> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://notevil.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# CAPLfunctionOpenFileRead

[Open topic with navigation](../../../../../CANoeDEFamily.htm#Topics/CAPLFunctions/Other/Functions/CAPLfunctionOpenFileRead.md)

[CAPL Functions](../../CAPLfunctions.md) » [General](../CAPLGeneralStartPage.md) » [Function Overview](../CAPLfunctionsGeneralOverview.md) » openFileRead

# openFileRead

[Valid for](../../../Shared/FeatureAvailability.md): CANoe DE • CANoe:lite DE • CANoe4SW DE • CANoe4SW:lite DE

**Note**\
A relative filename must be passed to this function. The absolute filename is determined by means of a [search procedure](../CAPLfunctionsFileSearchProcedure.md). First a search is made to determine whether the given file is located in a directory of the databases. If the desired file is not found the active configuration directory is used.

## Function Syntax

* `dword openFileRead (char filename[], dword mode); // form 1`
* `dword openFileRead (char filename[], dword mode, dword fileEncoding); // form 2`

## Description

This function opens the **filename** file for the read access.

If `mode=0` the file is opened in text mode;\
if `mode=1` the file is opened in binary mode.

## Parameters

* **filename**: filename
* **mode**:
* **fileEncoding**: Identifier of the Microsoft code page that is used to encode the file.

## Return Values

The return value is the file handle that must be used for read operations.

If an error occurs, the return value is 0.

## Example

See [File Functions](CAPLfunctionsExapmleFileFunctions.md)