# mne.channels.read\_custom\_montage using standard-10-5-cap385.elp

**URL:** <https://mne.discourse.group/t/mne-channels-read-custom-montage-using-standard-10-5-cap385-elp/7727>\
**Category:** Support & Discussions\
**Tags:** eeg\
**Created:** [October 24, 2023, 11:39am UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/mne-channels-read-custom-montage-using-standard-10-5-cap385-elp/7727 "2023-10-24T11:39:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CarmelGashri](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/mne.discourse.group/carmelgashri/32/1565_2.png) [@CarmelGashri](https://mne.discourse.group/u/CarmelGashri)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2023, 11:39am UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/mne-channels-read-custom-montage-using-standard-10-5-cap385-elp/7727/1 "2023-10-24T11:39:25Z")

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Hi everyone

I know this question was asked before but the answer didn’t help me. A few months ago I used the code:

```python
eeglab_montage = "Z:/Users.../channellocation/standard-10-5-cap385.elp"
montage = mne.channels.read_custom_montage(eeglab_montage)

```

in my script to load the montage file and it worked without any problems. I tried to use the same code again now and got the following error:

```python
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "...\miniconda3\envs\hypyp\lib\site-packages\numpy\lib\npyio.py", line 979, in _read
    arr = _load_from_filelike(
ValueError: the number of columns changed from 5 to 1 at row 1; use `usecols` to select a subset and avoid this error

```

I am not sure what changed between few months ago and now, it is the same code and should have worked…  
Does anyone know why it happened and how to fix this error?

Thanks a lot!

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**Author:** ![sappelhoff](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/mne.discourse.group/sappelhoff/32/3276_2.png) [@sappelhoff](https://mne.discourse.group/u/sappelhoff)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 1:14pm UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/mne-channels-read-custom-montage-using-standard-10-5-cap385-elp/7727/2 "2023-10-25T13:14:14Z")

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> [@CarmelGashri](#):
>
> I know this question was asked before but the answer didn’t help me.

It would be helpful if you could link to the question+answer that didn’t help you.

> [@CarmelGashri](#):
>
> A few months ago I used the code

Have you updated your packages in the meantime?

* * *

Another idea that I have is, that apparently `.elp` files can be by BESA or Polhemus

> <https://github.com/mne-tools/mne-python/blob/4518a1a918051542ab7360ff63c529121a499417/mne/channels/montage.py#L1612C14-L1612C55>

Have you tried these two functions?

- [mne.channels.read\_polhemus\_fastscan — MNE 1.6.0.dev210+gd8448e394 documentation](https://mne.tools/dev/generated/mne.channels.read_polhemus_fastscan.html)
- [mne.channels.read\_dig\_polhemus\_isotrak — MNE 1.6.0.dev210+gd8448e394 documentation](https://mne.tools/dev/generated/mne.channels.read_dig_polhemus_isotrak.html)

And have you taken a look at this page?

- [Algorithms and other implementation details — MNE 1.6.0.dev210+gd8448e394 documentation](https://mne.tools/dev/documentation/implementation.html#supported-formats-for-digitized-3d-locations)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![richard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/mne.discourse.group/richard/32/15_2.png) [@richard](https://mne.discourse.group/u/richard)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 5:21am UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/mne-channels-read-custom-montage-using-standard-10-5-cap385-elp/7727/3 "2023-10-26T05:21:32Z")

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Hello @CarmelGashri, you could also try to simply use one of MNE’s built-in template montages:

[https://mne.tools/stable/auto\_tutorials/intro/40\_sensor\_locations.html#working-with-built-in-montages](https://mne.tools/stable/auto_tutorials/intro/40_sensor_locations.html#working-with-built-in-montages)