public int read(char[] buffer,int offset,int length) throws IOException {
  byte[] bytes=new byte[length];
  int count=_file.read(bytes,0,length);
  for (int i=0; i < count; i++) {
    buffer[offset + i]=(char)bytes[i];
  }
  return count;
}

public int read ( char [ ] buffer , int offset , int length ) throws IOException { byte [ ] bytes = new byte [ length ] ; int count = _file . read ( bytes , 0 , length ) ; for ( int i = 0 ; i < count ; i ++ ) { buffer [ offset + i ] = ( char ) bytes [ i ] ; } return count ; }
reads a block starting from the current file pointer .
