How to read variables from one file in another file?

We have a file example.m with a variable abc=3.2. How can I load this variable abc from another file test.m in the same directory?

If I write in the test-file

   example
   abc

then I get in the workspace the error "At least one END is missing: the statement may begin here."

This is just an example. My problem is about reading an array from another file. Is this done the same as the solution above?

Answer 1

[Lucius]

I was lacking a

    clear all; close all;

at the beginning. That was all and now it works

Answer 2

[dpb]

Read the "Getting Started" tutorial of scripts and functions -- you pass arguments into functions and return results as return values. Any variable(s) which are to be exposed after a function completes must be in a return argument list to be available (or made global which is generally a_bad_idea (tm) from a code design standpoint.