I didn't know $read(file,N) still read through looking when you supply the line number...
Anyway I had not used fread before and so I tested it with this
Code:
alias readfile {
  var %file = $sfile($logdir*.log)
  var %parm = $$?="Enter word(s) to find"
  .fopen logs %file
  echo -a $fopen(logs).fname
  echo -a errors: $ferr
  :findnext
  .fseek -w logs $+(*, %parm ,*)
  if ($ferr > 0) { goto end }
  if ($feof > 0) { goto end }
  elseif ($ferr <= 0) { echo -a $fread(logs) | goto findnext }
  :end
  fclose logs
}


It is also fast but maybe more awkward than the /filter

any pointers on using the fread file handling?