diff --git a/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Web.hs b/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Web.hs
index 8256de09a..abe9096a6 100644
--- a/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Web.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Web.hs
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ journalFileModifiedTime Journal{filepath=f}
 
 reload :: Journal -> IO Journal
 reload Journal{filepath=f} = do
-  j' <- readJournalFile f
+  j' <- readJournalFile Nothing f
   putValue "hledger" "journal" j'
   return j'
             
diff --git a/Hledger/Cli/Tests.hs b/Hledger/Cli/Tests.hs
index 8b54c11b8..2efb4cdb0 100644
--- a/Hledger/Cli/Tests.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Cli/Tests.hs
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ tests = TestList [
    tests_Hledger_Commands,
 
    "account directive" ~:
-   let sameParse str1 str2 = do j1 <- readJournal str1
-                                j2 <- readJournal str2
+   let sameParse str1 str2 = do j1 <- readJournal Nothing str1
+                                j2 <- readJournal Nothing str2
                                 j1 `is` j2{filereadtime=filereadtime j1, jtext=jtext j1}
    in TestList
    [
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ tests = TestList [
     ]
 
    ,"balance report with cost basis" ~: do
-      j <- readJournal $ unlines
+      j <- readJournal Nothing $ unlines
              [""
              ,"2008/1/1 test           "
              ,"  a:b          10h @ $50"
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ tests = TestList [
     "assets:bank" `isSubAccountNameOf` "my assets" `is` False
 
   ,"default year" ~: do
-    rl <- readJournal defaultyear_ledger_str
+    rl <- readJournal Nothing defaultyear_ledger_str
     tdate (head $ jtxns rl) `is` fromGregorian 2009 1 1
     return ()
 
diff --git a/Hledger/Cli/Utils.hs b/Hledger/Cli/Utils.hs
index b8bfd5bcc..048a44e9a 100644
--- a/Hledger/Cli/Utils.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Cli/Utils.hs
@@ -36,12 +36,12 @@ withJournalDo opts args cmdname cmd = do
       runcmd = cmd opts args . costify
   if creating
    then runcmd nulljournal
-   else readJournalFile f >>= runcmd
+   else readJournalFile Nothing f >>= runcmd
 
 -- | Get a journal from the given string and options, or throw an error.
 readJournalWithOpts :: [Opt] -> String -> IO Journal
 readJournalWithOpts opts s = do
-    j <- readJournal s
+    j <- readJournal Nothing s
     let cost = CostBasis `elem` opts
     return $ (if cost then journalConvertAmountsToCost else id) j
 
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read.hs
index 168e23224..4d37222f4 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read.hs
@@ -7,22 +7,23 @@ Read hledger data from various data formats, and related utilities.
 
 module Hledger.Read (
        tests_Hledger_Read,
+       readJournalFile,
+       readJournal,
        myLedgerPath,
        myTimelogPath,
        myJournal,
        myTimelog,
-       readJournalFile,
-       readJournal,
 )
 where
 import Hledger.Data.Types (Journal(..))
 import Hledger.Data.Utils
 import Hledger.Read.Common
-import qualified Hledger.Read.Journal (parseJournal,ledgerFile,tests_Journal)
-import qualified Hledger.Read.Timelog (parseJournal,tests_Timelog)
+import Hledger.Read.Journal as Journal
+import Hledger.Read.Timelog as Timelog
 
 import Control.Monad.Error
 import Data.Either (partitionEithers)
+import Safe (headDef)
 import System.Directory (getHomeDirectory)
 import System.Environment (getEnv)
 import System.FilePath ((</>))
@@ -36,26 +37,61 @@ import System.IO (hPutStrLn)
 #endif
 
 
-formats = [
-  "journal"
- ,"timelog"
--- ,"csv"
- ]
-
-unknownformatmsg fp = printf "could not recognise %sdata in %s" (fmt formats) fp
-    where fmt [] = ""
-          fmt [f] = f ++ " "
-          fmt fs = intercalate ", " (init fs) ++ " or " ++ last fs ++ " "
-
-parsers = [Hledger.Read.Journal.parseJournal
-          ,Hledger.Read.Timelog.parseJournal
-          ]
-
 ledgerenvvar           = "LEDGER"
 timelogenvvar          = "TIMELOG"
 ledgerdefaultfilename  = ".ledger"
 timelogdefaultfilename = ".timelog"
 
