Read unicode text files with java

Question

Real simple question really. I need to read a Unicode text file in a Java program.

I am used to using plain ASCII text with a BufferedReader FileReader combo which is obviously not working :(

I know that I can read a String in the 'traditional' way using a Buffered Reader and then convert it using something like:

temp = new String(temp.getBytes(), "UTF-16");

But is there a way to wrap the Reader in a 'Converter'?

EDIT: the file starts with FF FE

Answer 1

you wouldn't wrap the Reader, instead you would wrap the stream using an InputStreamReader. You could then wrap that with your BufferedReader that you currently use

BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(stream, encoding));