Why is a Number NaN?

Question

I have created a variable with the data type number:
var opaque = Number;
I assign it the value from a XML file:
opaque = myXML.FILL;
The value in the XML file is:
<FILL>0.4</FILL>
the trace for "myXML.FILL" shows 0.4
the trace for "opaque" shows NaN (not a number).
I'm puzzled.

Answer 1

Eureka!
The equation "opaque = myXML.Fill" (fill = myXML.Fill, mud = myXML.Fill; iI changed the name a few times) resides inside the function that processes the xml file. This function is triggered by: scrollLoader.addEventListener (Event.COMPLETE, processXML); which means it doesn't start before all the xml data is downloaded, which takes longer than it takes to read the rest of the code. That means the variables were traced long before the data they're supposed to hold was available, and the objects that needed the data were built without that information (shape objects).
Solution: I build those object inside functions that are triggered from inside the xml processing function and then place those objects into their MovieClips that are outside any function, i.e. permanent. That way they cannot be created before all data is available. Works like a charm.