public static ArrayList<Object> getData(String s){
		selectReader(s);
		ArrayList<Object> data = new ArrayList<Object>();

		ArrayList<String>info = new ArrayList<String>(); //holds all the information for a specific workshop line
		while(input.hasNextLine()){
			info = new ArrayList<String>(); //clears the arraylist after each new line
			String line = input.nextLine(); //the line of text to be converted into workshop information
			String temp = ""; //a temporary String to hold the next workshop component
			int count = 0;
			int i = 0;
			while(i+1<line.length()){
				temp = "";
				if(line.charAt(i) == '['){
					int j = i;
					while(line.charAt(j+1) != ']'){
						temp += line.charAt(j+1);
						j++;
					}
					info.add(count, temp);
					count++;
				}
				i++;
			}
			if(info.size() > 0){
				if(readType.equals("WORKSHOPS")){
					data.add(new Workshop(info));
				}else if(readType.equals("PARTICIPANTS")){ //participants
					data.add(new Participant(info));
				}else if(readType.equals("CONFERENCES")){
					data.add(new Conference(info));
				}
			}
		}
		return data;
	}