def read(stream):
        '''
        Read PLY data from a readable file-like object or filename.
        '''
        (must_close, stream) = _open_stream(stream, 'read')
        try:
            data = PlyData._parse_header(stream)
            for elt in data:
                elt._read(stream, data.text, data.byte_order)
        finally:
            if must_close:
                stream.close()

        return data

        Read PLY data from a readable file-like object or filename.
        
visualizer/plyfile.py