# How do I read data from the .dat or .txt file into Paraview

**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-do-i-read-data-from-the-dat-or-txt-file-into-paraview/6848
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Created:** [April 2, 2021, 7:32am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-do-i-read-data-from-the-dat-or-txt-file-into-paraview/6848 "2021-04-02T07:32:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![\_Nhicke](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/_nhicke/32/6320_2.png) [@\_Nhicke](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/_Nhicke)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2021, 7:32am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-do-i-read-data-from-the-dat-or-txt-file-into-paraview/6848/1 "2021-04-02T07:32:45Z")

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I have a .dat/.txt file containing variables such as x,y,z position, velocity and etc. However I’m not sure what reader should I open it with and how to plot them into Paraview.[hydb00t110.dat](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/short-url/aGt718Zov8MIIoYa7nEkfQWL8yl.dat) (1.8 MB)

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### 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: [April 2, 2021, 7:42am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-do-i-read-data-from-the-dat-or-txt-file-into-paraview/6848/2 "2021-04-02T07:42:30Z")

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Rename your file into .csv or .txt and then open it with ParaView and use TableToPoints filter.

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### Author: ![\_Nhicke](https://discourse.paraview.org/user_avatar/discourse.paraview.org/_nhicke/32/6320_2.png) [@\_Nhicke](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/_Nhicke)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2021, 5:06am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-do-i-read-data-from-the-dat-or-txt-file-into-paraview/6848/3 "2021-04-03T05:06:58Z")

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Thank you

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### Author: ![jeswinj1990](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/858c86/32.png) [@jeswinj1990](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jeswinj1990)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2021, 8:08am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-do-i-read-data-from-the-dat-or-txt-file-into-paraview/6848/5 "2021-04-03T08:08:02Z")

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Hello Mathieu,

In line with the same topic, I too have a .txt file of a structured hexahedral grid and velocity field containing 4 columns; X, Y, Z, Velocity.

I performed TableToPoints filter but do not know how to proceed further. I wish to plot the iso-surface clipping of velocity field, for the span of X-Z plane, with color contours of Y distance.

I am very new to ParaView, and all documentations & tutorials mention .vtu files as input. However, there is no clear guide for processing data with .txt file input.

Kindly help me on how to proceed form TableToPoints filter

Regards  
Jeswin

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### 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: [April 3, 2021, 8:35am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-do-i-read-data-from-the-dat-or-txt-file-into-paraview/6848/6 "2021-04-03T08:35:56Z")

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does TableToStructuredGrid works for you ?

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### Author: ![jeswinj1990](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/858c86/32.png) [@jeswinj1990](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jeswinj1990)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2021, 8:43am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-do-i-read-data-from-the-dat-or-txt-file-into-paraview/6848/7 "2021-04-03T08:43:22Z")

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No. I am getting the following errors :

ERROR: In C:\glr\builds\paraview\paraview-ci\build\superbuild\paraview\src\VTK\Filters\General\vtkTableToStructuredGrid.cxx, line 89  
vtkTableToStructuredGrid (000002C467B1C6B0): The input table must have exactly 1 rows. Currently it has 2119450 rows.

ERROR: In C:\glr\builds\paraview\paraview-ci\build\superbuild\paraview\src\VTK\Common\ExecutionModel\vtkExecutive.cxx, line 753  
vtkPVCompositeDataPipeline (000002C46FC4C0B0): Algorithm vtkTableToStructuredGrid(000002C467B1C6B0) returned failure for request: vtkInformation (000002C46F19DB20)  
Debug: Off  
Modified Time: 3517643  
Reference Count: 1  
Registered Events: (none)  
Request: REQUEST\_DATA  
FORWARD\_DIRECTION: 0  
ALGORITHM\_AFTER\_FORWARD: 1  
FROM\_OUTPUT\_PORT: 0

Warning: In C:\glr\builds\paraview\paraview-ci\build\superbuild\paraview\src\VTK\Common\DataModel\vtkDataObject.cxx, line 498  
vtkTable (000002C44563B1A0): Attempted to ShallowCopy from null.

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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: [April 3, 2021, 8:45am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-do-i-read-data-from-the-dat-or-txt-file-into-paraview/6848/8 "2021-04-03T08:45:57Z")

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Please share your file

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![jeswinj1990](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/858c86/32.png) [@jeswinj1990](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jeswinj1990)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2021, 10:39am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-do-i-read-data-from-the-dat-or-txt-file-into-paraview/6848/11 "2021-04-05T10:39:10Z")

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Hello Mathieu,

Over the weekend, I did some trials and I have successfully completed TableToStructuredGrid filter. I have also found the filter to clip the data.

Thanks for your support. If I face any issues in future, I shall start a new thread.

Thanks and Regards  
Jeswin