file read and write function fails to execute in functions

The constant will probably be the easiest. I assume you can just copy/paste the values from the old text file in a decent text editor with column edit mode and just add the text arround the copy/pasted text. Could probable be done in 5 mins.

As for VHDL support - There is no IEEE 95 VHDL standard. There is '87, 93, 2002 and 2008. There is a 95 Verilog standard if thats what you're refering to? Altera's compile tools have always been one of the better ones. Much better than Xilinx and even synopsys admit their synth engine is no better than Quartus. It also had some 2008 support before anyone else (it's starting to lag now). But otherwise the Altera tools are the rather good. Max + Plus 2 has very poor VHDL support.