.\"read a file into a string
.DT
read_file
$MUDNAME$ driver help
read_file

.SH Name
.SI 5
read_file() - read a file into a string
.EI

.SH Synopsis
.SI 5
string read_file( string file );
string read_file( string file, int start_line );
string read_file( string file, int start_line, int number_of_lines );
.EI

.SH Description
.SP 5 5
Read a line of text from `file' into a string.  The second and third
arguments are optional.  If only the first argument is specified, the
entire file is returned (as a string).

`start_line' is the line number of the line you wish to read.  This routine
will return 0 if you try to read past the end of the file, or if you try to
read from a non positive line.
.EP

.SH See also
.SI 5
write_file(), read_buffer()
.EI
