# Opening data files (and how to use Variables Pane)
### 1. Opening data files.
You can load and display the meteorological data from GRIB/GRIB2/NETCDF files saved in the your computer.
To open a file or a directory containing multiple files:
1. Choose *Home* category. In *Open Data* panel, click *Open File* or *Open Directory*, respectively.
1. In the *Open* dialog box, navigate to the file or the folder that you want to open, and then double-click or click *Open* button.
### 2. Using Variable Pane.
After opening data files, the *Variables Pane* displays a hierarchical tree structure of the variables in your data. By default, the variables are grouped by category and displayed with ID. You can customize the options to display variables as follows:
* You can group variables by clicking *Grouping* button (the second button on the control bar of *Variable Pane*).