diff --git a/modules/dataloader/CMakeLists.txt b/modules/dataloader/CMakeLists.txt
index 2a1471ff2e..ea243abcba 100644
--- a/modules/dataloader/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/modules/dataloader/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -26,15 +26,19 @@ include(${OPENSPACE_CMAKE_EXT_DIR}/module_definition.cmake)
 
 set(HEADER_FILES
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/dataloadermodule.h
-    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/reader.h
-    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/loader.h
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/helpers.h
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/operators/operator.h
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/operators/reader.h
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/operators/loader.h
 )
 source_group("Header Files" FILES ${HEADER_FILES})
 
 set(SOURCE_FILES
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/dataloadermodule.cpp
-    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/reader.cpp
-    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/loader.cpp
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/helpers.cpp
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/operators/operator.cpp
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/operators/reader.cpp
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/operators/loader.cpp
 )
 
 option(OPENSPACE_MODULE_DATALOADER "Use Data Loader Module" ON)
diff --git a/modules/dataloader/dataloadermodule.cpp b/modules/dataloader/dataloadermodule.cpp
index 075b4b752b..940ee364c5 100644
--- a/modules/dataloader/dataloadermodule.cpp
+++ b/modules/dataloader/dataloadermodule.cpp
@@ -23,27 +23,59 @@
  ****************************************************************************************/
 
 #include <modules/dataloader/dataloadermodule.h>
-#include <modules/dataloader/reader.h>
-#include <modules/dataloader/loader.h>
-#include <openspace/util/factorymanager.h>
+#include <modules/dataloader/operators/reader.h>
+#include <modules/dataloader/operators/loader.h>
+#include <openspace/engine/moduleengine.h>
+#include <openspace/engine/openspaceengine.h>
 
+#include <ghoul/logging/logmanager.h>
 #include <ghoul/misc/assert.h>
 
+namespace {
+    constexpr const char* _loggerCat = "DataLoaderModule";
+}
+
 namespace openspace {
 
-using namespace dataloader;
-
 DataLoaderModule::DataLoaderModule() : OpenSpaceModule(Name) {}
 
-void DataLoaderModule::internalInitialize(const ghoul::Dictionary&) {
-    // auto rFactory = FactoryManager::ref().factory<Renderable>();
-    // ghoul_assert(rFactory, "No renderable factory existed");
-    // rFactory->registerClass<RenderableTimeVaryingVolume>("RenderableTimeVaryingVolume");
+DataLoaderModule::~DataLoaderModule() {}
 
-    _reader = std::make_unique<openspace::dataloader::Reader>();
-    _loader = std::make_unique<openspace::dataloader::Loader>(); 
-    addPropertySubOwner(*_reader);
-    addPropertySubOwner(*_loader);
+void DataLoaderModule::internalInitialize(const ghoul::Dictionary&) {
+    OsEng.registerModuleCallback(OpenSpaceEngine::CallbackOption::Initialize, [&] {
+        _reader = std::make_unique<openspace::dataloader::Reader>();
+        _loader = std::make_unique<openspace::dataloader::Loader>();
+        addPropertySubOwner(*_reader);
+        addPropertySubOwner(*_loader);
+    });
+}
+
+void DataLoaderModule::setDataDirectoryRead(bool isRead) {
+    LDEBUG("Called a module function");
+    _dataDirectoryIsRead = isRead;
+}
+
+void DataLoaderModule::validateDataDirectory() {
+    if(!_dataDirectoryIsRead) {
+        _reader->readVolumeDataItems();
+    }
+}
+
+std::vector<std::string> DataLoaderModule::volumeDataItems() {
+    validateDataDirectory();
+    return _volumeDataItems;
+}
+
+void DataLoaderModule::setVolumeDataItems(std::vector<std::string> items) {
+    _volumeDataItems = items;
+}
+
+openspace::dataloader::Reader* DataLoaderModule::reader() {
+    return _reader.get();
+}
+
+openspace::dataloader::Loader* DataLoaderModule::loader() {
+    return _loader.get();
 }
 
