Declaring variables in Start() returns Unknown Identifier

Unity Engine
1

I’m sure it’s something small I’m missing, but I’m trying to declare a variable that contains a random number using Random.Range(); - however, when doing so inside of the Start() function, it simply returns Unknown Identifier.

#pragma strict

function Start ()
{
	/* 	The problem is right here. 		        */
	var randItemsLeft : int = Random.Range(1, 8);
	/* 	Declaring this, or any other, variable	*/
	/* 	inside of the Start() function returns	*/
	/* 	Unknown Indentifier: 'var name' 		*/
}

function OnAttack () 
{
	if (randItemsLeft >= 1)
	{
		var lootList = ['item_001', 'item_002', 'item_003', 'item_004', 'item_005'];
		var randLoot = lootList[Random.Range(0, lootList.Length)];
		Debug.Log("Player found " + randLoot + ".");
		randItemsLeft -= 1;
	}
	else
	{
		Debug.Log("You are unable to obtain anything else from this " + name + ".");
	}
}
2

try declaring it outside of Start().
When you declare inside a method, it belongs only to that method. If you declare inside the class (but not inside a method), then it will be visible to all methods of the class.
Example:

#pragma strict

var randItemsLeft : int;

function Start () {
    randItemsLeft = Random.Range(1, 8);
}

function OnAttack ()  {
    if (randItemsLeft >= 1) {
        var lootList = ['item_001', 'item_002', 'item_003', 'item_004', 'item_005'];
        var randLoot = lootList[Random.Range(0, lootList.Length)];
        Debug.Log("Player found " + randLoot + ".");
        randItemsLeft -= 1;
    } else {
        Debug.Log("You are unable to obtain anything else from this " + name + ".");
    }
}
3

I was unaware that a variable declared inside of a method is specific to that method, thanks for that.
Just tried it the way you’ve given, and it worked just fine. I’m not sure why I didn’t think of doing it that way before. It’s sleepy time for me. :wink:

4

Here’s some required reading about variable scope in JavaScript:

There will be a test later :).

5

Unity doesn’t use Javascript, although some of what that page talks about regarding scope does actually apply to Unityscript (which has somewhat different rules about scope compared to C#).

–Eric

6

The Unity docs call it JavaScript. And it looks and quacks like JavaScript, too.

7

Not exactly. Unity’s JavaScript is actually more akin to ActionScript. First and foremost, Unity’s JavaScript is strongly typed (like AS3). (Yes I know you can make it loosely typed but you shouldn’t and on some platforms you can’t)