# XML format for a file that only contains points?

**URL:** <https://discourse.paraview.org/t/xml-format-for-a-file-that-only-contains-points/7308>\
**Category:** ParaView Support\
**Created:** [May 27, 2021, 11:56pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/xml-format-for-a-file-that-only-contains-points/7308 "2021-05-27T23:56:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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**Author:** ![jfavre](https://discourse.paraview.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/b5ac83/32.png) [@jfavre](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/jfavre)\
**Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 6:28am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/xml-format-for-a-file-that-only-contains-points/7308/2 "2021-05-28T06:28:10Z")

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the bare minimum you would need for a correct definition of the Cells element is the following:

```
    <Cells>
    <DataArray Name="connectivity"></DataArray>
    <DataArray Name="offsets"></DataArray>
    <DataArray Name="types"></DataArray>
  </Cells>

```

However, without cell elements, quite a few filters will not be able to operate on your data. The default view representation “Points” will also not work. “Point Gaussian” will work.  
After reading your data, you may use a Glyph filter with “2D Glyph” and “Vertex” types to add cell elements.

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