---
title: "system.file.openFile"
description: "Shows an \"Open File\" dialog box, prompting the user to choose a file to open."
---

# system.file.openFile

> Shows an "Open File" dialog box, prompting the user to choose a file to open.

This function is used in **Python Scripting**.

## Description
Shows an "Open File" dialog box, prompting the user to choose a file to open. Returns the path to the file that the user chose, or None if the user canceled the dialog box. An extension can optionally be passed in that sets the filetype filter to that extension.

## Client Permission Restrictions
This scripting function has no [Client Permission](../../../ignition-modules/vision/vision-project-properties/vision-project-properties.md#vision-permissions-properties) restrictions.

## Syntax
`system.file.openFile([extension], [defaultLocation])`

### Parameters
Type | Parameter | Description 
------- | ------- | ------
String| `extension` | A file extension, such as "pdf", to try to open. [optional]
String| `defaultLocation` | A folder location, such as "C:\MyFiles", to use as the default folder to store in. [optional]
 
### Returns
**String** - The path to the selected file, or Nothing if canceled.
 
### Scope
Vision Client

## Code Examples
```python title="Example #1 - Opening a File"
# This code would prompt the user to open a file of type 'gif'. If None is returned, it means the user canceled the open dialog box.
  
path = system.file.openFile('gif')
if path != None:
   # do something with the file
```

```python title="Example #2 - Opening a File and Specifying a Default Location"
# This code would prompt the user to open a file of type 'pdf' from their stored documents folder. If None is returned, it means the user canceled the open dialog box.
# Note: the computer running this code needs to have network access to the "fileserver" computer.
path = system.file.openFile('pdf', '\\fileserver\PDF_Storage')
if path != None:
   # do something with the file
```