diff --git a/docs/src/progress/renderertodo.md b/docs/src/progress/renderertodo.md
index cf0cff29..15414786 100644
--- a/docs/src/progress/renderertodo.md
+++ b/docs/src/progress/renderertodo.md
@@ -1543,6 +1543,7 @@ Block area selection
 Exporting block prefabs to compressed files
 Minor block fab improvements
 Fab selection tool
+Fab selection tool actually loads fab files
 
 
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/electrosphere/client/ui/menu/ingame/FabMenus.java b/src/main/java/electrosphere/client/ui/menu/ingame/FabMenus.java
index 0da5c3b1..b52e9d5a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/electrosphere/client/ui/menu/ingame/FabMenus.java
+++ b/src/main/java/electrosphere/client/ui/menu/ingame/FabMenus.java
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import electrosphere.client.ui.menu.WindowUtils;
 import electrosphere.controls.ControlHandler.ControlsState;
 import electrosphere.engine.Globals;
 import electrosphere.engine.signal.Signal.SignalType;
+import electrosphere.game.data.block.BlockFab;
+import electrosphere.logger.LoggerInterface;
 import electrosphere.renderer.ui.elements.Window;
 import electrosphere.renderer.ui.elementtypes.ContainerElement.YogaAlignment;
 import electrosphere.renderer.ui.elementtypes.ContainerElement.YogaFlexDirection;
@@ -54,7 +56,8 @@ public class FabMenus {
 
         //attach scrollable after search input for organzation purposes
         fabSelectionPanelWindow.addChild(FabSelectionPanel.createFabSelectionPanel((File selectedFile) -> {
-            System.out.println(selectedFile);
+            BlockFab fab = BlockFab.read(selectedFile);
+            LoggerInterface.loggerEngine.WARNING("" + fab.getDimensions());
         }));
 
         Globals.signalSystem.post(SignalType.YOGA_APPLY,fabSelectionPanelWindow);
diff --git a/src/main/java/electrosphere/game/data/block/BlockFab.java b/src/main/java/electrosphere/game/data/block/BlockFab.java
index 62f8e59d..ab7fd5e9 100644
--- a/src/main/java/electrosphere/game/data/block/BlockFab.java
+++ b/src/main/java/electrosphere/game/data/block/BlockFab.java
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import java.nio.ShortBuffer;
 import org.joml.Vector3i;
 
 import electrosphere.client.block.BlockChunkData;
+import electrosphere.logger.LoggerInterface;
 import electrosphere.util.FileUtils;
 
 /**
@@ -91,4 +92,75 @@ public class BlockFab {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Reads a BlockFab from a specified file
+     * @param file The file
+     * @return The BlockFab
+     */
+    public static BlockFab read(File file){
+        BlockFab rVal = null;
+        ByteBuffer buff;
+        try {
+            buff = FileUtils.readBufferFromCompressedFile(file);
+            IntBuffer intView = buff.asIntBuffer();
+            int fileVer = intView.get();
+            LoggerInterface.loggerFileIO.DEBUG("Read fab file with ver " + fileVer);
+
+            int dimX = intView.get();
+            int dimY = intView.get();
+            int dimZ = intView.get();
+            Vector3i dims = new Vector3i(dimX, dimY, dimZ);
+            buff.position(HEADER_SIZE);
+
+            ShortBuffer shortView = buff.asShortBuffer();
+
+            int blockCount = dims.x * dims.y * dims.z;
+            short[] types = new short[blockCount];
+            short[] metadata = new short[blockCount];
+            int i = 0;
+            for(int x = 0; x < dims.x; x++){
+                for(int y = 0; y < dims.y; y++){
+                    for(int z = 0; z < dims.z; z++){
+                        types[i] = shortView.get();
+                        metadata[i] = shortView.get();
+                        i++;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            rVal = new BlockFab();
+            rVal.dimensions = dims;
+            rVal.types = types;
+            rVal.metadata = metadata;
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            LoggerInterface.loggerFileIO.ERROR(e);
+            throw new Error("Failed to read BlockFab " + file);
+        }
+        return rVal;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the dimensions of the fab
+     * @return The dimensions of the fab
+     */
+    public Vector3i getDimensions() {
+        return dimensions;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the type data of the fab
+     * @return The type data
+     */
+    public short[] getTypes() {
+        return types;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the metadata of the fab
+     * @return The metadata
+     */
+    public short[] getMetadata() {
+        return metadata;
+    }
+
 }