diff --git a/doc/release/notes/pv-new-resource-menu-action.md b/doc/release/notes/pv-new-resource-menu-action.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..51f482570a21e7160b916b8b373eb336b761870e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/release/notes/pv-new-resource-menu-action.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+## Introduce ParaView behavior that adds New Resource
+
+Operations that share a common theme in the contexts of functionality
+and graphical presentation are added to common operation groups. We
+have constructed a new operation group for the creation of new
+Resources. To utilize this group, we have also  added a file menu
+option that allows a user to create a new Resource.
+
+### User-facing changes
+
+ParaView applications that load SMTK's pqAppComponents plugin now have
+access to a menu action to construct a new SMTK resource, if an
+operation is associated to that resource in the operation CreatorGroup.
diff --git a/smtk/bridge/multiscale/Registrar.cxx b/smtk/bridge/multiscale/Registrar.cxx
index 51ac0cfa4fe2d07226d5c7c1b3d2fd5b71c17971..feeecd2f288b246d615a7e5089d023c44b0896e6 100644
--- a/smtk/bridge/multiscale/Registrar.cxx
+++ b/smtk/bridge/multiscale/Registrar.cxx
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 #include "smtk/operation/RegisterPythonOperations.h"
 
+#include "smtk/operation/groups/CreatorGroup.h"
 #include "smtk/operation/groups/ImporterGroup.h"
 #include "smtk/operation/groups/ReaderGroup.h"
 #include "smtk/operation/groups/WriterGroup.h"
@@ -50,6 +51,10 @@ void Registrar::registerTo(const smtk::operation::Manager::Ptr& operationManager
   smtk::operation::registerPythonOperations(
     operationManager, "smtk.bridge.multiscale.import_from_deform");
 
+  smtk::operation::CreatorGroup(operationManager)
+    .registerOperation<smtk::bridge::multiscale::Resource>(
+      "smtk.bridge.multiscale.import_from_deform.import_from_deform");
+
   smtk::operation::ImporterGroup(operationManager)
     .registerOperation<smtk::bridge::multiscale::Resource, smtk::bridge::mesh::Import>();
 
diff --git a/smtk/bridge/polygon/Registrar.cxx b/smtk/bridge/polygon/Registrar.cxx
index 43f141b68a2877352dc2fe19c7a98b74dbc09ad6..2786946b05d31c73931eaeb8da4d158cef7577a0 100644
--- a/smtk/bridge/polygon/Registrar.cxx
+++ b/smtk/bridge/polygon/Registrar.cxx
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 
 #include "smtk/bridge/polygon/Resource.h"
 
+#include "smtk/operation/groups/CreatorGroup.h"
 #include "smtk/operation/groups/ImporterGroup.h"
 #include "smtk/operation/groups/ReaderGroup.h"
 #include "smtk/operation/groups/WriterGroup.h"
@@ -61,6 +62,9 @@ void Registrar::registerTo(const smtk::operation::Manager::Ptr& operationManager
   // Register operations
   operationManager->registerOperations<OperationList>();
 
+  smtk::operation::CreatorGroup(operationManager)
+    .registerOperation<smtk::bridge::polygon::Resource, smtk::bridge::polygon::CreateModel>();
+
   smtk::operation::ImporterGroup(operationManager)
     .registerOperation<smtk::bridge::polygon::Resource, smtk::bridge::polygon::Import>();
 
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/CMakeLists.txt b/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/CMakeLists.txt
index ab1dd373a915ae57cde69946c6fa68bc365a66fd..2a48991c8965025b744e0b48852c1f109a7b289a 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -29,8 +29,9 @@ set(PQComponentsSrcs
   pqSMTKExportSimulationBehavior.cxx
   pqSMTKImportOperationBehavior.cxx
   pqSMTKModelRepresentation.cxx
-  pqSMTKSaveResourceBehavior.cxx
+  pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior.cxx
   pqSMTKOperationPanel.cxx
+  pqSMTKSaveResourceBehavior.cxx
   pqSMTKSelectionFilterBehavior.cxx
   pqSMTKResource.cxx
   pqSMTKWrapper.cxx
@@ -46,8 +47,9 @@ set(PQComponentsHeaders
   pqSMTKExportSimulationBehavior.h
   pqSMTKImportOperationBehavior.h
   pqSMTKModelRepresentation.h
-  pqSMTKSaveResourceBehavior.h
+  pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior.h
   pqSMTKOperationPanel.h
+  pqSMTKSaveResourceBehavior.h
   pqSMTKSelectionFilterBehavior.h
   pqSMTKResource.h
   pqSMTKWrapper.h
@@ -240,6 +242,10 @@ add_pqproxy_custom(proxyIfaces proxyIfaceSrcs
   XML_GROUP sources
   XML_NAME SMTKModelReader
 
