What happens to 'def' attributes in scripts?

Hi,

When I have my users define their own script, they produce something similar to this:

Test.groovy

--------------

n=1

m=2

def add(another) {

  int x = n+another

  println "x is ${x}"

}

add(m)

-------------------------

The def method is added to Test.class, and the variables are added to the Binding. That much I have verified, but when the users sometimes write

def n=1

def m=2

The script fails to recognize n in the add method. (no such property: n for class: Test)

Clearly, neither n nor m is a field of class Test, nor are they present in the binding. However, m is still accessible to be an argument to the add method.

I can easily tell the user not to specify def in front of variables, only in front of methods, but I cannot fully explain why.

Where is the variable stored? In the main method? or just inline replaced during parsing? Hope you can help me with an answer.

Regards,

/Niels