>Hi All,
>
>Given the following code
>

>                CSite site; //variable declaration
>
>                while ((input = sr.ReadLine()) != null)
>                {
>                    if (input.StartsWith("["))
>                    {
>                        site = new CSite();  //variable instantiation
>                        input = input.TrimStart('[');
>                        input = input.TrimEnd(']');
>                        site.SiteName = input;
>                        site.NodeType = CApplication.NodeType.Site;                        
>                    }
>                    if (input.StartsWith("Address"))
>                        site.SiteAddress = input.Substring(8);  // **ERROR
>                    if (input.StartsWith("DESCRIPTION"))                        
>                        site.SiteDescription = input.Substring(12);  //**ERROR
>
>

>
>This compiles with the error "use of unassigned local variable site" and refers to the site in the second two if statements. My question is how can I extend the scope of site in the first if block to those of the second two if blocks?

Can you try

CSite site = null; //variable declaration

instead?

You need to initialize the site variable with something. Also in your checks you may also check for site!=null