E:\src\mozilla\js\rhino>cat test.js var x = 12; var f = new Function("return x;"); print(f()); E:\src\mozilla\js\rhino>rhino test.js js: "test.js", line 3: "x" is not defined. The problem is the line of code in NativeGlobal.java: Scriptable global = ScriptableObject.getTopLevelScope(ctorObj); This doesn't work when storing all standard objects in a prototype of the top-level object because "global" will be the prototype instead of the top-level object and so top-level variables won't be accessible.

pulled and built rhino on 02.july.1999, 11am. marking verified: [phillip@wetnap /build/mozilla/js/rhino] 134 % cat test.js var x = 12; var f = new Function("return x;"); print(f()); [phillip@wetnap /build/mozilla/js/rhino] 135 % java org.mozilla.javascript.tools.shell.Main test.js 12