+-- Here are the available readers. The first is the default, used for unknown data formats.
+readers :: [Reader]
+readers = [
+  Journal.reader
+ ,Timelog.reader
+ ]
+
+formats   = map rFormat readers
+
+readerForFormat :: String -> Maybe Reader
+readerForFormat s | null rs = Nothing
+                  | otherwise = Just $ head rs
+    where 
+      rs = filter ((s==).rFormat) readers :: [Reader]
+
+-- | Read a Journal from this string (and file path), auto-detecting the
+-- data format, or give an error. Tries to parse each known data format in
+-- turn. If none succeed, gives the error message specific to the intended
+-- data format, which if not specified is guessed from the file suffix and
+-- possibly the data.
+journalFromPathAndString :: Maybe String -> FilePath -> String -> IO Journal
+journalFromPathAndString format fp s = do
+  let readers' = case format of Just f -> case readerForFormat f of Just r -> [r]
+                                                                    Nothing -> []
+                                Nothing -> readers
+  (errors, journals) <- partitionEithers `fmap` mapM try readers'
+  case journals of j:_ -> return j
+                   _   -> hPutStrLn stderr (errMsg errors) >> exitWith (ExitFailure 1)
+    where
+      try r = (runErrorT . (rParser r) fp) s
+      errMsg [] = unknownFormatMsg
+      errMsg es = printf "could not parse %s data in %s\n%s" (rFormat r) fp e
+          where (r,e) = headDef (head readers, head es) $ filter detects $ zip readers es
+                detects (r,_) = (rDetector r) fp s
+      unknownFormatMsg = printf "could not parse %sdata in %s" (fmt formats) fp
+          where fmt [] = ""
+                fmt [f] = f ++ " "
+                fmt fs = intercalate ", " (init fs) ++ " or " ++ last fs ++ " "
+
+-- | Read a journal from this file, using the specified data format or
+-- trying all known formats, or give an error.
+readJournalFile :: Maybe String -> FilePath -> IO Journal
+readJournalFile format "-" = getContents >>= journalFromPathAndString format "(stdin)"
+readJournalFile format f   = readFile f  >>= journalFromPathAndString format f
+
+-- | Read a Journal from this string, using the specified data format or
+-- trying all known formats, or give an error.
+readJournal :: Maybe String -> String -> IO Journal
+readJournal format s = journalFromPathAndString format "(string)" s
+
 -- | Get the user's default ledger file path.
 myLedgerPath :: IO String
 myLedgerPath = 
@@ -74,43 +110,20 @@ myTimelogPath =
 
 -- | Read the user's default journal file, or give an error.
 myJournal :: IO Journal
-myJournal = myLedgerPath >>= readJournalFile
+myJournal = myLedgerPath >>= readJournalFile Nothing
 
 -- | Read the user's default timelog file, or give an error.
 myTimelog :: IO Journal
-myTimelog = myTimelogPath >>= readJournalFile
-
--- | Read a journal from this file, trying all known data formats,
--- or give an error.
-readJournalFile :: FilePath -> IO Journal
-readJournalFile "-" = getContents >>= journalFromPathAndString "(stdin)"
-readJournalFile f   = readFile f  >>= journalFromPathAndString f
-
--- | Read a Journal from this string, trying all known data formats, or
--- give an error.
-readJournal :: String -> IO Journal
-readJournal = journalFromPathAndString "(string)"
-
--- | Read a Journal from this string, trying each known data format in
--- turn, or give an error.  The file path is also required.
-journalFromPathAndString :: FilePath -> String -> IO Journal
-journalFromPathAndString f s = do
-  (errors, journals) <- partitionEithers `fmap` mapM try parsers
-  case journals of j:_ -> return j
-                   _   -> hPutStrLn stderr (errmsg errors) >> exitWith (ExitFailure 1)
-    where
-      try p = (runErrorT . p f) s
-      errmsg [] = unknownformatmsg f
-      errmsg (e:_) = unlines [unknownformatmsg f, e]
+myTimelog = myTimelogPath >>= readJournalFile Nothing
 
 tests_Hledger_Read = TestList
   [
 
    "ledgerFile" ~: do
-    assertBool "ledgerFile should parse an empty file" (isRight $ parseWithCtx emptyCtx Hledger.Read.Journal.ledgerFile "")
-    r <- readJournal "" -- don't know how to get it from ledgerFile
+    assertBool "ledgerFile should parse an empty file" (isRight $ parseWithCtx emptyCtx Journal.ledgerFile "")
+    r <- readJournal Nothing "" -- don't know how to get it from ledgerFile
     assertBool "ledgerFile parsing an empty file should give an empty ledger" $ null $ jtxns r
 