+  TYPE pqSMTKResource
+  XML_GROUP sources
+  XML_NAME SMTKModelCreator
+
   TYPE pqSMTKResource
   XML_GROUP sources
   XML_NAME_REGEX SMTKModelImporter*
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKAppComponentsAutoStart.cxx b/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKAppComponentsAutoStart.cxx
index d832ad26617b56da21a9b8c2bf31f7cf5ef30264..f6c8fbd500c27f052ab42350d27d0436d5a68acc 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKAppComponentsAutoStart.cxx
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKAppComponentsAutoStart.cxx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKBehavior.h"
 #include "smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKExportSimulationBehavior.h"
 #include "smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKImportOperationBehavior.h"
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior.h"
 #include "smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKSaveResourceBehavior.h"
 //#include "smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKSelectionFilterBehavior.h"
 #include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMSMTKWrapperProxy.h"
@@ -39,7 +40,15 @@ void pqSMTKAppComponentsAutoStart::startup()
   auto rsrcMgr = pqSMTKBehavior::instance(this);
   auto rsrcImportOpMgr = pqSMTKImportOperationBehavior::instance(this);
   auto rsrcExportSimMgr = pqSMTKExportSimulationBehavior::instance(this);
+
+  // The "New Resource" menu item keys off of the "Save Resource" menu item,
+  // so the order of initialization for the following two global statics is
+  // important!
+  //
+  // TODO: There must be a better way to do this.
   auto rsrcSaveMgr = pqSMTKSaveResourceBehavior::instance(this);
+  auto rsrcNewMgr = pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior::instance(this);
+
   auto pqCore = pqApplicationCore::instance();
   if (pqCore)
   {
@@ -47,6 +56,7 @@ void pqSMTKAppComponentsAutoStart::startup()
     pqCore->registerManager("smtk import operation", rsrcImportOpMgr);
     pqCore->registerManager("smtk export simulation", rsrcExportSimMgr);
     pqCore->registerManager("smtk save resource", rsrcSaveMgr);
+    pqCore->registerManager("smtk new resource", rsrcSaveMgr);
   }
   (void)rsrcMgr;
 }
@@ -60,5 +70,6 @@ void pqSMTKAppComponentsAutoStart::shutdown()
     pqCore->unRegisterManager("smtk import operation");
     pqCore->unRegisterManager("smtk export simulation");
     pqCore->unRegisterManager("smtk save resource");
+    pqCore->unRegisterManager("smtk new resource");
   }
 }
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior.cxx b/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior.cxx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..42f887379d4d9f53802ebbde721e151d35f6eb8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior.cxx
@@ -0,0 +1,284 @@
+//=========================================================================
+//  Copyright (c) Kitware, Inc.
+//  All rights reserved.
+//  See LICENSE.txt for details.
+//
+//  This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even
+//  the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+//  PURPOSE.  See the above copyright notice for more information.
+//=========================================================================
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior.h"
+
+// Client side
+#include "pqActiveObjects.h"
+#include "pqApplicationCore.h"
+#include "pqCoreUtilities.h"
+#include "pqFileDialog.h"
+#include "pqObjectBuilder.h"
+#include "pqServer.h"
+#include "vtkSMPropertyHelper.h"
+#include "vtkSMProxy.h"
+
+#include "smtk/attribute/Attribute.h"
+#include "smtk/attribute/FileItem.h"
+#include "smtk/attribute/IntItem.h"
+#include "smtk/attribute/StringItem.h"
+#include "smtk/attribute/json/jsonResource.h"
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKBehavior.h"
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKOperationPanel.h"
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKWrapper.h"
+#include "smtk/extension/qt/qtOperationView.h"
+#include "smtk/extension/qt/qtUIManager.h"
+#include "smtk/operation/Manager.h"
+#include "smtk/operation/groups/CreatorGroup.h"
+
+#include <QAction>
+#include <QApplication>
+#include <QDialog>
+#include <QMainWindow>
+#include <QMenu>
+#include <QMenuBar>
+#include <QObject>
+#include <QPushButton>
+#include <QSharedPointer>
+
+#include "nlohmann/json.hpp"
+
+using json = nlohmann::json;
+
+pqNewResourceReaction::pqNewResourceReaction(
+  const std::string& operationName, QAction* parentObject)
+  : Superclass(parentObject)
+  , m_operationName(operationName)
+{
+}
+
+void pqNewResourceReaction::newResource()
+{
+  // Access the active server
+  pqServer* server = pqActiveObjects::instance().activeServer();
+  pqSMTKWrapper* wrapper = pqSMTKBehavior::instance()->resourceManagerForServer(server);
+
+  // Access the unique name associated with the operation.
+  auto createOp = wrapper->smtkOperationManager()->create(m_operationName);
+
+  // Construct a modal dialog for the operation.
+  QSharedPointer<QDialog> createDialog = QSharedPointer<QDialog>(new QDialog());
+  createDialog->setObjectName("CreateResourceDialog");
+  createDialog->setWindowTitle("Create Resource Dialog");
+  createDialog->setLayout(new QVBoxLayout(createDialog.data()));
+
+  // Create a new UI for the dialog.
+  QSharedPointer<smtk::extension::qtUIManager> uiManager =
+    QSharedPointer<smtk::extension::qtUIManager>(new smtk::extension::qtUIManager(createOp));
+
+  // Create an operation view for the operation.
+  smtk::view::ViewPtr view = uiManager->findOrCreateOperationView();
+  smtk::extension::qtOperationView* opView = dynamic_cast<smtk::extension::qtOperationView*>(
+    uiManager->setSMTKView(view, createDialog.data()));
+
+  // Remove all connections from the operation view's apply button. We are going
+  // to intercept the client-side operation parameters and execute them on the
+  // server.
+  opView->applyButton()->disconnect();
+
+  // Retrieve the operation specification and close the modal dialog when the
+  // apply button is clicked.
+  std::string typeName;
+  std::string specification;
+  QObject::connect(opView->applyButton(), &QPushButton::clicked, [&]() {
+    typeName = opView->operation()->typeName();
+    json j;
+    smtk::attribute::to_json(j, opView->operation()->parameters()->attributeResource());
+    specification = j.dump();
+    createDialog->done(QDialog::Accepted);
+  });
+
+  // Launch the modal dialog and wait for the operation to succeed.
+  createDialog->exec();
+
+  auto pqCore = pqApplicationCore::instance();
+  auto builder = pqCore->getObjectBuilder();
+
+  pqPipelineSource* src = builder->createSource("sources", "SMTKModelCreator", server);
+  vtkSMPropertyHelper(src->getProxy(), "TypeName").Set(typeName.c_str());
+  vtkSMPropertyHelper(src->getProxy(), "Specification").Set(specification.c_str());
+  src->getProxy()->UpdateVTKObjects();
+  src->updatePipeline();
+}
+
+namespace
+{
+QAction* findSaveResourceAction(QMenu* menu)
+{
+  foreach (QAction* action, menu->actions())
+  {
+    if (action->text().contains("save resource", Qt::CaseInsensitive))
+    {
+      return action;
+    }
+  }
+  return NULL;
+}
+
+QAction* findExitAction(QMenu* menu)
+{
+  foreach (QAction* action, menu->actions())
+  {
+    QString name = action->text().toLower();
+    name.remove('&');
+    if (name == "exit" || name == "quit")
+    {
+      return action;
+    }
+  }
+  return NULL;
+}
+
+QAction* findHelpMenuAction(QMenuBar* menubar)
+{
+  QList<QAction*> menuBarActions = menubar->actions();
+  foreach (QAction* existingMenuAction, menuBarActions)
+  {
+    QString menuName = existingMenuAction->text().toLower();
+    menuName.remove('&');
+    if (menuName == "help")
+    {
+      return existingMenuAction;
+    }
+  }
+  return NULL;
+}
+}
+
+static pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior* g_instance = nullptr;
+
+pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior::pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior(QObject* parent)
+  : Superclass(parent)
+  , m_newMenu(nullptr)
+{
+  auto pqCore = pqApplicationCore::instance();
+  if (pqCore)
+  {
+    QMenu* fileMenu = this->fileMenu();
+
+    // We want to defer the creation of the menu actions as much as possible
+    // so the File menu will already be populated by the time we add our
+    // custom actions. If our actions are inserted first, there is no way to
+    // control where in the list of actions they go, and they end up awkwardly
+    // sitting at the top of the menu. By using a single-shot connection to
+    // load our actions, we ensure that extant Save methods are in place; we
+    // key off of their location to make the menu look better.
+    QMetaObject::Connection* connection = new QMetaObject::Connection;
+    *connection = QObject::connect(fileMenu, &QMenu::aboutToShow, [this, connection, fileMenu]() {
+      QAction* saveAction = findSaveResourceAction(fileMenu);
+
+      this->setNewMenu(qobject_cast<QMenu*>(
+        fileMenu->insertMenu(saveAction, new QMenu("New Resource"))->parent()));
+      this->updateNewMenu();
+
+      // Remove this connection.
+      QObject::disconnect(*connection);
+      delete connection;
+    });
+
+    pqActiveObjects* activeObjects = &pqActiveObjects::instance();
+    QObject::connect(activeObjects, SIGNAL(serverChanged(pqServer*)), this, SLOT(updateNewMenu()));
+  }
+}
+
+QMenu* pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior::fileMenu()
+{
+  QMainWindow* mainWindow = qobject_cast<QMainWindow*>(pqCoreUtilities::mainWidget());
+
+  QList<QAction*> menuBarActions = mainWindow->menuBar()->actions();
+
+  QMenu* menu = NULL;
+  foreach (QAction* existingMenuAction, menuBarActions)
+  {
+    QString menuName = existingMenuAction->text();
+    menuName.remove('&');
+    if (menuName == "File")
+    {
+      return existingMenuAction->menu();
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (menu == nullptr)
+  {
+    // Create new menu.
+    menu = new QMenu("File", mainWindow);
+    menu->setObjectName("File");
+  }
+
+  return menu;
+}
+
+void pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior::setNewMenu(QMenu* menu)
+{
+  this->m_newMenu = menu;
+}
+
+void pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior::updateNewMenu()
+{
+  if (m_newMenu != nullptr)
+  {
+    m_newMenu->clear();
+
+    bool visible = false;
+
+    pqServer* server = pqActiveObjects::instance().activeServer();
+    pqSMTKWrapper* wrapper = pqSMTKBehavior::instance()->resourceManagerForServer(server);
+    if (wrapper != nullptr)
+    {
+      auto creatorGroup = smtk::operation::CreatorGroup(wrapper->smtkOperationManager());
+      auto operationNames = creatorGroup.operationNames();
+      visible = !operationNames.empty();
+
+      for (auto& operationName : operationNames)
+      {
+        // We start with the unique operation name. We use it as a key to
+        // acquire the unique resource name. We then split on the c++
+        // double-colon separator and select the penultimate token as the
+        // short-form for the resource name. Finally, we capitalize the name.
+        // This is hack-ish, but it should serve as a stopgap until a
+        // standardized convention for assigning human-readable labels to
+        // resources is in place.
+        QString label = QString::fromStdString(creatorGroup.resourceForOperation(operationName));
+        QStringList splitLabel = label.split("::");
+        label = *(++splitLabel.rbegin());
+        label[0] = label[0].toUpper();
+        QAction* newResourceAction = new QAction(label, m_newMenu);
+        m_newMenu->addAction(newResourceAction);
+
+        new pqNewResourceReaction(operationName, newResourceAction);
+      }
+    }
+    m_newMenu->menuAction()->setVisible(visible);
+  }
+}
+
+pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior* pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior::instance(QObject* parent)
+{
+  if (!g_instance)
+  {
+    g_instance = new pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior(parent);
+  }
+
+  if (g_instance->parent() == nullptr && parent)
+  {
+    g_instance->setParent(parent);
+  }
+
+  return g_instance;
+}
+
+pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior::~pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior()
+{
+  if (g_instance == this)
+  {
+    g_instance = nullptr;
+  }
+
+  QObject::disconnect(this);
+}
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior.h b/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..90179fff7674cade07fc9a2aa048e4e1040c9c6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior.h
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+//=========================================================================
+//  Copyright (c) Kitware, Inc.
+//  All rights reserved.
+//  See LICENSE.txt for details.
+//
+//  This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even
+//  the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+//  PURPOSE.  See the above copyright notice for more information.
+//=========================================================================
+#ifndef smtk_extension_paraview_appcomponents_pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior_h
+#define smtk_extension_paraview_appcomponents_pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior_h
+
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/Exports.h"
+
+#include "smtk/PublicPointerDefs.h"
+
+#include "pqReaction.h"
+
+#include <QObject>
+
+class pqPipelineSource;
+class pqServer;
+class vtkSMReaderFactory;
+
+class QMenu;
+
+/// A reaction for creating a new SMTK Resource.
+class pqNewResourceReaction : public pqReaction
+{
+  Q_OBJECT
+  typedef pqReaction Superclass;
+
+public:
+  /**
+  * Constructor. Parent cannot be NULL.
+  */
+  pqNewResourceReaction(const std::string& operationName, QAction* parent);
+
+  void newResource();
+
+protected:
+  /**
+  * Called when the action is triggered.
+  */
+  void onTriggered() override { this->newResource(); }
+
+private:
+  Q_DISABLE_COPY(pqNewResourceReaction)
+
+  std::string m_operationName;
+};
+
+/// Create a menu item under "File" for creating a new SMTK resource. The
+/// behavior constructs a client-side operation for the purposes of populating a
+/// modal dialog with the create operation's parameters. These parameters are
+/// then serialized to a json string, and a server-side operation is created and
+/// executed using the deserialized parameters.
+class SMTKPQCOMPONENTSEXT_EXPORT pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior : public QObject
+{
+  Q_OBJECT
+  using Superclass = QObject;
+
+public:
+  static pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior* instance(QObject* parent = nullptr);
+  ~pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior() override;
+
+  QMenu* fileMenu();
+
+  void setNewMenu(QMenu*);
+
+public slots:
+  void updateNewMenu();
+
+protected:
+  pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior(QObject* parent = nullptr);
+
+private:
+  Q_DISABLE_COPY(pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior);
+
+  QMenu* m_newMenu;
+};
+
+#endif // smtk_extension_paraview_appcomponents_pqSMTKNewResourceBehavior_h
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKResource.cxx b/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKResource.cxx
index 17cd0a6786fb008d71eed671ee74f1ca6b65edce..3c2b03c28fbc0e90e6c8567f496eaca87268453a 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKResource.cxx
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKResource.cxx
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 #include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMSMTKWrapperProxy.h"
 #include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKAttributeReader.h"
-#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelReader.h"
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceSource.h"
 
