function func($cur1) {
// the variable we get here is a cursor - declared in the calling function
// global $a; // if $a will not be declared global - it won't work	
$a = 1;	
ora_parse($cur1,"select * from t where a = :a");

	echo("$a");	
	ora_bind($cur1,"a",":a",11,ORA_BIND_IN); 
	ora_exec($cur1); // the parser says the error is in this line(336). The error is :Warning: Can't find variable for parameter in includes/search_functions.inc on line 336

However, if I unremark the above line - global $a; this will work fine.