file=open('gs.txt','r') pr='' while 1: line = file.readline() if not line: break pr=pr+line file.close() print [pr] output: ['attgctagcytr \012'] How can I delete the space and \012 without editing the file. Is there a built-in function? thanks k Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.