js ajax url,javascript

Im sure there is a simple solution for this but im having issues,

I have an external ajax.js file that has an AJAX call like so:

$(function() {

$.ajax({

url: url,

success: function( data, status )

above the AJAX call I have got two global variables called ticker and url like so:

var ticker = 'AAPL'

var url = 'http://blahblahblah' + ticker

In my HTML file I have got an input box where the user types in a ticker symbol (e.g. GOOG) and clicks a button that would update the ticker variable so that the AJAX call is done again with the new URL.

Enter the ticker symbol of the company you wish to view:

Try it

function myFunction()

{

//old value

alert(ticker);

ticker = document.getElementById('userInput').value;

//new value

alert(ticker);

}

This code changes the ticker variable but the AJAX call is still being performed with the old ticker url. I think its not being assigned properly? Im very new to AJAX but I cant find any tutorials online that explain this problem.

Thanks