 } // namespace openspace
diff --git a/modules/dataloader/dataloadermodule.h b/modules/dataloader/dataloadermodule.h
index c1adad6128..3374d92126 100644
--- a/modules/dataloader/dataloadermodule.h
+++ b/modules/dataloader/dataloadermodule.h
@@ -26,13 +26,16 @@
 #define __OPENSPACE_MODULE_DATALOADER___DATALOADERMODULE___H__
 
 #include <openspace/util/openspacemodule.h>
-#include <modules/dataloader/reader.h>
-#include <modules/dataloader/loader.h>
+
+namespace openspace::dataloader {
+    class Reader;
+    class Loader;
+}
 
 namespace openspace {
 
 /**
- * Own reader, writer, loader
+ * Reference reader, writer, loader
  * Have functions like getDataItemList that gets list from reader
  */
 class DataLoaderModule : public OpenSpaceModule {
@@ -40,12 +43,26 @@ public:
     constexpr static const char* Name = "DataLoader";
 
     DataLoaderModule();
+    ~DataLoaderModule();
 
     void internalInitialize(const ghoul::Dictionary&) override;
 
+    void validateDataDirectory();
+    void setDataDirectoryRead(bool isRead);
+
+    std::vector<std::string> volumeDataItems();
+    void setVolumeDataItems(std::vector<std::string> items);
+
+    dataloader::Reader* reader();
+    dataloader::Loader* loader();
+
 private:
-    std::unique_ptr<openspace::dataloader::Reader> _reader;
-    std::unique_ptr<openspace::dataloader::Loader> _loader;
+    bool _dataDirectoryIsRead = true;
+
+    std::unique_ptr<dataloader::Reader> _reader;
+    std::unique_ptr<dataloader::Loader> _loader;
+
+    std::vector<std::string> _volumeDataItems;
 };
 
 } // namespace openspace
diff --git a/modules/dataloader/helpers.cpp b/modules/dataloader/helpers.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ad9ae62876
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/dataloader/helpers.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <regex>
+
+#include <ghoul/logging/logmanager.h>
+
+namespace openspace::dataloader::helpers {
+    namespace {
+        constexpr const char* _loggerCat = "Helper";
+    } 
+
+    std::string getDirLeaf(std::string dir) {
+        std::regex dirLeaf_regex("([^/]+)/?$");
+        std::smatch dirLeaf_match;
+
+        if (std::regex_search(dir, dirLeaf_match, dirLeaf_regex)) {
+            return dirLeaf_match[0].str();
+        } else {
+            LWARNING("Found no match in " + dir + ".");
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/modules/dataloader/helpers.h b/modules/dataloader/helpers.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..de4cfb7cc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/dataloader/helpers.h
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#include <iostream>
+
+namespace openspace::dataloader::helpers {
+    std::string getDirLeaf(std::string dir);
+}
diff --git a/modules/dataloader/loader.cpp b/modules/dataloader/operators/loader.cpp
similarity index 84%
rename from modules/dataloader/loader.cpp
rename to modules/dataloader/operators/loader.cpp
index 60a9cb6d18..1f50b6ab5c 100644
--- a/modules/dataloader/loader.cpp
+++ b/modules/dataloader/operators/loader.cpp
@@ -22,9 +22,12 @@
  * OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.                                         *
  ****************************************************************************************/
 
