When I import a file using the file() function it is screwing up any spanish
accents and putting in some strange characters in their place. Is there
something that I can do to remedy this?

So for example something like 'é' is being turned into '-', or 'í' is being
turned into '£' etc etc.. examples are not correct, but it's just to get the
point across :)

Cheers!

Rick

He who draws noble delights from the sentiments of poetry is a true poet,
though he has never written a line in all his life. - George Sand