variable from main timeline!!

My problems are quite simple:

How to obtain a the varable "xspeed" from the main timeline?
this._x = this_x + _root.xspeed;
doesn't work:(

How to obtain the varable "xspeed" from another mc?
this._x = this_x + _root.othermc.xspeed;
doesn't work:(

Please help
Kristian

this._x = Number(this._x) + Number(_root.xspeed);
this._x = Number(this._x) + Number(_root.othermc.xspeed);

Sometimes Flash needs help realizing variables are numbers.

--J

Hi J

Thanks a bunch
-K