Python Issues

I am doing my final project for my python programming class. I need some help just with the first part of this flowchart. The rest of the flowchart is cake but I am stuck at the beginning. I am getting the information from a .dat file. I'm not asking for the solution just the first step, please.


Full flowchart: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7ECg6bkIn2FUUdfNEY1cXNyM2M/edit?usp=sharing