Thanks Peter

I could not find FILETOSTR() anywhere in the help. I am using 3.0b.

Thanks
John

>I would use :
>a=filetostr('mydrawing.dxf')
>
>which gives you a variable which can be manipulated very easily. I have used this approach to convert mainframe data into foxpro quite extensively
>
>
>Peter
>
>>I am importing data from a dxf (drawing exchange format) file into a table. What is the best way to search for the lines I need then put them into a table. I must first find the "ENTITIES" section then look for either a "LINE", "CIRCLE", or an "ARC" entitie. Then I must read each line and evaluate what to do with the next line based on what the value is. For example the following is the description of a line that I would put in a table by extracting the needed data. The 5 means handle the 8 means layer name etc.