How can I have an asc file from one application read text files in another
applications directory?

I have multiple applications creating text files stored in a directory called
docvid (this is my application directory). I also have another completely
different application that needs to access these text file. How do I use the
"sandbox" stuff to allow this other application to read these text files?

This code works fine:
custEmail = new File("/streams/"+userName+"/"+"email.txt");

but this doesn't
custEmail = new File("../email.txt");
It says:File operation open failed.