---
title: "readFileContentsType(_:toFile:)"
framework: appkit
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: "appkit/nspasteboard/readfilecontentstype(_:tofile:)"
---

# readFileContentsType(_:toFile:)

Reads data representing a file’s contents from the receiver and writes it to the specified file.

## Declaration

```swift
func readFileContentsType(_ type: NSPasteboard.PasteboardType?, toFile filename: String) -> String?
```

## Parameters

- `type`: The pasteboard data type to read. You should generally specify a value for this parameter. If you specify nil, the filename extension (in combination with the NSCreateFileContentsPboardType function) is used to determine the type.
- `filename`: The file to receive the pasteboard data.

## Return Value

Return Value The name of the file into which the data was actually written.

## Discussion

Discussion Data of any file contents type should only be read using this method. If data matching the specified type is not found on the pasteboard, data of type NSFileContentsPboardType is requested. note: In macOS 10.5 and earlier, the file contents pboard type allowed you to synthesize a pboard type for a file’s contents based on the file’s extension. In macOS 10.5 and later, using the UTI of a file to represent its contents now replaces this functionality. Special Considerations You must send an availableType(from:) or types message before invoking readFileContentsType(_:toFile:).

## See Also

### Related Documentation

- [writeFileContents(_:)](appkit/nspasteboard/writefilecontents(_:).md)

### Reading data (macOS 10.5 and earlier)

- [readFileWrapper()](appkit/nspasteboard/readfilewrapper().md)