FUNCTION file2strings,filename,nlines=nlines

openr,unit,filename,/get

strs=['']
str=''
WHILE not eof(unit) DO BEGIN
  readf,unit,str
  strs=[strs,str]
ENDWHILE
strs=strs(1:*)
nlines=n_elements(strs)

close,unit

free_lun,unit

RETURN,strs

END