contents

Gets file contents: either a head slice (first N lines) or a 1-based line range.

Convenience method that delegates to file.buffer.get_text(). Requires file.buffer to be non-null. Ensure buffer is created before use.

Important

This method requires file.buffer to be non-null. Ensure buffer is created before use:

        if (file.buffer == null) {
                file.manager.buffer_provider.create_buffer(file);
        }
        var all = file.contents();

Buffer must be loaded first (via read_async() or automatic loading).

Two modes (second parameter)

• end_line == -1 (default) — start_or_count is how many lines to take

  from the **start** of the file:

  -1 or 0 (or any value less than or equal to zero) means the **whole** file;

  N > 0 means the first N lines (e.g. contents(2) is the first two lines).

• end_line != -1 — start_or_count and end_line are

  **1-based inclusive** line numbers (e.g. contents(2, 5) is lines 2 through 5).

  The lower and upper lines are int.min / int.max so the pair may be passed

  in either order. Further bounds and clamping are handled by buffer.get_text().

Parameters:

start_or_count	Head mode: line count from the top; -1 or 0 = entire file. Range mode: first line number, **1-based inclusive** (unchanged).
end_line	-1 = head mode; else end line (1-based inclusive)

Returns:

File contents, or empty string if not available