[Gambas-user] Second Form not reading Public variable from first form

[rocko]

If I declare a Public variable is it available across all Forms and
Modules??
I ask because I'm having difficulty with a $hConn variable

I have a FMain form that connects to an sqlite database when the form is
opened.
Public Sub Form_Open()
	$hConn = New Connection
	With $hConn
	 .Host = "path to database"
	and so on....
I have $hConn declared as Public at the top of the FMain.Class
This so far works fine, the form opens and I get the Message.Info 
"You are connected to the database"

It's when the second form loads, Have a 'Add New' button on FMain which
opens the FNew form which can be used to add a record to the database,
but I was getting an error when I click the 'Commit' button.

Something about rTable and $hConn being NULL Objects, so I added an 
$hConn = New Connection, but now I'm getting:
"Unknown Identifier" for $hConn.
here is the Code for the FNew form:

' Gambas class file

' 
Private rTable As Result

'Public $hConn As Connection

Public Sub btnCommit_Click()
 
  $hConn = New Connection
 ' $hConn.Open
  
  rTable = $hConn.Create("inventory")
  
  If rTable.Available Then
    rTable!name = txtName.Text
    rTable!type = txtType.Text
    Try rTable.Update
    If Error Then
      Print "Update failed"
      Message.Error(ERROR.Text)
      
      Endif
  Endif
    
  DB.Commit
  

End

Public Sub btnCancel_Click()

  FNew.Close

End

Was also getting an error on the rTable AS Result when I had in the Sub
as DIM rTable AS Result>>"Unexpected Dim"
So I moved to the top of the class, don't know if that was good Idea
though.
I thought if I declared $hConn as Public it would be available to the
Fnew form, but that doesn't seem to be the case
Any insight would be helpful..