 #include "smtk/attribute/Resource.h"
 
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ smtk::resource::ResourcePtr pqSMTKResource::getResource() const
   smtk::resource::ResourcePtr rsrc;
   auto pxy = this->getProxy()->GetClientSideObject();
   // std::cout << "get resource from " << pxy->GetClassName() << "\n";
-  auto smtkRsrcRdr = vtkSMTKResourceReader::SafeDownCast(pxy);
+  auto smtkRsrcRdr = vtkSMTKResourceSource::SafeDownCast(pxy);
   rsrc = smtkRsrcRdr ? smtkRsrcRdr->GetResource() : nullptr;
   if (rsrc)
   {
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKWrapper.cxx b/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKWrapper.cxx
index d0e2f48bc3ea1cf96591d3b077b6b8bfdc406930..143c25c8032a2268860e430ad92bdebed6d77cb9 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKWrapper.cxx
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKWrapper.cxx
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 #include "smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKBehavior.h"
 #include "smtk/extension/paraview/appcomponents/pqSMTKResource.h"
 #include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMSMTKWrapperProxy.h"
-#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceReader.h"
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceSource.h"
 #include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKWrapper.h"
 
 #include "smtk/extension/vtk/source/vtkModelMultiBlockSource.h" // TODO: remove need for me
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ void pqSMTKWrapper::paraviewSelectionChanged(pqOutputPort* port)
   {
     auto dataInput = port->getSourceProxy();
     auto dataThing = dataInput->GetClientSideObject();
-    auto smtkThing = dynamic_cast<vtkSMTKResourceReader*>(dataThing);
+    auto smtkThing = dynamic_cast<vtkSMTKResourceSource*>(dataThing);
     auto mbdsThing = smtkThing ? smtkThing->GetOutput() : nullptr;
     auto selnInput = port->getSelectionInput();
     vtkPVSelectionSource* selnThing =
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/CMakeLists.txt b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/CMakeLists.txt
index 2a9a9db8d07bc94fee997261f1d873f136e8c044..c9c863be36825cd35d549862f01dc6afab78661a 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ set(serverWrappedSrcs
   vtkPVModelSources.cxx
   vtkSMTKAttributeReader.cxx
   vtkSMTKModelImporter.cxx
+  vtkSMTKModelCreator.cxx
   vtkSMTKModelReader.cxx
-  vtkSMTKResourceReader.cxx
+  vtkSMTKResourceSource.cxx
   vtkSMSMTKWrapperProxy.cxx
   vtkSMTKWrapper.cxx
   vtkSMSMTKModelRepresentationProxy.cxx
@@ -30,8 +31,9 @@ set(serverWrappedHdrs
   vtkPVModelSources.h
   vtkSMTKAttributeReader.h
   vtkSMTKModelImporter.h
+  vtkSMTKModelCreator.h
   vtkSMTKModelReader.h
-  vtkSMTKResourceReader.h
+  vtkSMTKResourceSource.h
   vtkSMSMTKWrapperProxy.h
   vtkSMTKWrapper.h
   vtkSMSMTKModelRepresentationProxy.h
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/smconfig.xml b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/smconfig.xml
index 06d8a8dccf630ee84d24a73b40f16e11a5339c99..4381d4836489348b0247472d3cfd66107e7a931d 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/smconfig.xml
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/smconfig.xml
@@ -106,6 +106,33 @@
       </Hints>
     </SourceProxy>
 
