def directives_read(dfile):
    """
    Reads directives into array of lines.
    
    """
    fp = open(dfile)
    lines = fp.readlines()
    fp.close()
    dc = []
    for line in lines:
        line = line.strip()
        if not line:
            continue
        if line.startswith("#"):
            continue
        dc.append(line)
    return dc