---
name: "load_datafile"
section: "3alleg4"
platform: "linux"
package: "allegro4-doc"
version: "2:4.4.3.1-5"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/load_datafile/3alleg4"
---

# load\_datafile(3alleg4)

Loads a datafile into memory. Allegro game programming library.

## NAME

load\_datafile - Loads a datafile into memory. Allegro game programming library.

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<allegro.h\>**

**DATAFILE \*load\_datafile(const char \*filename);**

## DESCRIPTION

Loads a datafile into memory in one go. If the datafile has been encrypted, you must first call packfile\_password() to set the appropriate key. If the datafile contains truecolor graphics, you must set the video mode or call set\_color\_conversion() before loading it. Example:

```
   /* Load the resources for our game. */
   DATAFILE *dat = load_datafile("game.dat");
   if (!dat)
      abort_on_error("Couldn't load sound resources!");
   /* Use resources. */
   ...
   /* Destroy them when we don't need them any more. */
   unload_datafile(dat);
```

## RETURN VALUE

Returns a pointer to the DATAFILE, or NULL on error. Remember to free this DATAFILE later to avoid memory leaks.

## SEE ALSO

**load\_datafile\_callback**(3alleg4), **unload\_datafile**(3alleg4), **load\_datafile\_object**(3alleg4), **set\_color\_conversion**(3alleg4), **fixup\_datafile**(3alleg4), **packfile\_password**(3alleg4), **find\_datafile\_object**(3alleg4), **register\_datafile\_object**(3alleg4), **excustom**(3alleg4), **exdata**(3alleg4), **exexedat**(3alleg4), **exgui**(3alleg4), **exsprite**(3alleg4), **exunicod**(3alleg4)