diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index fcd03433..616a215f 100755
--- a/HISTORY.md
+++ b/HISTORY.md
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 ### 2019-01-09
 * Morphic: recognize data sets in dropped text files (csv, json)
 * Lists: updated list documentation, enabled table support by default
+* GUI: import & examine data sets and text files via drag'n'drop or "import" menu
 
 ### 2019-01-09
 * Store: tweaked format for serializing atomic data lists
diff --git a/snap.html b/snap.html
index 88faf3d5..41d750a5 100755
--- a/snap.html
+++ b/snap.html
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
         <script type="text/javascript" src="src/blocks.js?version=2019-01-09"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="src/threads.js?version=2019-01-09"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="src/objects.js?version=2019-01-09"></script>
-        <script type="text/javascript" src="src/gui.js?version=2019-01-02"></script>
+        <script type="text/javascript" src="src/gui.js?version=2019-01-10"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="src/paint.js?version=2018-10-02"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="src/lists.js?version=2019-01-10"></script>
         <script type="text/javascript" src="src/byob.js?version=2018-11-12"></script>
diff --git a/src/gui.js b/src/gui.js
index 16d141c0..c397dbb4 100644
--- a/src/gui.js
+++ b/src/gui.js
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ InputFieldMorph, FrameMorph, Process, nop, SnapSerializer, ListMorph, detect,
 AlignmentMorph, TabMorph, Costume, MorphicPreferences, Sound, BlockMorph,
 ToggleMorph, InputSlotDialogMorph, ScriptsMorph, isNil, SymbolMorph,
 BlockExportDialogMorph, BlockImportDialogMorph, SnapTranslator, localize,
-List, ArgMorph, Uint8Array, HandleMorph, SVG_Costume,
+List, ArgMorph, Uint8Array, HandleMorph, SVG_Costume, TableDialogMorph,
 fontHeight, sb, CommentMorph, CommandBlockMorph, BooleanSlotMorph,
 BlockLabelPlaceHolderMorph, Audio, SpeechBubbleMorph, ScriptFocusMorph,
 XML_Element, WatcherMorph, BlockRemovalDialogMorph, saveAs, TableMorph,
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ isRetinaSupported, SliderMorph, Animation, BoxMorph, MediaRecorder*/
 
 // Global stuff ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-modules.gui = '2019-January-02';
+modules.gui = '2019-January-10';
 
 // Declarations
 
@@ -1969,8 +1969,11 @@ IDE_Morph.prototype.droppedAudio = function (anAudio, name) {
     }
 };
 
-IDE_Morph.prototype.droppedText = function (aString, name) {
-    var lbl = name ? name.split('.')[0] : '';
+IDE_Morph.prototype.droppedText = function (aString, name, fileType) {
+    var lbl = name ? name.split('.')[0] : '',
+        ext = name ? name.slice(name.lastIndexOf('.') + 1).toLowerCase() : '';
+
+    // check for Snap specific files, projects, libraries, sprites, scripts
     if (aString.indexOf('<project') === 0) {
         location.hash = '';
         return this.openProjectString(aString);
@@ -1991,6 +1994,17 @@ IDE_Morph.prototype.droppedText = function (aString, name) {
     if (aString.indexOf('<script') === 0) {
         return this.openScriptString(aString);
     }
+
+    // check for encoded data-sets, CSV, JSON
+    if (fileType.indexOf('csv') !== -1 || ext === 'csv') {
+        return this.openDataString(aString, lbl, 'csv');
+    }
+    if (fileType.indexOf('json') !== -1 || ext === 'json') {
+        return this.openDataString(aString, lbl, 'json');
+    }
+
+    // import as plain text data
+    this.openDataString(aString, lbl, 'text');
 };
 
 IDE_Morph.prototype.droppedBinary = function (anArrayBuffer, name) {
@@ -4522,6 +4536,68 @@ IDE_Morph.prototype.rawOpenScriptString = function (str) {
     );
 };
 
+IDE_Morph.prototype.openDataString = function (str, name, type) {
+    var msg,
+        myself = this;
+    this.nextSteps([
+        function () {
+            msg = myself.showMessage('Opening data...');
+        },
+        function () {nop(); }, // yield (bug in Chrome)
+        function () {
+            myself.rawOpenDataString(str, name, type);
+        },
+        function () {
+            msg.destroy();
+        }
+    ]);
+};
+
+IDE_Morph.prototype.rawOpenDataString = function (str, name, type) {
+    var data, vName, dlg,
+        globals = this.currentSprite.globalVariables();
+
+    function newVarName(name) {
+        var existing = globals.names(),
+            ix = name.indexOf('\('),
+            stem = (ix < 0) ? name : name.substring(0, ix),
+            count = 1,
+            newName = stem;
+        while (contains(existing, newName)) {
+            count += 1;
+            newName = stem + '(' + count + ')';
+        }
+        return newName;
+    }
+
+    switch (type) {
+        case 'csv':
+            data = Process.prototype.parseCSV(str);
+            break;
+        case 'json':
+            data = Process.prototype.parseJSON(str);
+            break;
+        default: // assume plain text
+            data = str;
+    }
+    vName = newVarName(name || 'data');
+    globals.addVar(vName);
+    globals.setVar(vName, data);
+    this.currentSprite.toggleVariableWatcher(vName, true); // global
+    this.flushBlocksCache('variables');
+    this.currentCategory = 'variables';
+    this.categories.children.forEach(function (each) {
+        each.refresh();
+    });
+    this.refreshPalette(true);
+    if (data instanceof List) {
+        dlg = new TableDialogMorph(data);
+        dlg.labelString = localize(dlg.labelString) + ': ' + vName;
+        dlg.createLabel();
+        dlg.popUp(this.world());
+    }
+};
+
 IDE_Morph.prototype.openProject = function (name) {
     var str;
     if (name) {