Delphi - Sharing violation opening text file

Question

I'm trying to open a text file for reading in a Delphi 7 app, but am getting I/O error 32 (sharing violation) because another application already has the file open. I've tried setting FileMode to "fmOpenRead or fmShareDenyNone" but now realise this doesn't apply to text files anyway.

Is there a way of reading text files that are open by another application?

var
  f: TextFile;
begin
  FileMode := fmOpenRead or fmShareDenyNone;   // FileMode IS NOT APPLICABLE TO TEXT FILES!!
  AssignFile(f, FileName);
  Reset(f);

Answer 1

This will solve your problem instantly. Load the file using a TStringList. Just call:

...
var sl: TStringList;
begin
  sl := TStringList.create();
  try
    sl.loadFromFile(Filename);
    ...do your stuff here...
  finally
    freeAndNil(sl);
  end;
end;

I found that dealing with text files, it's best to use the TStringList. Otherwise I'd go for TFileStream and there you can specify your opening mode.

Answer 2

If I remember correctly, there is also a Textfilemode Variable that applies to text files only.

Answer 3

Maybe like this:

  vFileList := TStringList.Create;

  try
    vFileStream := TFileStream.Create('myfile.txt', fmShareDenyNone);
    vFileList.LoadFromStream(vFileStream);
    vFileStream.Destroy;

    // Use vFileList
  finally
    vFileList.Free;
  end;

Answer 4

Use the LoadFromStream method of TStringList, rather than LoadFromFile. You get to control the locking that way:

var
    slFile: TStrings;
    stream: TStream;
begin
   slFile := TStringList.Create;
   try
      stream := TFileStream.Create(filename, fmOpenRead or fmShareDenyNone);
      try 
         slFile.LoadFromStream(stream);
      finally
         stream.Free;
      end;

      //Use the stringlist
   finally
      slFile.Free;
   end;
end;