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read

read from file fileName [at [-] ¬

integer] {for posInteger | until char}

The read command reads data from a file. (You must have already opened the file with the open file command.) Read places the data into the local variable it.

Reading of a newly opened file starts from the beginning of the file, or optionally at character integer. If you use the form at -integer, reading starts at integer characters from the end of the file. Subsequent reads continue from the last point read.

Read continues until it has read the specified number of characters or it reaches the named ASCII character (which can be specified as a constant: colon, comma, end, eof, formfeed, quote, return, space, or tab).

All characters count as data, including return characters at the end of lines, spaces, and tab characters.

Examples

read from file "Data" until Z -- read until first Z

read from file "Data" until tab

read from file "Data" until return -- read one line

read from file "Data" until end -- read until the end of the file

read from file "Data" for 100 -- read 100 bytes

read from file "Data" at 200 for 100 -- read 100 bytes ¬

                starting at the 200th character in the file

read from file "Data" at -200 for 100 -- read 100 bytes ¬

                starting at the 200th character from the end of the file

read from file "My Data"

-- This function asks for the name of a text file and reads it.

-- You might use it as follows:

-- put readFile() into myInfo

-- Note that variables can hold unlimited amounts of information

-- while fields can only hold 30k.

function readFile

  answer file "Read what text file?" of type text

  if (it is empty) or (it is "Cancel") then return empty

  put it into theFileName

  open file theFileName

  repeat forever

    read from file theFileName for 16384

    if it is empty then exit repeat

    put it after theData

  end repeat

  close file theFileName

  return theData

end readFile

Related Topics

Placeholders

fileName

An expression that evaluates to a text string that is also a valid Macintosh filename.

For example:

"my stack"

"HD20:Wally's Stacks:my stack"

"my file alias"

integer

An expression that evaluates to a positive or negative integer or to zero. For example:

3

18 - 100

-(3 * sum(1,3,4,5)) + 39

In AppleScript, integer is a value class.

posInteger

An expression that evaluates to a positive integer.

For example:

3

67 mod 13

the number of bg fields

the number of backgrounds

the number of cards div 2

See also: background, bkgnd, button, card, chunk, field, menu, and menuItem

char

An expression that yields a single character.

For example:

"a"

return

tab

numToChar(13)

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