def pvar(*args, **kwargs):
    """
    Read PVAR files from Pencil Code using IDL. Does also work with block decomposition.
    Uses IDL<->Python Bridge, this must be activated manually!

    !! WARNING: SHAPE IS AS IN IDL: (X, Y, Z) !!

    Args:
        - varfile       put 'PVARXYZ' or just number here, 'VAR' will be replaced by 'PVAR' autom.
        - npar_max      maximal number of particles to be read in

        - datadir      specify datadir, default False
        - sim           specify simulation from which you want to read
        - proc          read from single proc, set number here
        - swap_endian   change if needed to True, default False
        - quiet         verbosity, default False

    If needed add manually to this script:
        - rmv, irmv, trmv, oldrmv are used for ???
        - solid_object is used for ???
        - theta_arr is used for ???
        - savefile is used for ???

    """

    var_tmp = ParticleData(*args, **kwargs)
    return var_tmp


class ParticleData(object):
    """
    Read PVAR files from Pencil Code using IDL.
    Uses IDL<->Python Bridge, this must be activated manually!

    !! WARNING: SHAPE IS AS IN IDL: (X, Y, Z) !!

    Args:
        - datadir      specify datadir, default False
        - sim           specify simulation from which you want to read
        - varfile       put 'PVARXYZ' or just number here, 'VAR' will be replaced by 'PVAR' autom.
        - npar_max      maximal number of particles to be read in

        - proc          read from single proc, set number here
        - swap_endian   change if needed to True, default False
        - quiet         verbosity, default False

    If needed add manually to this script:
        - rmv, irmv, trmv, oldrmv are used for ???
        - solid_object is used for ???
        - theta_arr is used for ???
        - savefile is used for ???

    """

    def __init__(
        self,
        varfile="pvar.dat",
        npar_max=-1,
        datadir=False,
        sim=False,
        proc=-1,
        swap_endian=False,
        quiet=False,
        DEBUG=False,
    ):
        """
        Read PVAR files from Pencil Code using IDL.
        Uses IDL<->Python Bridge, this must be activated manually!

        Args:
            - datadir      specify datadir, default False
            - sim           specify simulation from which you want to read
            - varfile       put 'PVARXYZ' or just number here, 'VAR' will be replaced by 'PVAR' autom.
            - npar_max      maximal number of particles to be read in

            - proc          read from single proc, set number here
            - swap_endian   change if needed to True, default False
            - quiet         verbosity, default False

        """

        import numpy as np
        import os
        from pencil import get_sim
        from pencil.math import is_number
        from sys import byteorder

        ####### interpret parameters
        if datadir == False:
            if sim == False:
                sim = get_sim()
        datadir = sim.datadir

        if not param:
            param = read.param(datadir=datadir, quiet=True)

        if param.io_strategy != "HDF5":
            try:
                cwd = os.getcwd()
                from idlpy import IDL

                os.chdir(cwd)

            except:
                print(
                    "! ERROR: no idl<->python bridge found. Try whats written in pstalk-comment to fix that issue."
                )
                print("! ")
                print("! Use something like: (ensure you have IDL 8.5.1 or larger)")
                print(
                    "! export PYTHONPATH=$PYTHONPATH:$IDL_HOME/lib/bridges:$IDL_HOME/bin/bin.linux.x86_64"
                )
                print(
                    "! export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:/usr/lib64:$IDL_HOME/bin/bin.linux.x86_64"
                )
                print("! in your .bashrc")
                print("! ")
                return None

        if param.io_strategy != "HDF5":
            if quiet == False:
                quiet = "0"
            else:
                quiet = "1"

            if swap_endian == False:
                if byteorder == "little":
                    swap_endian = "0"
                elif byteorder == "big":
                    swap_endian = "1"
            else:
                print("? WARNING: Couldnt determine endianness!")

        ####### preparing IDL call
        # cleanup of varfile string
        if is_number(varfile):
            varfile = "PVAR" + str(varfile)
        varfile = str(varfile)
        if varfile == "var.dat":
            varfile = "pvar.dat"
        if varfile[:3] == "VAR":
            varfile = "P" + varfile
        if param.io_strategy == "HDF5":
            import h5py
            varfile = str.strip(varfile, ".dat") + ".h5"
            with h5py.File(os.path.join(datadir, "allprocs", varfile), "r") as hf:
                for key in hf["part"].keys():
                    setattr(self, key.lower(), hf["part"][key][()])
        #
        else:
            idl_call = ", ".join(
                [
                    "pc_read_pvar",
                    "obj=pvar",
                    'varfile="' + varfile + '"',
                    'datadir="' + datadir + '"',
                    "quiet=" + quiet,
                    "swap_endian=" + swap_endian,
                    "proc=" + str(proc),
                ]
            )

            # reduce number of particles to be read in
            if npar_max > 0:
                idl_call = idl_call + ", npar_max=" + str(npar_max)

            ####### show idl_call string if DEBUG
            if DEBUG == True:
                print("~ DEBUG: idl_call: " + idl_call)

            ###### read in var file in IDL
            print("~ reading " + varfile + " in IDL..")
            IDL.run(idl_call)

            ####### parse to python
            print("~ parsing PVAR from IDL to python..")
            pvar = IDL.pvar

            for key in pvar.keys():
                setattr(self, key.lower(), pvar[key])
            setattr(self, "xp", pvar["XX"][0])
            setattr(self, "yp", pvar["XX"][1])
            setattr(self, "zp", pvar["XX"][2])
            setattr(self, "vpx", pvar["VV"][0])
            setattr(self, "vpy", pvar["VV"][1])
            setattr(self, "vpz", pvar["VV"][2])