+    <SourceProxy name="SMTKModelCreator" class="vtkSMTKModelCreator" label="SMTK Model Creator">
+      <Documentation
+        short_help="Create a new SMTK model."
+        long_help="Create a new SMTK model and represent it as a set of multiblock datasets.">
+      </Documentation>
+
+      <StringVectorProperty
+        name="TypeName"
+        command="SetTypeName"
+        animateable="0"
+        number_of_elements="1"
+        panel_visibility="never">
+      </StringVectorProperty>
+
+      <StringVectorProperty
+        name="Specification"
+        command="SetSpecification"
+        animateable="0"
+        number_of_elements="1"
+        panel_visibility="never">
+      </StringVectorProperty>
+
+      <OutputPort index="0" name="model entities"/>
+      <OutputPort index="1" name="instance prototypes"/>
+      <OutputPort index="2" name="instance points"/>
+    </SourceProxy>
+
     <SourceProxy name="SMTKModelImporter" class="vtkSMTKModelImporter" label="SMTK Model Importer">
       <Documentation
         short_help="Import a file into SMTK."
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKAttributeReader.cxx b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKAttributeReader.cxx
index d461be084fcc2a83906c66896300f443a7d43946..608f31e6383f3cc474dbd7bc2f7fc5fc87b7420d 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKAttributeReader.cxx
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKAttributeReader.cxx
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ vtkStandardNewMacro(vtkSMTKAttributeReader);
 
 vtkSMTKAttributeReader::vtkSMTKAttributeReader()
 {
+  this->FileName = nullptr;
   this->IncludePathToFile = true;
-  //std::cout << "Create reader " << this << "\n";
   this->Defs = vtkSmartPointer<vtkTable>::New();
   this->SetNumberOfOutputPorts(1);
 
@@ -47,21 +47,20 @@ vtkSMTKAttributeReader::vtkSMTKAttributeReader()
 
 vtkSMTKAttributeReader::~vtkSMTKAttributeReader()
 {
-  //std::cout << "Delete reader " << this << "\n";
   this->SetFileName(nullptr);
-  this->SetWrapper(nullptr);
 }
 
 void vtkSMTKAttributeReader::PrintSelf(ostream& os, vtkIndent indent)
 {
   this->Superclass::PrintSelf(os, indent);
+  os << indent << "FileName: " << this->FileName << "\n";
   os << indent << "AttributeResource: " << this->AttributeResource << "\n";
   os << indent << "IncludePathToFile: " << this->IncludePathToFile << "\n";
 }
 
 smtk::resource::ResourcePtr vtkSMTKAttributeReader::GetResource() const
 {
-  return std::dynamic_pointer_cast<smtk::resource::Resource>(this->AttributeResource);
+  return std::dynamic_pointer_cast<smtk::resource::Resource>(this->GetSMTKResource());
 }
 
 smtk::attribute::ResourcePtr vtkSMTKAttributeReader::GetSMTKResource() const
@@ -75,11 +74,6 @@ int vtkSMTKAttributeReader::RequestData(vtkInformation* vtkNotUsed(request),
 {
   vtkMultiBlockDataSet* entitySource = vtkMultiBlockDataSet::GetData(outInfo, 0);
 
-  /*
-   std::cout
-     << "    Reader    " << this
-     << " has file " << (this->FileName && this->FileName[0] ? "Y" : "N") << "\n";
-   */
   if (!this->FileName || !this->FileName[0])
   {
     // No filename is not really an error... we should just have an empty output.
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKAttributeReader.h b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKAttributeReader.h
index 409ebce896c888db53b2d7b7fde633c8b2e1baf5..832009c7eef8c535bd0a773d4a0ce2a6d70d4ca5 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKAttributeReader.h
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKAttributeReader.h
@@ -10,29 +10,33 @@
 #ifndef smtk_extension_paraview_server_vtkSMTKAttributeReader_h
 #define smtk_extension_paraview_server_vtkSMTKAttributeReader_h
 
-#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceReader.h"
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceSource.h"
 
 #include "smtk/PublicPointerDefs.h"
 
+#include "vtkMultiBlockDataSetAlgorithm.h"
 #include "vtkNew.h"
 #include "vtkSmartPointer.h"
 
 class vtkSMTKWrapper;
-
 class vtkTable;
 
 /**\brief Use SMTK to provide a ParaView-friendly attribute source.
   */
-class SMTKPVSERVEREXT_EXPORT vtkSMTKAttributeReader : public vtkSMTKResourceReader
+class SMTKPVSERVEREXT_EXPORT vtkSMTKAttributeReader : public vtkSMTKResourceSource
 {
 public:
-  vtkTypeMacro(vtkSMTKAttributeReader, vtkSMTKResourceReader);
+  vtkTypeMacro(vtkSMTKAttributeReader, vtkSMTKResourceSource);
   void PrintSelf(ostream& os, vtkIndent indent) override;
   static vtkSMTKAttributeReader* New();
 
+  /// Set/get the URL of the SMTK attribute resource.
+  vtkGetStringMacro(FileName);
+  vtkSetStringMacro(FileName);
+
   /// Set/get whether to include the parent directory of \a FileName in the include path.
-  vtkGetMacro(IncludePathToFile, bool);
   vtkSetMacro(IncludePathToFile, bool);
+  vtkGetMacro(IncludePathToFile, bool);
 
   /// Return the SMTK resource that holds data read from \a FileName.
   smtk::resource::ResourcePtr GetResource() const override;
@@ -49,6 +53,7 @@ protected:
 
   bool LoadFile();
 
