Read from Text File | MuleSoft Documentation
# Read from Text File
The _Read from Text File_ action step allows you to read from a text file and you use the _Read_ _Mode_ to specify which part of the file is to be read. The button in the Workflow shows the _Read Mode_ that is presently active in brackets after the name of the action step (in the example above: WholeFile). There is an option to determine whether the text should be deleted after reading.
To achieve a correct result, the text file to be read has to be UTF-8 encoded.
## Properties
**File Operation Settings:**
  * **Delete line(s) after read** Specify whether the text should be deleted after it is read.
  * **Directory path** Enter the path to the directory where the file to be read is stored. You can specify an absolute or relative path. If a relative path is used, then the path relates to the _Base Path_ variable.
  * **File name** Enter the name here of the file that is to be read.
  * **Line count** Enter the number of lines to be read. This option can be used if you have specified that more than one line (_Range of lines_) should be read in _Read file check mode_.
  * **Number of first or Single Line** Specify the number of lines that are to be read here. If you have selected more than one line to be read in _Read file check mode_ , i.e. a _Range of lines_ , this is where you select the line number at which to start reading.


The first line in a text file is line number 1!
  * **Read file check mode** Use _Read file_ _check mode_ to specify which part of the file is to be read:
    * **Read whole file** The whole file will be read.
    * **Last line** Only the last, most recent line of the file will be read.
    * **Single line** Only a single line will be read (please also note the setting **Number of first or single line**).
    * **Range of lines** A set of lines will be read (please also note the setting **Number of first or single line**).
  * **Read to end** Specify whether to read to the end of the file. This option can be used if you have specified that more than one line (_Range of lines_) should be read in _Read file check mode_. The advantage of this option compared to the _Line count_ option is that you do not have to define how many lines are to be read when in _Range of lines_ mode.


Other Properties that are the same in all action steps are described in the section on **Common Properties**. For reasons of clarity they are not shown here.
## Inbound Variables
**Directory path** Enter the path to the directory where the file to be read is stored. You can specify an absolute or relative path. If a relative path is used, then the path relates to the _Base Path_ variable.
**Directory path** Enter the path to the directory where the file to be read is stored. You can specify an absolute or relative path. If a relative path is used, then the path relates to the _Base Path_ variable.
## Outbound Variables
**Read text** The _Read from Text File.Read text_ variable provides the selected read mode (_Read file check mode_).
**IsRead** The _Read from Text File.IsRead_ variable indicates whether the file could be read or not (True/False).
**Line Count** The _Read from Text File.Line Count_ variable provides the number of lines that are to be read.
**File name** The _Read from Text File.File Name_ variable provides the name of the file that is to be read.
**Directory path** The _Read from Text File.Directory Path_ variable provides the path that is used.
## Wizard
  * **Directory path** Specify the path to the file that is to be read. You can create an absolute path or a path relative to the _Base Path_. The initial value is %STWS_BASEPATH%. Select an existing path. You can also insert variables from the _Workflow_ in order to construct the path. To do so, click on the pin and select one of the available variables.


  * **File name** Enter the name here of the file that is to be read. You can also insert a variable from the Workflow as the _File Name_. To do so, click on the pin and select one of the available variables.
  * **Read mode** Use _Read_ _mode_ to specify which part of the file is to be read. Other fields will be shown depending on the chosen setting:
    * **Entire file** The whole file will be read.
    * **Last line** Only the last, most recent line of the file will be read.
    * **Single line** Only a single line will be read. Enter the line number of the line that is to be read in the **Line Number** field.
    * **Range of lines** A range of lines will be read. Enter the line number of the first line that is to be read in the **First line to read** field. Enter the number of lines that is to be read in the **Line count** field. Use the option **Read to end of file** to specify that reading is to occur until the end of the file. The advantage of this option compared to the _Line count_ detail is that you do not have to define the number of lines that is to be read.


The first line in a text file is line number 1!
  * **Remove line(s) after read** Specify here whether the text should be deleted after it is read.
  * **Encoding** The encoding of the file to read. Includes Shift-JIS and EUC-JP for Japanese support. Specify a valid encoding type if the one you need is not in the list.