-#include <modules/dataloader/loader.h>
-#include <ghoul/logging/logmanager.h>
 #include <iostream>
+#include <modules/dataloader/operators/loader.h>
+#include <modules/dataloader/dataloadermodule.h>
+#include <ghoul/logging/logmanager.h>
+#include <openspace/properties/triggerproperty.h>
+#include <modules/dataloader/helpers.cpp>
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
 #include <windows.h>
@@ -32,7 +35,7 @@
 
 namespace {
   constexpr const char* _loggerCat = "Loader";
-} // namespace
+} 
 
 namespace {
   static const openspace::properties::Property::PropertyInfo SelectedFilesInfo = {
@@ -65,8 +68,6 @@ Loader::Loader()
 
 void Loader::uploadData() {
 
-  char filepath[ MAX_PATH ];
-
   // Linux
   #ifdef _linux
   system("thunar /home/mberg");
@@ -74,6 +75,8 @@ void Loader::uploadData() {
   // Windows 
   #elif _WIN32
 
+  char filepath[ MAX_PATH ];
+
   OPENFILENAME ofn;
     ZeroMemory( &filepath, sizeof( filepath ) );
     ZeroMemory( &ofn,      sizeof( ofn ) );
@@ -127,17 +130,35 @@ void Loader::uploadData() {
 }
 
 void Loader::addInternalDataItemProperties() {
-  // Get list of internal data items
+    getModule()->validateDataDirectory();
+    std::vector<std::string> volumeItems = getModule()->volumeDataItems();
 
-  // Iterate data items
-    // Initialize trigger property with data item name (are they unique?)
-    // Set onChange method to call loadDataItem with the path as argument
-    // addProperty()
+    for (auto item : volumeItems) {
+        static const openspace::properties::Property::PropertyInfo info = {
+            "ItemTrigger_" + openspace::dataloader::helpers::getDirLeaf(item),
+            "",
+            ""
+        };
+
+        // Initialize trigger property with data item name (are they unique?)
+        properties::TriggerProperty volumeItemTrigger(info);
+
+        // Set onChange method to call loadDataItem with the path as argument
+        volumeItemTrigger.onChange([this](){
+            // loadDataItem(item);
+        });
+
+        addProperty(volumeItemTrigger);
+    }
 }
 
 // addDataItemProperty();
 // removeDataItemProperties();
-// loadDataItem(std::string absPathToItem);
+
+// loadDataItem(std::string absPathToItem) {
+//     LINFO("Load item " + absPathToItem);
+// }
+
 // createVolumeDataItem(std::string absPath);
 
 }
diff --git a/modules/dataloader/loader.h b/modules/dataloader/operators/loader.h
similarity index 95%
rename from modules/dataloader/loader.h
rename to modules/dataloader/operators/loader.h
index e061e6d5bb..705adb0341 100644
--- a/modules/dataloader/loader.h
+++ b/modules/dataloader/operators/loader.h
@@ -25,13 +25,16 @@
 #ifndef __OPENSPACE_MODULE_DATALOADER___LOADER___H__
 #define __OPENSPACE_MODULE_DATALOADER___LOADER___H__
 
+#include <modules/dataloader/operators/operator.h>
 #include <openspace/properties/propertyowner.h>
 #include <openspace/properties/stringproperty.h>
 #include <openspace/properties/triggerproperty.h>
 
 namespace openspace::dataloader {
 
-class Loader : public properties::PropertyOwner {
+using properties::PropertyOwner;
+
+class Loader : public PropertyOwner, public Operator {
   public:
     Loader();
 
