# custom data reader in paraview

**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/custom-data-reader-in-paraview/7497
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Created:** [June 27, 2021, 7:21pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/custom-data-reader-in-paraview/7497 "2021-06-27T19:21:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![trailer](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/trailer/32/5399_2.png) [@trailer](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/trailer)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2021, 7:21pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/custom-data-reader-in-paraview/7497/1 "2021-06-27T19:21:19Z")

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Hello,

I am using am using paraview to read data from OpenFOAM.  
However, I would like to create a c++ program for educational purposed based on the OpenFOAM data structure and would like to create a custom data reader based my data. Is this possible? Where can I find the definitions used by paraview to read OpenFOAM data?

Best Regards

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/mwestphal/32/17_2.png) [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2021, 7:52pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/custom-data-reader-in-paraview/7497/2 "2021-06-27T19:52:37Z")

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This is usally done via a C++ or Python plugin, however OpenFOAM is a very complex format, you can find the reader her: [https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/blob/master/IO/Geometry/vtkOpenFOAMReader.cxx](https://gitlab.kitware.com/vtk/vtk/-/blob/master/IO/Geometry/vtkOpenFOAMReader.cxx)