TextField -- What Am I Missing?

Ok. Input Text field who’s Var name is “dot_num”, Dynamic Text field whose name is “dot_output” to be passed the value from Input Text field within an on (release) function of a MovieClip.

Pass the value from dot_num to dot_output. Simple enough. YES, I have given these text fields the aforementioned Var names (dot_num and dot_output).

When I try to trace(dot_num) the value inside of “dot_num”, I get a value of undefined. WTF. Therefore I cannot even pass it to dot_output if I cannot correctly extract its value.

on (release) {
dot_output = dot_num;
trace(dot_num); // <-- ITS UNDEFINED, WTF.
}

I have been coding ActionScript for a couple of years now, so I’m really stunned that this is a problem for me. Someone please help. Thanks.