Amy,
Apparently I do not understand the problem correctly, if you already know the length of each field, why don't you use that information in the append from command?
CREATE CURSOR curNewFile(field1 c(nFieldLen1),field2 c(nFieldLen2),field3 c(nFieldLen3), .., fieldN c(nFieldLenN))
APPEND FROM (cFilename) SDF
"The five senses obstruct or deform the apprehension of reality."
Jorge L. Borges?
"Premature optimization is the root of all evil in programming."
Donald Knuth, repeating C. A. R. Hoare
"To die for a religion is easier than to live it absolutely"
Jorge L. Borges