# Text File Read

> Read a UTF-8 text file and emit its raw content on stdout. Tiny helper for meta-skills that need to round-trip an artefact through disk so the user can hand-edit it between steps (e.g. tweak script.txt during a review pause). Unlike the builtin read_file tool — which returns line-numbered output for model display — this returns bytes verbatim, suitable for downstream parsers.

- Skill: `gabrielmoreira/text-file-read` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add gabrielmoreira/text-file-read`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/gabrielmoreira/text-file-read/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: gabrielmoreira (https://skillmd.com/u/gabrielmoreira)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/gabrielmoreira/text-file-read

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# text-file-read

Reads a UTF-8 text file and prints its contents verbatim to stdout
(no line numbers, no decoration). Use this when a meta-skill needs
to round-trip an artefact through disk between steps so the user can
hand-edit the file during a clarify pause.

This skill exists alongside OpenSquilla's builtin `read_file` tool
on purpose: `read_file` is designed for LLM display and prepends a
`lineno\t` prefix to every line, which corrupts structured files
(scripts, SRT, YAML) when piped back into downstream parsers. This
skill returns the bytes unmodified.

## Inputs (`with:`)

| key | required | default | notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| `input` | yes | — | Absolute path of the file to read. |
| `max_bytes` | no | `200000` | Refuse to read files larger than this. Guards against accidental binary reads. |

## Output

The file's UTF-8 content on stdout. No trailing newline added or stripped.

## Failure modes

- Path missing → exit 1, stderr explains.
- File exceeds `max_bytes` → exit 1, stderr carries the actual size.
- Decode error → exit 1 (file isn't valid UTF-8).