You can read the contents of an ASCII text file or a color- attributed file into a colored or uncolored textual region by specifying a read action statement. This statement works like the insert file drawing statement, except that read can only be executed at runtime.

When a read statement is executed, the text assumes the font of the textual region into which it is copied, and the text is inserted at the current position of the text cursor. After execution, the text cursor is positioned at column 1 on the line directly following the last line of text from the file. If there is any text following the text cursor prior to the read statement, it is moved down to make room for the text from the file.

If the text cursor is at a location where there is no text when the read statement is executed, ESL will insert the necessary new lines and/or blanks prior to the text cursor, as it does with the insert drawing statement.