+  char* FileName;
   bool IncludePathToFile;
   smtk::attribute::ResourcePtr AttributeResource;
   vtkSmartPointer<vtkTable> Defs;
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelCreator.cxx b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelCreator.cxx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..03710f6d022342af598aea71075b41e01f10899c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelCreator.cxx
@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+//=========================================================================
+//  Copyright (c) Kitware, Inc.
+//  All rights reserved.
+//  See LICENSE.txt for details.
+//
+//  This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even
+//  the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+//  PURPOSE.  See the above copyright notice for more information.
+//=========================================================================
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelCreator.h"
+
+#include "smtk/extension/vtk/source/vtkMeshMultiBlockSource.h"
+#include "smtk/extension/vtk/source/vtkModelAuxiliaryGeometry.h"
+#include "smtk/extension/vtk/source/vtkModelMultiBlockSource.h"
+
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKWrapper.h"
+
+#include "smtk/attribute/Attribute.h"
+#include "smtk/attribute/FileItem.h"
+#include "smtk/attribute/IntItem.h"
+#include "smtk/attribute/ResourceItem.h"
+#include "smtk/attribute/StringItem.h"
+
+#include "smtk/model/EntityRef.h"
+#include "smtk/model/Model.h"
+#include "smtk/model/Resource.h"
+#include "smtk/model/SessionRef.h"
+
+#include "smtk/operation/Manager.h"
+#include "smtk/operation/operators/ReadResource.h"
+
+#include "smtk/resource/Manager.h"
+
+#include "smtk/attribute/ComponentItem.h"
+#include "smtk/attribute/json/jsonResource.h"
+
+#include "vtkCompositeDataIterator.h"
+#include "vtkInformation.h"
+#include "vtkInformationVector.h"
+#include "vtkMultiBlockDataSet.h"
+#include "vtkObjectFactory.h"
+#include "vtkPolyData.h"
+
+#include "nlohmann/json.hpp"
+
+using json = nlohmann::json;
+
+vtkStandardNewMacro(vtkSMTKModelCreator);
+
+vtkSMTKModelCreator::vtkSMTKModelCreator()
+{
+  this->TypeName = nullptr;
+  this->Specification = nullptr;
+  this->SetNumberOfOutputPorts(vtkModelMultiBlockSource::NUMBER_OF_OUTPUT_PORTS);
+}
+
+vtkSMTKModelCreator::~vtkSMTKModelCreator()
+{
+  this->SetTypeName(nullptr);
+  this->SetSpecification(nullptr);
+}
+
+void vtkSMTKModelCreator::PrintSelf(ostream& os, vtkIndent indent)
+{
+  this->Superclass::PrintSelf(os, indent);
+  os << indent << "TypeName: " << this->TypeName << "\n";
+  os << indent << "Specification: " << this->Specification << "\n";
+  os << indent << "ModelSource: " << this->ModelSource << "\n";
+}
+
+smtk::resource::ResourcePtr vtkSMTKModelCreator::GetResource() const
+{
+  return std::dynamic_pointer_cast<smtk::resource::Resource>(this->GetSMTKResource());
+}
+
+smtk::model::ResourcePtr vtkSMTKModelCreator::GetSMTKResource() const
+{
+  return this->ModelSource->GetModelResource();
+}
+
+/// Generate polydata from an smtk::model with tessellation information.
+int vtkSMTKModelCreator::RequestData(vtkInformation* vtkNotUsed(request),
+  vtkInformationVector** vtkNotUsed(inInfo), vtkInformationVector* outInfo)
+{
+  vtkMultiBlockDataSet* entitySource = vtkMultiBlockDataSet::GetData(
+    outInfo, static_cast<int>(vtkModelMultiBlockSource::MODEL_ENTITY_PORT));
+
+  vtkMultiBlockDataSet* instanceSource = vtkMultiBlockDataSet::GetData(
+    outInfo, static_cast<int>(vtkModelMultiBlockSource::PROTOTYPE_PORT));
+
+  if (!entitySource || !instanceSource)
+  {
+    vtkErrorMacro("No output dataset");
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  vtkMultiBlockDataSet* instancePlacement = vtkMultiBlockDataSet::GetData(
+    outInfo, static_cast<int>(vtkModelMultiBlockSource::INSTANCE_PORT));
+
+  if (!instancePlacement)
+  {
+    vtkErrorMacro("No output instance-placement dataset");
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  if (!this->TypeName)
+  {
+    vtkErrorMacro("No type name specified.");
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  if (!this->Specification)
+  {
+    vtkErrorMacro("No specification specified.");
+    return 1;
+  }
+
+  if (this->GetMTime() > this->ModelSource->GetMTime())
+  {
+    if (this->CreateModel())
+    {
+      this->ModelSource->Update();
+    }
+  }
+
+  entitySource->ShallowCopy(this->ModelSource->GetOutputDataObject(
+    static_cast<int>(vtkModelMultiBlockSource::MODEL_ENTITY_PORT)));
+  instancePlacement->ShallowCopy(this->ModelSource->GetOutputDataObject(
+    static_cast<int>(vtkModelMultiBlockSource::INSTANCE_PORT)));
+  instanceSource->ShallowCopy(this->ModelSource->GetOutputDataObject(
+    static_cast<int>(vtkModelMultiBlockSource::PROTOTYPE_PORT)));
+  return 1;
+}
+
+bool vtkSMTKModelCreator::CreateModel()
+{
+  if (!this->TypeName || !this->Specification)
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  smtk::resource::Manager::Ptr rsrcMgr;
+  if (this->Wrapper != nullptr)
+  {
+    rsrcMgr = this->Wrapper->GetResourceManager();
+  }
+
+  smtk::operation::Manager::Ptr operMgr;
+  if (this->Wrapper != nullptr)
+  {
+    operMgr = this->Wrapper->GetOperationManager();
+  }
+
+  if (!operMgr)
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  auto oper = operMgr->create(std::string(this->TypeName));
+  if (!oper)
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  json j;
+
+  try
+  {
+    j = json::parse(this->Specification);
+  }
+  catch (std::exception&)
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  auto specification = oper->specification();
+  smtk::attribute::from_json(j, specification);
+
+  auto result = oper->operate();
+  if (result->findInt("outcome")->value() !=
+    static_cast<int>(smtk::operation::Operation::Outcome::SUCCEEDED))
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  auto rsrc = result->findResource("resource")->value(0);
+  auto modelRsrc = std::dynamic_pointer_cast<smtk::model::Resource>(rsrc);
+  if (!modelRsrc)
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  // If we have a resouce manager...
+  if (rsrcMgr)
+  {
+    // ... remove the previous resource if we had one.
+    auto oldRsrc = this->ModelSource->GetModelResource();
+    if (oldRsrc)
+    {
+      rsrcMgr->remove(oldRsrc);
+    }
+    // Add the resource we just read.
+    rsrcMgr->add(rsrc);
+  }
+
+  // Tell our multiblock source to generate VTK polydata for model/mesh entities.
+  this->ModelSource->SetModelResource(modelRsrc);
+
+  // Also, find the first model and tell the multiblock source to render only it.
+  // TODO: Either we need a separate representation for each model (which is
+  //       IMNSHO a bad idea) or we need to change the multiblock source to work
+  //       without a model. It currently generates tessellations but not all the
+  //       metadata required for color-by modes.
+  auto models =
+    modelRsrc->entitiesMatchingFlagsAs<smtk::model::Models>(smtk::model::MODEL_ENTITY, false);
+  if (!models.empty())
+  {
+    this->ModelSource->SetModelEntityID(models.begin()->entity().toString().c_str());
+  }
+
+  return true;
+}
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelCreator.h b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelCreator.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b8f8eaccd08a3831dc41d704525919b40fc7c4bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelCreator.h
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+//=========================================================================
+//  Copyright (c) Kitware, Inc.
+//  All rights reserved.
+//  See LICENSE.txt for details.
+//
+//  This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even
+//  the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+//  PURPOSE.  See the above copyright notice for more information.
+//=========================================================================
+#ifndef smtk_extension_paraview_server_vtkSMTKModelCreator_h
+#define smtk_extension_paraview_server_vtkSMTKModelCreator_h
+
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/Exports.h"
+
+#include "vtkSMTKResourceSource.h"
+
+class vtkModelMultiBlockSource;
+class vtkSMTKWrapper;
+
+/**\brief A class for SMTK-based model sources.
+  */
+class SMTKPVSERVEREXT_EXPORT vtkSMTKModelCreator : public vtkSMTKResourceSource
+{
+public:
+  vtkTypeMacro(vtkSMTKModelCreator, vtkSMTKResourceSource);
+  void PrintSelf(ostream& os, vtkIndent indent) override;
+  static vtkSMTKModelCreator* New();
+
+  /// Set/get the create operation type name.
+  vtkGetStringMacro(TypeName);
+  vtkSetStringMacro(TypeName);
+
+  /// Set/get the json-formatted input specification for the create operation.
+  vtkGetStringMacro(Specification);
+  vtkSetStringMacro(Specification);
+
+  /// Return the VTK algorithm used to read the SMTK file.
+  vtkModelMultiBlockSource* GetModelSource() { return this->ModelSource.GetPointer(); }
+
+  /// Return the SMTK resource that holds data read from \a FileName.
+  smtk::resource::ResourcePtr GetResource() const override;
+
+  /// Return the SMTK model resource that holds data read from \a FileName.
+  smtk::model::ResourcePtr GetSMTKResource() const;
+
+protected:
+  vtkSMTKModelCreator();
+  ~vtkSMTKModelCreator() override;
+
+  int RequestData(
+    vtkInformation* request, vtkInformationVector** inInfo, vtkInformationVector* outInfo) override;
+
+  bool CreateModel();
+
+  char* TypeName;
+  char* Specification;
+  vtkNew<vtkModelMultiBlockSource> ModelSource;
+
+private:
+  vtkSMTKModelCreator(const vtkSMTKModelCreator&) = delete;
+  void operator=(const vtkSMTKModelCreator&) = delete;
+};
+
+#endif
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelImporter.cxx b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelImporter.cxx
index 50e4e73a96134d9362c8d66ac6d557cc2eff5b30..5d2ae790e628be99fa4c00109783d9f3c6b77145 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelImporter.cxx
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelImporter.cxx
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ vtkStandardNewMacro(vtkSMTKModelImporter);
 
