From: Peter Hickman <peter@...>
Date: 2005-01-20T20:48:14+09:00
Subject: Re: Confused about variable "declarations"

A variable will 'spring into existence' when you assign to it but not 
when you reference it.

so:

offset = offset=line.split()[1].to_i

will work fine but something like

total = offset + 1

or

offset = offset + 1

or

table[offset] = 42

will all error because they are referencing a variable that has not been 
created. If you look at, or around, line 136 in your code you will 
probably find a reference to the variable offset and this is what is 
causing the problem.

If not then I am stumped.