function _file2str($file_name)
    {
        // Check state of file and raise an error properly
        if (!file_exists($file_name)) {
            return $this->_raiseError('File not found: ' . $file_name);
        }
        if (!is_file($file_name)) {
            return $this->_raiseError('Not a regular file: ' . $file_name);
        }
        if (!is_readable($file_name)) {
            return $this->_raiseError('File is not readable: ' . $file_name);
        }

        // Temporarily reset magic_quotes_runtime and read file contents
        if ($magic_quote_setting = get_magic_quotes_runtime()) {
            @ini_set('magic_quotes_runtime', 0);
        }
        $cont = file_get_contents($file_name);
        if ($magic_quote_setting) {
            @ini_set('magic_quotes_runtime', $magic_quote_setting);
        }

        return $cont;
    }