 vtkSMTKModelImporter::vtkSMTKModelImporter()
 {
+  this->FileName = nullptr;
   this->ResourceName = nullptr;
   this->SetNumberOfOutputPorts(vtkModelMultiBlockSource::NUMBER_OF_OUTPUT_PORTS);
 
@@ -58,12 +59,14 @@ vtkSMTKModelImporter::vtkSMTKModelImporter()
 
 vtkSMTKModelImporter::~vtkSMTKModelImporter()
 {
+  this->SetFileName(nullptr);
   this->SetResourceName(nullptr);
 }
 
 void vtkSMTKModelImporter::PrintSelf(ostream& os, vtkIndent indent)
 {
   this->Superclass::PrintSelf(os, indent);
+  os << indent << "FileName: " << this->FileName << "\n";
   os << indent << "ModelSource: " << this->ModelSource << "\n";
 }
 
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelImporter.h b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelImporter.h
index 03520aac7adf6ec5d97b10cecbc906b874470bab..7e4c654ed1ae55c00337de06f5709155a7f4320f 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelImporter.h
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelImporter.h
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #ifndef smtk_extension_paraview_server_vtkSMTKModelImporter_h
 #define smtk_extension_paraview_server_vtkSMTKModelImporter_h
 
-#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceReader.h"
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceSource.h"
 
 #include "smtk/PublicPointerDefs.h"
 
@@ -29,13 +29,17 @@ class vtkSMTKWrapper;
   * manager are used to import the file (or perhaps in the future to create a
   * new resource). Otherwise SMTK's default environment is used.
   */
-class SMTKPVSERVEREXT_EXPORT vtkSMTKModelImporter : public vtkSMTKResourceReader
+class SMTKPVSERVEREXT_EXPORT vtkSMTKModelImporter : public vtkSMTKResourceSource
 {
 public:
-  vtkTypeMacro(vtkSMTKModelImporter, vtkSMTKResourceReader);
+  vtkTypeMacro(vtkSMTKModelImporter, vtkSMTKResourceSource);
   void PrintSelf(ostream& os, vtkIndent indent) override;
   static vtkSMTKModelImporter* New();
 
+  /// Set/get the URL of the SMTK model resource.
+  vtkGetStringMacro(FileName);
+  vtkSetStringMacro(FileName);
+
   /// Set/get the unique name of the SMTK resource.
   vtkGetStringMacro(ResourceName);
   vtkSetStringMacro(ResourceName);
@@ -60,6 +64,7 @@ protected:
 
   vtkNew<vtkModelMultiBlockSource> ModelSource;
 
+  char* FileName;
   char* ResourceName;
 
 private:
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelReader.cxx b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelReader.cxx
index 89cbd1c691deb0b6cef8ff4f323547f335765d01..49fee62595462168d72a96b67b22154398794d67 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelReader.cxx
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelReader.cxx
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ vtkStandardNewMacro(vtkSMTKModelReader);
 
 vtkSMTKModelReader::vtkSMTKModelReader()
 {
-  //std::cout << "Create reader " << this << "\n";
+  this->FileName = nullptr;
   this->SetNumberOfOutputPorts(vtkModelMultiBlockSource::NUMBER_OF_OUTPUT_PORTS);
 
   // Ensure this object's MTime > this->ModelSource's MTime so first RequestData() call
@@ -56,11 +56,13 @@ vtkSMTKModelReader::vtkSMTKModelReader()
 
 vtkSMTKModelReader::~vtkSMTKModelReader()
 {
+  this->SetFileName(nullptr);
 }
 
 void vtkSMTKModelReader::PrintSelf(ostream& os, vtkIndent indent)
 {
   this->Superclass::PrintSelf(os, indent);
+  os << indent << "FileName: " << this->FileName << "\n";
   os << indent << "ModelSource: " << this->ModelSource << "\n";
 }
 
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelReader.h b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelReader.h
index 923691b3a01e23ca1e3a3956d3a94538a772bf51..78cb353532c4e3712352e1269a65edffd689c529 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelReader.h
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKModelReader.h
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #ifndef smtk_extension_paraview_server_vtkSMTKModelReader_h
 #define smtk_extension_paraview_server_vtkSMTKModelReader_h
 
-#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceReader.h"
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceSource.h"
 
 #include "smtk/PublicPointerDefs.h"
 
@@ -27,13 +27,17 @@ class vtkSMTKWrapper;
   * manager are used to load the file (or perhaps in the future to create a new resource).
   * Otherwise SMTK's default environment is used.
   */
-class SMTKPVSERVEREXT_EXPORT vtkSMTKModelReader : public vtkSMTKResourceReader
+class SMTKPVSERVEREXT_EXPORT vtkSMTKModelReader : public vtkSMTKResourceSource
 {
 public:
-  vtkTypeMacro(vtkSMTKModelReader, vtkSMTKResourceReader);
+  vtkTypeMacro(vtkSMTKModelReader, vtkSMTKResourceSource);
   void PrintSelf(ostream& os, vtkIndent indent) override;
   static vtkSMTKModelReader* New();
 
+  /// Set/get the URL of the SMTK model resource.
+  vtkGetStringMacro(FileName);
+  vtkSetStringMacro(FileName);
+
   /// Return the VTK algorithm used to read the SMTK file.
   vtkModelMultiBlockSource* GetModelSource() { return this->ModelSource.GetPointer(); }
 
@@ -52,6 +56,7 @@ protected:
 
   bool LoadFile();
 
+  char* FileName;
   vtkNew<vtkModelMultiBlockSource> ModelSource;
 
 private:
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceReader.cxx b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceSource.cxx
similarity index 71%
rename from smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceReader.cxx
rename to smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceSource.cxx
index 31eafeada495f7610822fb39ba2102aeb2c35f08..3bd1380cbc8b443f01eba26839a8c3e852d75759 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceReader.cxx
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceSource.cxx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 //  the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
 //  PURPOSE.  See the above copyright notice for more information.
 //=========================================================================
-#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceReader.h"
+#include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceSource.h"
 #include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKWrapper.h"
 
