I'm working on a simple program that will select a random string from an array.

I started with a predefined array, but about halfway through wondered if it wouldn't be simpler (or more elegant) to use a `text file (.txt)`, since I have a bit over 1000 items.

I found this solution here (for which I take no credit) and it is working for me...

```
function readTextFile(file) {
    var items = [];
    var rawFile = new XMLHttpRequest();
    rawFile.open("GET", file, true);
    rawFile.onreadystatechange = function() {
        if(rawFile.readyState === 4)
        {
            if(rawFile.status === 200 || rawFile.status === 0)
            {
                var items = rawFile.responseText.split('\n');
                alert(items[0]);
            }
        }
    };
    rawFile.send(null);
}

readTextFile('source.txt');

```

...to an extent.

I want the `array items[]` to contain one line per item. In other words I want to split per new line. However, all array items are undefiend after `items[0]` when I use `split('\n')`.

`items[0]` in the example above becomes the first sentence, so that much is correct. If I want to `alert items[1]` I get undefined.

If I use some other split point, such as `split('')`, it works correctly, separating each character per item ONLY until the line breaks, after which point I get undefined again.

Let's say the first line of the `.txt is "asd"`:
so 'asd' is defined in array as :

```
items[0] = 'a'
items[1] = 's'
items[2] = 'd'
items[3] = undefined

```

This is what I would get. Where am I wrong?

Contents of text file:

```
asfe
asdasdasd
asdasd

fgfg

```