Javascript Global Variable Trouble

Question

I'm having trouble with Global variables in Javascript. From every article I've read a variable declared out of a function has a complete scope. But bellow;

var leftMargin = 36;

alert(leftMargin); /* '36' */

function position(direction) {

    alert(leftMargin); /* 'undefined' */

}

Answer 1

A you positive it's undefined ?

<script type="text/javascript">
var leftMargin = 36;
alert(leftMargin); /* '36' */
function position(direction) {

    alert(leftMargin); /* '36' */
}
position(); 
</script>

Alerts 36 twice for me, as expected. It might be unset between defining the leftMargin variable and actually calling position().