 #include "smtk/resource/Manager.h"
@@ -21,38 +21,35 @@
 
 using namespace smtk;
 
-vtkCxxSetObjectMacro(vtkSMTKResourceReader, Wrapper, vtkSMTKWrapper);
+vtkCxxSetObjectMacro(vtkSMTKResourceSource, Wrapper, vtkSMTKWrapper);
 
-vtkSMTKResourceReader::vtkSMTKResourceReader()
+vtkSMTKResourceSource::vtkSMTKResourceSource()
 {
-  this->FileName = nullptr;
   this->Wrapper = nullptr;
   this->SetNumberOfInputPorts(0);
 }
 
-vtkSMTKResourceReader::~vtkSMTKResourceReader()
+vtkSMTKResourceSource::~vtkSMTKResourceSource()
 {
   if (this->Wrapper)
   {
     this->DropResource();
   }
   this->SetWrapper(nullptr);
-  this->SetFileName(nullptr);
 }
 
-void vtkSMTKResourceReader::PrintSelf(ostream& os, vtkIndent indent)
+void vtkSMTKResourceSource::PrintSelf(ostream& os, vtkIndent indent)
 {
   this->Superclass::PrintSelf(os, indent);
-  os << indent << "FileName: " << this->FileName << "\n";
   os << indent << "Wrapper: " << this->Wrapper << "\n";
 }
 
-smtk::resource::Resource::Ptr vtkSMTKResourceReader::GetResource() const
+smtk::resource::Resource::Ptr vtkSMTKResourceSource::GetResource() const
 {
   return smtk::resource::Resource::Ptr();
 }
 
-void vtkSMTKResourceReader::DropResource()
+void vtkSMTKResourceSource::DropResource()
 {
   auto rsrc = this->GetResource();
   if (!rsrc)
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceReader.h b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceSource.h
similarity index 59%
rename from smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceReader.h
rename to smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceSource.h
index 963b55daa681ce9de93aa187b7a13ba738da5e88..90f434d8b9fa75964445e97c8add1c1eef8bc40c 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceReader.h
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKResourceSource.h
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@
 //  the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
 //  PURPOSE.  See the above copyright notice for more information.
 //=========================================================================
-#ifndef smtk_extension_paraview_server_vtkSMTKResourceReader_h
-#define smtk_extension_paraview_server_vtkSMTKResourceReader_h
+#ifndef smtk_extension_paraview_server_vtkSMTKResourceSource_h
+#define smtk_extension_paraview_server_vtkSMTKResourceSource_h
 
 #include "smtk/extension/paraview/server/Exports.h"
 
@@ -20,22 +20,14 @@
 
 class vtkSMTKWrapper;
 
-/**\brief A base class for SMTK-based readers exposed in ParaView.
-  *
-  * If the SMTK wrapper object is set, then the wrapper's resource and operation
-  * manager are used to load the file (or perhaps in the future to create a new resource).
-  * Otherwise SMTK's default environment is used.
+/**\brief A base class for SMTK-based sources exposed in ParaView.
   */
-class SMTKPVSERVEREXT_EXPORT vtkSMTKResourceReader : public vtkMultiBlockDataSetAlgorithm
+class SMTKPVSERVEREXT_EXPORT vtkSMTKResourceSource : public vtkMultiBlockDataSetAlgorithm
 {
 public:
-  vtkTypeMacro(vtkSMTKResourceReader, vtkMultiBlockDataSetAlgorithm);
+  vtkTypeMacro(vtkSMTKResourceSource, vtkMultiBlockDataSetAlgorithm);
   void PrintSelf(ostream& os, vtkIndent indent) override;
 
-  /// Set/get the URL of the SMTK model resource.
-  vtkGetStringMacro(FileName);
-  vtkSetStringMacro(FileName);
-
   /// Return the SMTK resource that holds data read from \a FileName.
   virtual smtk::resource::ResourcePtr GetResource() const;
 
@@ -47,15 +39,14 @@ public:
   virtual void DropResource();
 
 protected:
-  vtkSMTKResourceReader();
-  ~vtkSMTKResourceReader() override;
+  vtkSMTKResourceSource();
+  ~vtkSMTKResourceSource() override;
 
-  char* FileName;
   vtkSMTKWrapper* Wrapper;
 
 private:
-  vtkSMTKResourceReader(const vtkSMTKResourceReader&) = delete;
-  void operator=(const vtkSMTKResourceReader&) = delete;
+  vtkSMTKResourceSource(const vtkSMTKResourceSource&) = delete;
+  void operator=(const vtkSMTKResourceSource&) = delete;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKWrapper.cxx b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKWrapper.cxx
index 019a25ea99d003301585ea3e54132025d36870ff..75f38037adc9eef986d403428776d7d42ac81359 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKWrapper.cxx
+++ b/smtk/extension/paraview/server/vtkSMTKWrapper.cxx
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ vtkSMTKWrapper::vtkSMTKWrapper()
   smtk::extension::paraview::PluginManager::instance()->registerPluginsTo(this->ResourceManager);
 
   this->OperationManager = smtk::operation::Manager::create();
+  this->OperationManager->registerResourceManager(this->ResourceManager);
   smtk::extension::paraview::PluginManager::instance()->registerPluginsTo(this->OperationManager);
 
   this->Selection = smtk::view::Selection::create();
@@ -260,11 +261,11 @@ void vtkSMTKWrapper::AddResourceFilter(json& response)
   if (rsrcThing)
   {
     vtkAlgorithm* alg = rsrcThing;
-    vtkSMTKResourceReader* resourceSrc = nullptr;
+    vtkSMTKResourceSource* resourceSrc = nullptr;
 
     // Recursively walk up ParaView's pipeline until we encounter one of our
-    // creation filters (marked by inheritence from vtkSMTKResourceReader).
-    while (alg && !(resourceSrc = vtkSMTKResourceReader::SafeDownCast(alg)))
+    // creation filters (marked by inheritence from vtkSMTKResourceSource).
+    while (alg && !(resourceSrc = vtkSMTKResourceSource::SafeDownCast(alg)))
     {
       alg = alg->GetInputAlgorithm(0, 0);
     }
diff --git a/smtk/extension/qt/qtOperationView.cxx b/smtk/extension/qt/qtOperationView.cxx
index 9125f4b11b784fc1cf53981855b97f169f998fa8..e9451fd37a7d87e8f08ec8c2bb0dd37f1f4b3bf7 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/qt/qtOperationView.cxx
+++ b/smtk/extension/qt/qtOperationView.cxx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "smtk/extension/qt/qtInstancedView.h"
 
 #include "smtk/attribute/Attribute.h"
+#include "smtk/attribute/Resource.h"
 #include "smtk/extension/qt/qtAttribute.h"
 #include "smtk/extension/qt/qtUIManager.h"
 #include "smtk/operation/Operation.h"
@@ -89,6 +90,16 @@ qtOperationView::~qtOperationView()
   delete this->Internals;
 }
 
+QPointer<QPushButton> qtOperationView::applyButton() const
+{
+  return this->Internals->m_applyButton;
+}
+
+smtk::operation::OperationPtr qtOperationView::operation() const
+{
+  return this->Internals->m_operator;
+}
+
 void qtOperationView::createWidget()
 {
   QVBoxLayout* parentlayout = static_cast<QVBoxLayout*>(this->parentWidget()->layout());
diff --git a/smtk/extension/qt/qtOperationView.h b/smtk/extension/qt/qtOperationView.h
index cba66b47d1adf2735b1d4b20664bd41cea966e6a..79e5d05173ae168182aebd713430c919257dce5e 100644
--- a/smtk/extension/qt/qtOperationView.h
+++ b/smtk/extension/qt/qtOperationView.h
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@
 #include "smtk/extension/qt/Exports.h"
 #include "smtk/extension/qt/qtBaseView.h"
 
