diff --git a/tantri/cli/file_importer.py b/tantri/cli/file_importer.py
index ea6b4b7..9f12c6c 100755
--- a/tantri/cli/file_importer.py
+++ b/tantri/cli/file_importer.py
@@ -22,3 +22,8 @@ def read_data_from_filename(filename: str):
 def read_dots_json_file(filename: str) -> Sequence[tantri.dipoles.DotPosition]:
 	data = read_data_from_filename(filename)
 	return tantri.cli.input_files.rows_to_dots(data)
+
+
+def read_dipoles_json_file(filename: str) -> Sequence[tantri.dipoles.DotPosition]:
+	data = read_data_from_filename(filename)
+	return tantri.cli.input_files.rows_to_dots(data)
diff --git a/tantri/cli/input_files/__init__.py b/tantri/cli/input_files/__init__.py
index 96e998a..8c38a99 100755
--- a/tantri/cli/input_files/__init__.py
+++ b/tantri/cli/input_files/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 from tantri.cli.input_files.read_dots import rows_to_dots
+from tantri.cli.input_files.read_dipoles import rows_to_dipoles, DipoleTO
 
 __all__ = [
-	"rows_to_dots"
+	"rows_to_dots",
+	"rows_to_dipoles",
+	"DipoleTO",
 ]
diff --git a/tantri/cli/input_files/read_dipoles.py b/tantri/cli/input_files/read_dipoles.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..aa24c89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tantri/cli/input_files/read_dipoles.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import numpy
+from typing import Sequence
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+
+# Lazily just separating this from tantri.dipoles.Dipole where there's additional cached stuff, this is just a thing
+# we can use as a DTO For dipole info.
+@dataclass
+class DipoleTO:
+	# assumed len 3
+	p: numpy.ndarray
+	s: numpy.ndarray
+
+	# should be 1/tau up to some pis
+	w: float
+
+
+def row_to_dipole(input_dict: dict) -> DipoleTO:
+	p = input_dict["p"]
+	if len(p) != 3:
+		raise ValueError(f"p parameter in input_dict [{input_dict}] does not have length 3")
+	s = input_dict["s"]
+	if len(s) != 3:
+		raise ValueError(f"s parameter in input_dict [{input_dict}] does not have length 3")
+	w = input_dict["w"]
+
+	return DipoleTO(p, s, w)
+
+
+def rows_to_dipoles(dot_dict_array: Sequence[dict]) -> Sequence[DipoleTO]:
+	return [row_to_dipole(input_dict) for input_dict in dot_dict_array]
diff --git a/tests/cli/__snapshots__/test_read_dipoles_json.ambr b/tests/cli/__snapshots__/test_read_dipoles_json.ambr
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..05c4816
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cli/__snapshots__/test_read_dipoles_json.ambr
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# serializer version: 1
+# name: test_dipoles_from_json_string
+  list([
+    DipoleTO(p=[0, 0, 1000], s=[-1.5, 0.0, 3.5], w=0.11),
+    DipoleTO(p=[1000, 5050, 1234], s=[-66, 323, 431], w=220),
+  ])
+# ---
+# name: test_parse_one_dipole_happy_path
+  DipoleTO(p=[150, 15.0, -21], s=[1.5, 0, 1], w=1513)
+# ---
diff --git a/tests/cli/test_read_dipoles_json.py b/tests/cli/test_read_dipoles_json.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..553e3a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cli/test_read_dipoles_json.py
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+import json
+import tantri.cli.input_files.read_dipoles as read_dipoles
+import pytest
+
+
+def test_parse_one_dipole_failures():
+
+	dict = {
+		"s": [1.5, 0, 1],
+		# missing p
+		"w": 1.5,
+	}
+
+	with pytest.raises(KeyError, match=r".*p.*"):
+		read_dipoles.row_to_dipole(dict)
+
+	dict = {
+		# missing s
+		"p": [150, 15.0, -21],
+		"w": 1.5,
+	}
+
+	with pytest.raises(KeyError, match=r".*s.*"):
+		read_dipoles.row_to_dipole(dict)
+
+	dict = {
+		"s": [1.5, 0, 1],
+		"p": [150, 15.0, -21],
+		# missing w
+	}
+
+	with pytest.raises(KeyError, match=r".*w.*"):
+		read_dipoles.row_to_dipole(dict)
+
+
+def test_parse_one_dipole_happy_path(snapshot):
+
+	dict = {
+		"s": [1.5, 0, 1],
+		"p": [150, 15.0, -21],
+		"w": 1513,
+	}
+
+	transformed = read_dipoles.row_to_dipole(dict)
+	assert transformed == snapshot
+
+
+def test_dot_r_wrong_length():
+
+	dict = {
+		"s": [1.5, 0, 1, 5],
+		"p": [150, 15.0, -21],
+		"w": 1513,
+	}
+
+	with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=r".*does not have length 3.*"):
+		read_dipoles.row_to_dipole(dict)
+
+	dict = {
+		"s": [1.5, 0, 1],
+		"p": [150, 15.0, -21, 235, 23],
+		"w": 1513,
+	}
+
+	with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=r".*does not have length 3.*"):
+		read_dipoles.row_to_dipole(dict)
+
+
+def test_dipoles_from_json_string(snapshot):
+	read_dipoles_json = """[
+		{
+			"s": [-1.5, 0.0, 3.5],
+			"p": [0, 0, 1000],
+			"w": 0.11
+		},
+		{
+			"s": [-66, 323, 431],
+			"p": [1000, 5050, 1234],
+			"w": 220
+		}
+	]
+	"""
+
+	parsed = json.loads(read_dipoles_json)
+	transformed = read_dipoles.rows_to_dipoles(parsed)
+
+	assert transformed == snapshot