<p>How does one read a data file in an iPhone project?  For example, lets say I have a static file called "level.dat" that is structured as follows:
obstacles: 10
time: 100
obstacle1: 10,20
...</p>

<p>I would like to read the contents of the file into a NSString then do the parsing.  How do I read the contents of a file into a string?  Also, where in the project should the "level.dat" file reside?  Should it be under "Resources" or just in the main directory?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

See this answer:
How to fopen() on the iPhone?
which shows how to get access to resources in your bundle. Once you have the path, just use [NSString stringWithContentsOfFile:encoding:error:].
```
```
NSString   *path = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource: @"level" ofType: @"dat"]
NSError    *error = nil;
NSString   *data = [NSString stringWithContentsOfFile: path 
                                             encoding: NSUTF8StringEncoding 
                                                error: &error];
```
```