scope problem using functions and require_once

[NotGiven]

Below is a code snippet I am having a hard time with. I rerquire code1.php
and code 2.php.

code1.php contains some variables the code needs.
code2.php contains some functions I call from the function below,
look_at_data().

Line 4 "echo" below corrctly shows the var_name from code1.php. BUT, when I
call it again at the end of the snippet below, it shows nothing.

I even added another reference to code1.php in that function and it did not
help.

Why and what do I do about it?

Many thanks in advance!

=============== =============== =============== ===========

require_once('. ./lk/code1.php');
require_once("c ode2.php");

echo "name = ".var_name;

if($HTTP_POST_V ARS['Submit']=='submit'){
$error = look_at_data($_ POST); //**********
if ($error == "") {
$success = "User inserted successfully";
}
}

function look_at_data($f orm23_data) { //**********
require_once('. ./lk/code1.php');
echo "name = ".var_name;
........