Autohot key variable function not global - function

Question

I'm trying to make a function that takes coordinates, copies that field and name a variable, but the variable seems to be local and doesn't transfer out of the function. The coordinates (x,y) and delay seem to be working fine, but the desc variable always comes out blank. Please help!
newest(x, y, delay, variable)
{
sleep, %delay%
click, %x%,%y% ;desc machine field
clipboard = ; empty the clipboard
Loop
{
If GetKeyState("F2","P") ; terminate the loop whenever you want by pressing F2
break
Send {Ctrl Down}c{Ctrl Up}
if clipboard is not space
break ; Terminate the loop
}
variable := clipboard ;
msgbox %variable%
return
}
^k::
newest(654, 199, 200, desc)
msgbox %desc%
return

Answer 1

From the function's point of view, parameters are essentially the same
as local variables unless they are defined as ByRef.
ByRef makes one parameter of the function an alias for a variable, allowing the function to assign a new value to this variable.
newest(x, y, delay, ByRef variable){
sleep, %delay%
click, %x%,%y% ; desc machine field
clipboard = ; empty the clipboard
Loop
{
If GetKeyState("F2","P") ; terminate the loop whenever you want by pressing F2
break
Send {Ctrl Down}c{Ctrl Up}
If clipboard is not space
break ; Terminate the loop
}
variable := clipboard
msgbox %variable%
return
}
^k::
newest(54, 199, 200, desc)
msgbox %desc%
return