accessing an SKSpriteNode declared inside a specific method - swift

Question

In my GameScene class, I have a method called shootLaser that creates an SKSpriteNode called Laser, and adds it as a child of self. This method is called on a timer every several seconds
func shootLaser(){
var Laser = SKSpriteNode(imageNamed: "LaserDot.png")
Laser.position = CGPointMake(100, 100)
Laser.physicsBody = SKPhysicsBody(circleOfRadius: 20)
Laser.physicsBody?.categoryBitMask = PhysicsCatagory.Laser
Laser.physicsBody?.contactTestBitMask = PhysicsCatagory.Blade
Laser.physicsBody?.affectedByGravity = false
Laser.physicsBody?.dynamic = false
Laser.physicsBody?.density = 0.5
self.addChild(Laser)
}
In the update() method, which is automatically called every time a frame is rendered, I try to access the position of the Laser object, but I get an error "Use of unresolved identifier 'Laser'" when I try to set laserLoc to Laser.position
override func update(currentTime: CFTimeInterval)
{
/* Called before each frame is rendered */
// moves every value up an index each frame
let laserLoc = Laser.position
if (laserPoints[0] != nil){
for var index = 9; index >= 1; index--
{
laserPoints[index] = laserPoints[index - 1]
}
laserPoints[0] = CGPointZero
}
I don't seem to have any issues accessing properties of SKSpriteNodes that are declared in the outside any method. Is there a way around this? Thanks in advance!
EDIT:
I am aware that "Laser" is purely local within the shootLaser() method, but just the same, is there a way I can access its properties in the update method?

Answer 1

Try instead putting Laser after the class declaration instead of instead of in the function. Like this:
class YourClassName: SKScene {
var Laser = SKSpriteNode(imageNamed: "LaserDot.png")
Also, make sure you remove the declaration of Laser inside the function and edit the function to look like this.
func shootLaser(){
var Laser = SKSpriteNode(imageNamed: "LaserDot.png")
Laser.position = CGPointMake(100, 100)
Laser.physicsBody = SKPhysicsBody(circleOfRadius: 20)
Laser.physicsBody?.categoryBitMask = PhysicsCatagory.Laser
Laser.physicsBody?.contactTestBitMask = PhysicsCatagory.Blade
Laser.physicsBody?.affectedByGravity = false
Laser.physicsBody?.dynamic = false
Laser.physicsBody?.density = 0.5
self.Laser.removeFromParent()
self.addChild(Laser)
}