---
id: "M:cAlgo.API.File.ReadLines"
kind: "method"
type: "T:cAlgo.API.File"
url: "https://help.ctrader.com/ctrader-algo/references/Utility/File/ReadLines/"
---

> Documentation index for agents: https://help.ctrader.com/ctrader-algo/llms.txt · machine index: https://help.ctrader.com/ctrader-algo/api.json

# File.ReadLines

Member of [File](https://help.ctrader.com/ctrader-algo/references/Utility/File/index.md).

## ReadLines()

Reads the lines of file.

Environments: Desktop supported · CLI supported · Cloud not supported.

- Cloud: Exists returns false; reads return empty string/array; writes and appends silently do nothing. No exception.

C#:

```csharp
string[] ReadLines()
```

Python:

```python
file.ReadLines() -> list[str]
```

### Returns

`string[]` — 

Available since cAlgo.API 5.7.

### Examples

C#:

```csharp
protected override void OnStart()
{
    foreach (var line in DataFile.ReadLines())
        Print(line);
}
```

Python:

```python
for line in api.DataFile.ReadLines():
    api.Print(line)
```

config.json:

```json
{
  "Parameters": [
    {
      "Name": "DataFile",
      "DisplayName": "Data File",
      "Type": "File"
    }
  ]
}
```

## ReadLines(EncodingType encodingType)

Reads the lines of file that has a specified encoding.

Environments: Desktop supported · CLI supported · Cloud not supported.

- Cloud: Exists returns false; reads return empty string/array; writes and appends silently do nothing. No exception.

C#:

```csharp
string[] ReadLines(EncodingType encodingType)
```

Python:

```python
file.ReadLines(encodingType: EncodingType) -> list[str]
```

### Parameters

- `encodingType` (`EncodingType`, Python `EncodingType`): Encoding type

### Returns

`string[]` — 

Available since cAlgo.API 5.7.

### Examples

C#:

```csharp
protected override void OnStart()
{
    var lines = DataFile.ReadLines(EncodingType.Unicode);
    Print("{0} has {1} lines", DataFile.Name, lines.Length);
}
```

Python:

```python
lines = api.DataFile.ReadLines(EncodingType.Unicode)
api.Print(f"{api.DataFile.Name} has {len(lines)} lines")
```

config.json:

```json
{
  "Parameters": [
    {
      "Name": "DataFile",
      "DisplayName": "Data File",
      "Type": "File"
    }
  ]
}
```