# CFFILE ACTION="ReadBinary"

You can use the CFFILE tag to read an existing binary file, such as an executable or image file. The file is read into a binary object parameter you can use anywhere in the page like any other parameter. If you would like to send it through one of the Web protocols, such as HTTP or SMTP, or store it in a database, you should first convert it to Base 64 (see ToBase64).

### Syntax

    <CFFILE ACTION="ReadBinary"
        FILE="full_path_name"
        VARIABLE="var_name">

#### FILE

Required. The full path name of the file to be read.

#### VARIABLE

Required. The name of the variable that will contain the contents of the binary file after it has been read.

### Example

The following example creates a variable named "aBinaryObj " that will contain the ColdFusion Server executable.

    <CFFILE ACTION="ReadBinary"
        FILE="c:\cfusion\bin\cfserver.exe"
        VARIABLE="aBinaryObj">

You can then convert the binary file to Base 64 so that you could FTP it to another site for upload.