+#include <QPointer>
+
 class qtOperationViewInternals;
+class QPushButton;
 
 namespace smtk
 {
@@ -55,6 +58,9 @@ public:
   qtOperationView(const OperationViewInfo& info);
   virtual ~qtOperationView();
 
+  QPointer<QPushButton> applyButton() const;
+  smtk::operation::OperationPtr operation() const;
+
 public slots:
   void showAdvanceLevelOverlay(bool show) override;
   void requestModelEntityAssociation() override;
diff --git a/smtk/operation/CMakeLists.txt b/smtk/operation/CMakeLists.txt
index a56df324fb74504ee013957d63c6686eb71883d3..d1831b52624f0e1870f8c8ce3f6f853191fe89ac 100644
--- a/smtk/operation/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/smtk/operation/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ set(operationSrcs
   SpecificationOps.cxx
   XMLOperation.cxx
 
+  groups/CreatorGroup.cxx
   groups/ImporterGroup.cxx
   groups/ExporterGroup.cxx
   groups/ReaderGroup.cxx
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ set(operationHeaders
   ResourceManagerOperation.h
   XMLOperation.h
 
+  groups/CreatorGroup.h
   groups/ImporterGroup.h
   groups/ExporterGroup.h
   groups/ReaderGroup.h
diff --git a/smtk/operation/groups/CreatorGroup.cxx b/smtk/operation/groups/CreatorGroup.cxx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..462cce50e78cecd34a85747123697f7fc7fcaaeb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/smtk/operation/groups/CreatorGroup.cxx
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+//=========================================================================
+//  Copyright (c) Kitware, Inc.
+//  All rights reserved.
+//  See LICENSE.txt for details.
+//
+//  This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even
+//  the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+//  PURPOSE.  See the above copyright notice for more information.
+//=========================================================================
+
+#include "smtk/operation/groups/CreatorGroup.h"
+#include "smtk/attribute/Attribute.h"
+
+#include "smtk/operation/Manager.h"
+
+namespace smtk
+{
+namespace operation
+{
+
+std::string CreatorGroup::resourceForOperation(const Operation::Index& index) const
+{
+  auto vals = values(index);
+  return !vals.empty() ? *vals.begin() : "";
+}
+
+std::string CreatorGroup::resourceForOperation(const std::string& operationName) const
+{
+  auto vals = values(operationName);
+  return !vals.empty() ? *vals.begin() : "";
+}
+
+std::set<Operation::Index> CreatorGroup::operationsForResource(
+  const std::string& resourceName) const
+{
+  std::set<Operation::Index> operations;
+
+  auto manager = m_manager.lock();
+  if (manager == nullptr)
+  {
+    return operations;
+  }
+
+  std::set<Operation::Index> allOperations = this->operations();
+
+  for (auto& index : allOperations)
+  {
+    if (resourceForOperation(index) == resourceName)
+    {
+      operations.insert(index);
+    }
+  }
+  return operations;
+}
+
+std::set<std::string> CreatorGroup::supportedResources() const
+{
+  std::set<std::string> resources;
+
+  auto manager = m_manager.lock();
+  if (manager == nullptr)
+  {
+    return resources;
+  }
+
+  std::set<Operation::Index> allOperations = this->operations();
+
+  for (auto& index : allOperations)
+  {
+    resources.insert(resourceForOperation(index));
+  }
+  return resources;
+}
+}
+}
diff --git a/smtk/operation/groups/CreatorGroup.h b/smtk/operation/groups/CreatorGroup.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..8483c9f42111b4460efdaf8ed4e6cd57cb77f564
--- /dev/null
+++ b/smtk/operation/groups/CreatorGroup.h
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+//=========================================================================
+//  Copyright (c) Kitware, Inc.
+//  All rights reserved.
+//  See LICENSE.txt for details.
+//
+//  This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even
+//  the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+//  PURPOSE.  See the above copyright notice for more information.
+//=========================================================================
+
+#ifndef smtk_operation_CreatorGroup_h
+#define smtk_operation_CreatorGroup_h
+
+#include "smtk/CoreExports.h"
+
+#include "smtk/attribute/Attribute.h"
+#include "smtk/attribute/Definition.h"
+#include "smtk/attribute/FileItem.h"
+#include "smtk/attribute/FileItemDefinition.h"
+
+#include "smtk/common/TypeName.h"
+
+#include "smtk/operation/Group.h"
+#include "smtk/operation/Manager.h"
+#include "smtk/operation/Operation.h"
+#include "smtk/operation/SpecificationOps.h"
+
+#include <set>
+#include <string>
+
+namespace smtk
+{
+namespace operation
+{
+class Manager;
+
+class SMTKCORE_EXPORT CreatorGroup : protected Group
+{
+public:
+  using Group::has;
+  using Group::operations;
+  using Group::operationNames;
+
+  static constexpr const char* const type_name = "creator";
+
+  CreatorGroup(std::shared_ptr<smtk::operation::Manager> manager)
+    : Group(type_name, manager)
+  {
+  }
+
+  /// Register an IO operation identified by it's unique name and the type of
+  /// resource it handles.
+  template <typename ResourceType>
+  bool registerOperation(const std::string&);
+
+  /// Register an IO operation identified by its type index and the type of
+  /// resource it handles.
+  template <typename ResourceType>
+  bool registerOperation(const Operation::Index&);
+
+  /// Register an IO operation identified by its class type and the name of the
+  /// resource it reads.
+  template <typename ResourceType, typename OperationType>
+  bool registerOperation();
+
+  /// Given a resource name, return the set of operators that were associated
+  /// with the resource during registration.
+  std::set<Operation::Index> operationsForResource(const std::string& resourceName) const;
+
+  /// Given an operation name, return the resource associated with the operation.
+  std::string resourceForOperation(const std::string&) const;
+
+  /// Given an operation index, return the resource associated with the operation.
+  std::string resourceForOperation(const Operation::Index&) const;
+
+  /// Given a resource type, return the set of operators that were associated
+  /// with the resource during registration.
+  template <typename ResourceType>
+  std::set<Operation::Index> operationsForResource() const;
+
+  std::set<std::string> supportedResources() const;
+};
+
+template <typename ResourceType>
+bool CreatorGroup::registerOperation(const std::string& typeName)
+{
+  return Group::registerOperation(typeName, { smtk::common::typeName<ResourceType>() });
+}
+
+template <typename ResourceType>
+bool CreatorGroup::registerOperation(const Operation::Index& index)
+{
+  return Group::registerOperation(index, { smtk::common::typeName<ResourceType>() });
+}
+
+template <typename ResourceType, typename OperationType>
+bool CreatorGroup::registerOperation()
+{
+  return Group::registerOperation(
+    std::type_index(typeid(OperationType)).hash_code(), { smtk::common::typeName<ResourceType>() });
+}
+
+template <typename ResourceType>
+std::set<Operation::Index> CreatorGroup::operationsForResource() const
+{
+  return operationsForResource(smtk::common::typeName<ResourceType>());
+}
+}
+}
+
+#endif // smtk_operation_CreatorGroup_h