This applet reads in an auxilliary file. With the exception of this preamble, this file is a copy of the source code for the applet itselt. The reading isn't perfect. Some of the lines appear to be shifted over somewhat. I don't yet know why this happens. ******** import java.applet.Applet; import java.awt.*; import java.io.*; public class test1 extends Applet { SimpleFileReader S; public void init() { File file=new File("text"); int[] coords={-200,50,400,250}; Color[] C=new Color[4]; C[1]=Color.white; C[2]=Color.black; Font font=new Font("TimesRoman",Font.PLAIN,15); S=new SimpleFileReader(coords,C,file,font); setBackground(Color.blue); add(S); } public void paint(Graphics g) { g.setColor(Color.yellow); g.setFont(new Font("TimesRoman",Font.PLAIN,35)); g.drawString("Rich: Applet 25",10,30); } } class SimpleFileReader extends Container { int[] coords; Color[] C; File file; Font font; SimpleFileReader(int[] coords,Color C[],File file,Font font) { this.coords=coords; this.C=C; this.file=file; this.font=font; TextArea T=new TextArea(); T.reshape(coords[0],coords[1],coords[2],coords[3]); T.setBackground(C[1]); T.setForeground(C[2]); T.setEditable(false); T.setFont(font); try { FileInputStream I=new FileInputStream(file); int c; while((c=I.read())!=-1) { char ch=(char)(c); Character CH=new Character(ch); T.appendText(CH.toString()); } } catch(Exception e) {} add(T); } }