diff --git a/pythonturtle/application.py b/pythonturtle/application.py
index 74f4066..6047686 100644
--- a/pythonturtle/application.py
+++ b/pythonturtle/application.py
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **keywords):
         self.turtle_process = turtleprocess.TurtleProcess()
         self.turtle_process.start()
         self.turtle_queue = self.turtle_process.turtle_queue
-
         self.init_menu_bar()
 
         self.init_about_dialog_info()
@@ -108,6 +107,12 @@ def init_menu_bar(self):
         self.menu_bar = wx.MenuBar()
 
         self.file_menu = wx.Menu()
+
+        self.open_menu_item = wx.MenuItem(self.file_menu, -1, 'O&pen...')
+        self.file_menu.Append(self.open_menu_item)
+        self.Bind(wx.EVT_MENU, self.on_open, source=self.open_menu_item)
+        self.file_menu.AppendSeparator()
+        
         self.exit_menu_item = wx.MenuItem(self.file_menu, -1, 'E&xit')
         self.file_menu.Append(self.exit_menu_item)
         self.Bind(wx.EVT_MENU, self.on_exit, source=self.exit_menu_item)
@@ -193,6 +198,21 @@ def toggle_help(self, event=None):
         else:
             self.show_help()
 
+    def on_open(self, event=None):
+        #ptf = python turtle functions
+        with wx.FileDialog(self, "Open PythonTurtle file", wildcard="PTF files (*.ptf)|*.ptf",
+                       style=wx.FD_OPEN | wx.FD_FILE_MUST_EXIST) as fileDialog:
+
+            if fileDialog.ShowModal() == wx.ID_CANCEL:
+                return     
+
+            pathname = fileDialog.GetPath()
+            try:
+                with open(pathname, 'r') as file:
+                    self.loadFunctionsFromFile(file)
+            except IOError:
+                wx.LogError("Cannot open file '%s'." % newfile)
+
     def on_exit(self, event=None):
         return self.Close()
 
@@ -216,6 +236,15 @@ def init_about_dialog_info(self):
     def on_about(self, event=None):
         wx.adv.AboutBox(self.about_dialog_info, self)
 
+    def loadFunctionsFromFile(self, file):        
+        commands = file.read()
+        self.shell.EnterFromFile(commands)
+        
+                
+        
+       
+    def saveAs(self, file):
+        wx.adv.AboutBox(self.about_dialog_info, self)
 
 def run():
     multiprocessing.freeze_support()
diff --git a/pythonturtle/helppages.py b/pythonturtle/helppages.py
index c318571..bc992e7 100644
--- a/pythonturtle/helppages.py
+++ b/pythonturtle/helppages.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ def page_list(parent=None):
         ["Level 2", resource_filename("help2.png")],
         ["Level 3", resource_filename("help3.png")],
         ["Level 4", resource_filename("help4.png")],
+        ["Using Files", resource_filename("UsingFilesHelp.png")],
     ]
 
     pages = [
diff --git a/pythonturtle/resources/UsingFilesHelp.png b/pythonturtle/resources/UsingFilesHelp.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ac84fe
Binary files /dev/null and b/pythonturtle/resources/UsingFilesHelp.png differ
diff --git a/pythonturtle/resources/UsingFilesHelp.txt b/pythonturtle/resources/UsingFilesHelp.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a383e5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pythonturtle/resources/UsingFilesHelp.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+PythonTurtle can load a file with functions already in it.  These functions
+will then be available to use in your programs.
+Note: The file can contain only functions; it can't contain direct commands
+like "go".  It can only contain functions that start with "def".  Other 
+items will cause a "syntax error" when loading.
+
+How to load functions from a file:
+
+-Create a file, using a text editor. 
+
+-Add functions to the file; for example:
+
+def polygon(n):
+    for i in range(n):
+        go(50)
+        turn(360.0/n)
+
+def polygon100(n):
+    for i in range(n):
+        go(100)
+        turn(360.0/n)
+        
+-Save the file with the extension ".ptf"
+
+-From PythonTurtle, select File->Open...
+
+-Select your file and open.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pythonturtle/shelltoprocess/forkedpyshell.py b/pythonturtle/shelltoprocess/forkedpyshell.py
index 36fb94d..6c75641 100644
--- a/pythonturtle/shelltoprocess/forkedpyshell.py
+++ b/pythonturtle/shelltoprocess/forkedpyshell.py
@@ -1347,22 +1347,46 @@ def _clip(self, data):
             wx.TheClipboard.SetData(data)
             wx.TheClipboard.Flush()
             wx.TheClipboard.Close()
+            
+    def FormatCommand(self, command):
+        ps2 = str(sys.ps2)
+        command = command.rstrip()
+        command = self.fixLineEndings(command)
+        command = self.lstripPrompt(text=command)
+        command = command.replace(os.linesep + ps2, '\n')
+        command = command.replace(os.linesep, '\n')
+        command = command.replace('\n', os.linesep + ps2)    
+        return command
+    
+    def EnterFromFile(self, commands):
+        """take contents of ptf (python turtle function) file, split into 
+        separate functions, and enter them"""
+        
+        #can't handle it if multiple defs are fed in at once; split them, 
+        #and handle them individually
+        commandList = commands.split("def")
+        for command in commandList:
+            #split results in some blank strings where def was
+            if(len(command) > 0):
+                #split above removes def, so need to add it back
+                command = "def" + command
+                command = self.FormatCommand(command)
+                self.write(command)
+                self.processLine()
+                self.prompt()
+                self.processLine()
+                self.prompt()
 
     def Paste(self):
         """Replace selection with clipboard contents."""
         if self.CanPaste() and wx.TheClipboard.Open():
-            ps2 = str(sys.ps2)
+
             if wx.TheClipboard.IsSupported(wx.DataFormat(wx.DF_TEXT)):
                 data = wx.TextDataObject()
                 if wx.TheClipboard.GetData(data):
                     self.ReplaceSelection('')
                     command = data.GetText()
-                    command = command.rstrip()
-                    command = self.fixLineEndings(command)
-                    command = self.lstripPrompt(text=command)
-                    command = command.replace(os.linesep + ps2, '\n')
-                    command = command.replace(os.linesep, '\n')
-                    command = command.replace('\n', os.linesep + ps2)
+                    command = self.FormatCommand(command)
                     self.write(command)
             wx.TheClipboard.Close()