diff --git a/common/file.c b/common/file.c
index 6fd3e75d..1f510ad4 100644
--- a/common/file.c
+++ b/common/file.c
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@
 /* returns error
    returns 0 if everything is ok
    returns 1 if problem reading file */
-int APP_CC
-file_read_sections(int fd, struct list* names)
+static int APP_CC
+l_file_read_sections(int fd, int max_file_size, struct list* names)
 {
   struct stream* s;
   char text[256];
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ file_read_sections(int fd, struct list* names)
   g_memset(text, 0, 256);
   list_clear(names);
   make_stream(s);
-  init_stream(s, 8192);
-  len = g_file_read(fd, s->data, 8192);
+  init_stream(s, max_file_size);
+  len = g_file_read(fd, s->data, max_file_size);
   if (len > 0)
   {
     s->end = s->p + len;
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ file_read_line(struct stream* s, char* text)
 }
 
 /*****************************************************************************/
+/* returns error */
 static int APP_CC
 file_split_name_value(char* text, char* name, char* value)
 {
@@ -195,9 +196,9 @@ file_split_name_value(char* text, char* name, char* value)
 
 /*****************************************************************************/
 /* return error */
-int APP_CC
-file_read_section(int fd, const char* section, struct list* names,
-                  struct list* values)
+static int APP_CC
+l_file_read_section(int fd, int max_file_size, const char* section,
+                    struct list* names, struct list* values)
 {
   struct stream* s;
   char text[512];
@@ -208,7 +209,9 @@ file_read_section(int fd, const char* section, struct list* names,
   int in_it_index;
   int len;
   int index;
+  int file_size;
 
+  file_size = 32 * 1024; /* 32 K file size limit */
   g_file_seek(fd, 0);
   in_it_index = 0;
   in_it = 0;
@@ -216,8 +219,8 @@ file_read_section(int fd, const char* section, struct list* names,
   list_clear(names);
   list_clear(values);
   make_stream(s);
-  init_stream(s, 8192);
-  len = g_file_read(fd, s->data, 8192);
+  init_stream(s, file_size);
+  len = g_file_read(fd, s->data, file_size);
   if (len > 0)
   {
     s->end = s->p + len;
@@ -259,3 +262,77 @@ file_read_section(int fd, const char* section, struct list* names,
   free_stream(s);
   return 1;
 }
+
+/*****************************************************************************/
+/* returns error
+   returns 0 if everything is ok
+   returns 1 if problem reading file */
+/* 32 K file size limit */
+int APP_CC
+file_read_sections(int fd, struct list* names)
+{
+  return l_file_read_sections(fd, 32 * 1024, names);
+}
+
+/*****************************************************************************/
+/* return error */
+/* this function should be prefered over file_read_sections because it can
+   read any file size */
+int APP_CC
+file_by_name_read_sections(const char* file_name, struct list* names)
+{
+  int fd;
+  int file_size;
+  int rv;
+
+  file_size = g_file_get_size(file_name);
+  if (file_size < 1)
+  {
+    return 1;
+  }
+  fd = g_file_open(file_name);
+  if (fd < 1)
+  {
+    return 1;
+  }
+  rv = l_file_read_sections(fd, file_size, names);
+  g_file_close(fd);
+  return rv;
+}
+
+/*****************************************************************************/
+/* return error */
+/* 32 K file size limit */
+int APP_CC
+file_read_section(int fd, const char* section,
+                  struct list* names, struct list* values)
+{
+  return l_file_read_section(fd, 32 * 1024, section, names, values);
+}
+
+/*****************************************************************************/
+/* return error */
+/* this function should be prefered over file_read_section because it can
+   read any file size */
+int APP_CC
+file_by_name_read_section(const char* file_name, const char* section,
+                          struct list* names, struct list* values)
+{
+  int fd;
+  int file_size;
+  int rv;
+
+  file_size = g_file_get_size(file_name);
+  if (file_size < 1)
+  {
+    return 1;
+  }
+  fd = g_file_open(file_name);
+  if (fd < 1)
+  {
+    return 1;
+  }
+  rv = l_file_read_section(fd, file_size, section, names, values);
+  g_file_close(fd);
+  return rv;
+}
diff --git a/common/file.h b/common/file.h
index 6f0dfc8f..c019ae9c 100644
--- a/common/file.h
+++ b/common/file.h
@@ -30,7 +30,12 @@
 int APP_CC
 file_read_sections(int fd, struct list* names);
 int APP_CC
-file_read_section(int fd, const char* section, struct list* names,
-                  struct list* values);
+file_by_name_read_sections(const char* file_name, struct list* names);
+int APP_CC
+file_read_section(int fd, const char* section,
+                  struct list* names, struct list* values);
+int APP_CC
+file_by_name_read_section(const char* file_name, const char* section,
+                          struct list* names, struct list* values);
 
 #endif