cannot access inc files from a function

I have the following piece of code (symplified)

require("lang.{$lang}.inc.php"); // I include the inc. files
...
function decodify($technique) { // functions that give me back the
value in inc.file
        switch ($technique) {
                case 'C':
                            echo $charcoal;
                           break;
                case 'O':
                          echo $oil;
                           break;
                case 'A':
                           echo $acrylic;
                           break;
        }
}
....
Somewhere I call the function ....decodify($myTechnique)

But it doen't print the content from $charcoal, $oil or, etc.
Do I have to declare the function global or something like that. In
that case, how should I do it??
Many thanks. Bettina
Received on Mon Oct 24 02:09:06 2005