Read the complete contents of a file as text. DEPRECATED: Use read_text_file instead.
Purpose
This skill provides access to the MCP tool read_file. It allows you to read the complete contents of a file as text. deprecated: use read_text_file instead..
Parameters
The tool accepts the following parameters:
path
Required
Type: string
Description: No description provided
tail
Optional
Type: number
Description: If provided, returns only the last N lines of the file
head
Optional
Type: number
Description: If provided, returns only the first N lines of the file
Usage Instructions
To use this tool:
Prepare the parameters according to the schema above
Invoke the MCP toolread_file with the prepared parameters
The tool returns data with the following structure:
content (string): No description provided
Notes
This skill requires an active MCP connection to the server providing the read_file tool
Ensure the MCP server is properly configured and running before attempting to use this tool
Review the parameter requirements carefully to avoid errors
1---2name: read-file3description: Read File (Deprecated)4---56# Read File (Deprecated)78Read the complete contents of a file as text. DEPRECATED: Use read_text_file instead.910## Purpose1112This skill provides access to the MCP tool `read_file`. It allows you to read the complete contents of a file as text. deprecated: use read_text_file instead..1314## Parameters1516The tool accepts the following parameters:1718### `path`19**Required**20- **Type**: `string`21- **Description**: No description provided2223### `tail`24*Optional*25- **Type**: `number`26- **Description**: If provided, returns only the last N lines of the file2728### `head`29*Optional*30- **Type**: `number`31- **Description**: If provided, returns only the first N lines of the file323334## Usage Instructions3536To use this tool:37381. **Prepare the parameters** according to the schema above392. **Invoke the MCP tool** `read_file` with the prepared parameters403. **Process the result** returned by the tool4142## Example4344```json45{46 "path": "example_value",47 "tail": 123,48 "head": 12349}50```5152## Expected Output5354The tool returns data with the following structure:5556- **content** (`string`): No description provided575859## Notes6061- This skill requires an active MCP connection to the server providing the `read_file` tool62- Ensure the MCP server is properly configured and running before attempting to use this tool63- Review the parameter requirements carefully to avoid errors
Run npx skillmds@latest add xiaobai1017/read-file in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.
Read File (Deprecated) It is listed under Coding & Dev Tools on SkillMD.
This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: docs only. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.
This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.
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xiaobai1017 (@xiaobai1017) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.