-  ,Hledger.Read.Journal.tests_Journal
-  ,Hledger.Read.Timelog.tests_Timelog
+  ,Journal.tests_Journal
+  ,Timelog.tests_Timelog
   ]
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
index 81ced5be5..2d912684f 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ import System.Time (getClockTime)
 import Text.ParserCombinators.Parsec
 
 
+-- | A hledger data reader is a triple of format name, format-detecting predicate, and a parser to Journal.
+data Reader = Reader {rFormat   :: String
+                     ,rDetector :: FilePath -> String -> Bool
+                     ,rParser   :: FilePath -> String -> ErrorT String IO Journal
+                     }
+
 -- | A JournalUpdate is some transformation of a "Journal". It can do I/O
 -- or raise an error.
 type JournalUpdate = ErrorT String IO (Journal -> Journal)
@@ -70,3 +76,5 @@ expandPath pos fp = liftM mkRelative (expandHome fp)
                                                       return $ homedir ++ drop 1 inname
                       | otherwise                = return inname
 
+fileSuffix :: FilePath -> String
+fileSuffix = reverse . takeWhile (/='.') . reverse . dropWhile (/='.')
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Journal.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Journal.hs
index ee2352087..12927d24e 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Journal.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Journal.hs
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ i, o, b, h
 
 module Hledger.Read.Journal (
        tests_Journal,
-       parseJournal,
+       reader,
        ledgerFile,
        someamount,
        ledgeraccountname,
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ module Hledger.Read.Journal (
 )
 where
 import Control.Monad.Error (ErrorT(..), throwError, catchError)
-import Text.ParserCombinators.Parsec
+import Text.ParserCombinators.Parsec hiding (parse)
 #if __GLASGOW_HASKELL__ <= 610
 import Prelude hiding (readFile, putStr, putStrLn, print, getContents)
 import System.IO.UTF8
@@ -136,10 +136,20 @@ import Hledger.Read.Common
 
 -- let's get to it
 
+reader :: Reader
+reader = Reader format detect parse
+
+format :: String
+format = "journal"
+
+-- | Does the given file path and data provide hledger's journal file format ?
+detect :: FilePath -> String -> Bool
+detect f _ = fileSuffix f == format
+
 -- | Parse and post-process a "Journal" from hledger's journal file
 -- format, or give an error.
-parseJournal :: FilePath -> String -> ErrorT String IO Journal
-parseJournal = parseJournalWith ledgerFile
+parse :: FilePath -> String -> ErrorT String IO Journal
+parse = parseJournalWith ledgerFile
 
 -- | Top-level journal parser. Returns a single composite, I/O performing,
 -- error-raising "JournalUpdate" which can be applied to an empty journal
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Timelog.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Timelog.hs
index 523735256..5b0c934ce 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Timelog.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Timelog.hs
@@ -44,21 +44,32 @@ o 2007/03/10 17:26:02
 
 module Hledger.Read.Timelog (
        tests_Timelog,
-       parseJournal,
+       reader,
 )
 where
 import Control.Monad.Error (ErrorT(..))
-import Text.ParserCombinators.Parsec
+import Text.ParserCombinators.Parsec hiding (parse)
 import Hledger.Data
 import Hledger.Read.Common
-import Hledger.Read.Journal hiding (parseJournal)
+import Hledger.Read.Journal (ledgerExclamationDirective, ledgerHistoricalPrice,
+                             ledgerDefaultYear, emptyLine, ledgerdatetime)
 
 
+reader :: Reader
+reader = Reader format detect parse
+
+format :: String
+format = "timelog"
+
+-- | Does the given file path and data provide timeclock.el's timelog format ?
+detect :: FilePath -> String -> Bool
+detect f _ = fileSuffix f == format
+
 -- | Parse and post-process a "Journal" from timeclock.el's timelog
 -- format, saving the provided file path and the current time, or give an
 -- error.
-parseJournal :: FilePath -> String -> ErrorT String IO Journal
-parseJournal = parseJournalWith timelogFile
+parse :: FilePath -> String -> ErrorT String IO Journal
+parse = parseJournalWith timelogFile
 
 timelogFile :: GenParser Char LedgerFileCtx JournalUpdate
 timelogFile = do items <- many timelogItem