Interchanging variables' contents in PHP and JavaScript!

I am hell stuck up with this. Somebody kindly help me please! The variables from PHP and Javascript can be assigned to one another? If yes, then how? Yesterday I'd posted the same question and I got some responses but they didn't work either. Yesterday's approach was rather direct as in: <script language = "javascript"> somematter = "<? echo "$readmatter"; ?>" </script> Today I tried some indirect approach but that again is failing. Kindly help .. almost similar to SOS!!! <script language = "javascript"> somematter = ""; /* global variable, eh? */ </script> &{somematter} = <? echo "$readmatter"; ?> /* dunno whether you can access a javascript variable like that for ASSIGNMENT AS WELL .... printing it's value is showing nothing ... though the $readmatter variable DOES have something. */ Another small quest is related to javascript. If anybody can help me with that also, then I'd be very grateful. I wish to scroll down the textarea element of a form automatically ... using some of the event-handlers' manipulations. This should happen in case the textarea is completely filled up and is overflowing with the text. The basic requirement being that the textarea should always have the focus on the last entered / fed line. Thanx a bunch in advance! -Ramender Kishore