diff --git a/src/boututils/file_import.py b/src/boututils/file_import.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..34d35544d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/boututils/file_import.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+"""Import an entire BOUT++ DataFile into memory
+
+"""
+
+from boututils.datafile import DataFile
+
+
+def file_import(name):
+    """Read all variables from file into a dictionary
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    name : str
+        Name of file to read
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    dict
+        Dictionary containing all the variables in the file
+    """
+    f = DataFile(name)  # Open file
+    varlist = f.list()  # Get list of all variables in file
+    data = {}  # Create empty dictionary
+    for v in varlist:
+        data[v] = f.read(v)
+    f.close()
+    return data