# PLOT3D reader doesn't read function data
**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/plot3d-reader-doesnt-read-function-data/1167
**Category:** Development
**Created:** [January 23, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/plot3d-reader-doesnt-read-function-data/1167 "2019-01-23T17:18:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@elynch](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/elynch)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/plot3d-reader-doesnt-read-function-data/1167/1 "2019-01-23T17:18:27Z")
In version 5.6.0, the PLOT3D reader won’t read variables from my function file unless I also read the q file. I don’t need any of the data in the q file and would prefer not to read it. In the attached example, paraview.p3d is the metafile I would prefer to use, which does not reference the q files. After reading that file, the only Data Array listed in my Information panel is IBlank. paraview\_with\_q.p3d includes the q files as well. If I read that, all the expected Data Arrays are present, but as I said earlier, the q files are actually extraneous. This bug also shows up if I try to read the .x and .f files directly without a metafile. The q file is not necessary to read the function file in version 5.4.1.[pvissue.tar.gz](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/default/original/2X/9/9fb504d0a5a3d22f2248a6ce45ced3a43f7168ff.gz) (3.2 MB)
---
### Author:  [@dynamicsoar](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/dynamicsoar)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2019, 6:25pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/plot3d-reader-doesnt-read-function-data/1167/2 "2019-11-29T18:25:50Z")
Eric, thanks a lot for this information. I was struggling as well and searched the web for a while until I found this thread.
With a few simple tests on several different versions of ParaView, I found this bug (or “feature”…) was probably introduced in version 5.6. In version 5.5.2 it loads the function file w/o a .q file. The need for “dummy” .q. file is so irritating and I would love this to be fixed.