Hey,

yeah java IO is not exactly the easiest thing to learn, but you do need to know a few of the basic classes to use. The easiest way to read in an ASCII text file is to use this:

ps: make sure you catch the exceptions or else your days will be numbered believe me

InputStream ist = new FileInputStream(textfile);
BufferedReader istream = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(ist));
String text = istream.readLine(); //just read the first line in the text file

and to break the records well i guess you have to use the StringTokenizer class,
i assume you know what that is if you don't i suggest you pay a little vivist to Java's API web page.
here's a quick look at what it would look like form here on:
StringTokenizer st;
while ( text != null )// while more line in text
{
st = new StringTokenizer(text) // break each words or whatever in to single //tokens
while ( st.hasMoreToken() ) // not sure about the spelling here
{
process each token here
}

read the next line
} // end of while ( text != null )

hope that help you get started.
take care,
Mel