Try creating a file that contains this:
cat /path/to/text/file
sh
Make the file executable (chmod +x filename), and then call this script from your aterm command.
Many thanks, that works well.
It has sparked a development of the idea...
Is it possible to create a .desktop file that opens an aterm in the manner now working, i.e. specifying the executable script but also appending the text file to the Exec line? Something like this
Exec=aterm param param param -e /path/to/executable/script.sh /path/to/text/file.txt
The idea being to have the executable script open the text file as %1.
I have tried with this executable script
cat %1
echo ; echo
sh
but it reports cannot find %1.