10/29/04 

Date: 28 Oct 2004 19:51:28 -0700

I have a function that selects a file to include, then includes is.
The file is including within the function, like so:

  function include_file($file_name)
  {
    [lots of logic here to figure out the path...]
    require $file_name;
    return;
  }

My problem is that the file gets included *within* the function, so
all the code in the file inherits the function's scope. Any variables
declared in the include file are not global -- they're local to that
function.

Is there any way around this? Is there anything I can put in the
included file or in the function to make sure that variables declared
within it are global? (I can't just reference the variables before
the require, because I have no way of knowing what's in the include
file.)

Deane

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