diff --git a/modules/dataloader/operators/operator.cpp b/modules/dataloader/operators/operator.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a5532ba911
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/dataloader/operators/operator.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+
+#include <modules/dataloader/operators/operator.h>
+#include <modules/dataloader/dataloadermodule.h>
+#include <openspace/engine/moduleengine.h>
+#include <openspace/engine/openspaceengine.h>
+
+namespace openspace::dataloader {
+
+DataLoaderModule* Operator::getModule() {
+    return OsEng.moduleEngine().module<DataLoaderModule>();
+}
+
+}
diff --git a/modules/dataloader/operators/operator.h b/modules/dataloader/operators/operator.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..82696afeb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/dataloader/operators/operator.h
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+
+#ifndef __OPENSPACE_MODULE_DATALOADER___OPERATOR___H__
+#define __OPENSPACE_MODULE_DATALOADER___OPERATOR___H__
+// #include <modules/dataloader/dataloadermodule.h>
+
+namespace openspace {
+
+class DataLoaderModule;
+
+namespace dataloader {
+
+class Operator {
+    public:
+        virtual ~Operator() {};
+
+    protected:
+        DataLoaderModule* getModule();
+};
+
+}
+}
+
+#endif // __OPENSPACE_MODULE_DATALOADER___OPERATOR___H__
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/modules/dataloader/reader.cpp b/modules/dataloader/operators/reader.cpp
similarity index 93%
rename from modules/dataloader/reader.cpp
rename to modules/dataloader/operators/reader.cpp
index 806337b124..7b547bf4bf 100644
--- a/modules/dataloader/reader.cpp
+++ b/modules/dataloader/operators/reader.cpp
@@ -22,18 +22,27 @@
  * OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.                                         *
  ****************************************************************************************/
 
-#include <modules/dataloader/reader.h>
+#include <modules/dataloader/operators/reader.h>
+#include <modules/dataloader/dataloadermodule.h>
+
+#include <openspace/engine/openspaceengine.h>
+#include <openspace/engine/moduleengine.h>
 #include <ghoul/logging/logmanager.h>
 #include <ghoul/filesystem/filesystem.h>
+
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
-#include <regex>
-#include <string>
+
+#include <iostream>
+
+#ifdef _WIN32
+#include <windows.h>
+#endif
 
 
 namespace {
     constexpr const char* _loggerCat = "Reader";
-} // namespace
+} 
 
 namespace {
     static const openspace::properties::Property::PropertyInfo VolumesInfo = {
@@ -93,7 +102,8 @@ void Reader::readVolumeDataItems() {
       ghoul::filesystem::Directory::Sort::Yes
     );
 
-    // DataLoader _internalDirDirty = false
+    getModule()->setVolumeDataItems(_volumeItems);
+    getModule()->setDataDirectoryRead(true);
 
     // for (auto el : volumeItems) {
     //     LINFO("A dir: " + el);
@@ -109,7 +119,6 @@ void Reader::readVolumeDataItems() {
     //     if (std::regex_search(dir, dirLeaf_match, dirLeaf_regex)) {
     //         itemDirLeaves.push_back(dirLeaf_match[0].str());
     //     } else {
-    //         LWARNING("Looked for match in " + dir + " but found none.");
     //     }
 
     // }
diff --git a/modules/dataloader/reader.h b/modules/dataloader/operators/reader.h
similarity index 95%
rename from modules/dataloader/reader.h
rename to modules/dataloader/operators/reader.h
index 4e5811380f..4b40b88d1d 100644
--- a/modules/dataloader/reader.h
+++ b/modules/dataloader/operators/reader.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #ifndef __OPENSPACE_MODULE_DATALOADER___READER___H__
 #define __OPENSPACE_MODULE_DATALOADER___READER___H__
 
+#include <modules/dataloader/operators/operator.h>
 #include <openspace/properties/propertyowner.h>
 #include <openspace/properties/property.h> // do we need this
 #include <openspace/properties/stringlistproperty.h>
@@ -33,7 +34,9 @@
 
 namespace openspace::dataloader {
 
-class Reader : public properties::PropertyOwner {
+using properties::PropertyOwner;
+
+class Reader : public PropertyOwner, public Operator {
   public:
     Reader();
 
diff --git a/modules/dataloader/writer.cpp b/modules/dataloader/operators/writer.cpp
similarity index 100%
rename from modules/dataloader/writer.cpp
rename to modules/dataloader/operators/writer.cpp
diff --git a/modules/dataloader/writer.h b/modules/dataloader/operators/writer.h
similarity index 100%
rename from modules/dataloader/writer.h
rename to modules/dataloader/operators/writer.h