variables in php files

[Zaiaku]

I'm having a slight issue with a script I'm making. And I'm wondering if something very simple I'm missing. Right now the code is hard coded into the php file, and so is the settings. The problem is with a vairable. It's pulling a list of the last X members from the database.

The problem is that when using a variable ex: $grabbedmembers
It doesn't work in the SQL call. Variable is empty even though near the top of the php file I have $grabbedmembers = 5

But if I just replace the variable with the number in the SQL call it works.

Do all variables in php file need to be register before working? Or just variables that will be used in templates?