clear
nSecs = 4
f1 = new file()
f1.create('dummy.txt')
f1.puts('test text')
nStart = seconds()
nCount = 0
lFileAvailable = false
f = new file()
do while lFileAvailable <> true or seconds()-nStart <= nSecs
   ? ++ nCount,seconds() - nStart
   try
      lFileAvailable = f.open('dummy.txt')
      if lFileAvailable = true 
         exit   
      endif   
   catch(exception e)
      sleep(nSecs/10)
      
//   Uncomment the code below.  This will close dummy.txt
//   after 2 seconds which will allow the progrm to continue. 
/*      
      if seconds() -nStart > 2
         f1.close()
      endif   
*/
      if seconds() - nStart > nSecs
         exit
      endif   
   endtry
enddo
? 'done' , seconds() - nStart,lFileAvailable
if not lFileAvailable
   msgbox('Timed out')
   //code to deal with this
endif
try
   cRead = f.gets()
   ?cRead
catch(exception e)
endtry
f1.close()
f.close()