diff --git a/Point_set_3/include/CGAL/Point_set_3/point_set_io.h b/Point_set_3/include/CGAL/Point_set_3/point_set_io.h
index 0d3379fc0e6..3363b62402c 100644
--- a/Point_set_3/include/CGAL/Point_set_3/point_set_io.h
+++ b/Point_set_3/include/CGAL/Point_set_3/point_set_io.h
@@ -17,31 +17,61 @@
 
 
 namespace CGAL {
+
 template <typename Point,
-          typename Vector>
+          typename Vector,
+          typename NamedParameters>
 bool read_point_set(const std::string& fname,
-                    CGAL::Point_set_3<Point, Vector>& ps)
+                    CGAL::Point_set_3<Point, Vector>& ps,
+                    const NamedParameters& np)
 {
   if (fname.find(".xyz") != std::string::npos) {
-    return read_XYZ(fname, ps);
+    return read_XYZ(fname, ps, np);
   }
 
   if (fname.find(".off") != std::string::npos) {
-    return read_OFF(fname, ps);
+    return read_OFF(fname, ps, np);
   }
 
   if (fname.find(".ply") != std::string::npos) {
-    return read_PLY(fname, ps);
+    return read_PLY(fname, ps, np);
   }
 
 #ifdef CGAL_LINKED_WITH_LASLIB
   if (fname.find(".las") != std::string::npos) {
-    return read_LAS(fname, ps);
+    return read_LAS(fname, ps, np);
   }
 #endif
   return false;
 }
 
+template <typename Point,
+          typename Vector>
+bool read_point_set(const std::string& fname,
+                    CGAL::Point_set_3<Point, Vector>& ps)
+{
+  return read_point_set(fname, ps, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+template <typename Point,
+          typename Vector,
+          typename NamedParameters>
+bool read_point_set(const char* fname,
+                    CGAL::Point_set_3<Point, Vector>& ps,
+                    const NamedParameters& np)
+{
+  return read_point_set(std::string(fname),
+                        ps,
+                        np);
+}
+
+template <typename Point,
+          typename Vector>
+bool read_point_set(const char* fname,
+                    CGAL::Point_set_3<Point, Vector>& ps)
+{
+  return read_point_set(fname, ps, parameters::all_default());
+}
 
 template <typename Point,
           typename Vector>
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_las_points.h b/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_las_points.h
index 767f1ead43a..30b1d640192 100644
--- a/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_las_points.h
+++ b/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_las_points.h
@@ -470,7 +470,24 @@ bool read_LAS(std::istream& stream,
 }
 
 /// \cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
-// variant with default NP
+template < typename OutputIterator,
+           #ifdef DOXYGEN_RUNNING
+           typename NamedParameters
+           #else
+           typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS
+           #endif
+           >
+bool read_LAS(std::istream& stream,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              #ifdef DOXYGEN_RUNNING
+              const NamedParameters& np)
+#else
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+#endif
+{
+  return read_LAS_with_properties(stream, output, np);
+}
+// variants with default NP
 template <typename OutputIteratorValueType,
           typename OutputIterator>
 bool
@@ -482,7 +499,23 @@ read_LAS(
       (stream, output, CGAL::parameters::all_default());
 }
 
-// variant with default output iterator value type
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_LAS(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_LAS<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_LAS(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_LAS<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+// variants with default output iterator value type
 template <typename OutputIterator,
           typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
 bool
@@ -495,20 +528,119 @@ read_LAS(
       (stream, output, np);
 }
 
-// variant with default NP and output iterator value type
+template <typename OutputIterator,typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
+bool read_LAS(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+{
+  std::ifstream is(fname);
+  return read_LAS<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(is, output, np);
+}
+
+template <typename OutputIterator, typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
+bool read_LAS(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+{
+  return read_LAS<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname.c_str(), output, np);
+}
+
+// variants with default NP and output iterator value type
 template <typename OutputIterator>
 bool
 read_LAS(
     std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
-    OutputIterator output,
-    typename boost::enable_if<
-    typename CGAL::is_iterator<OutputIterator>
-    >::type* =0)
+    OutputIterator output)
 {
   return read_LAS<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>
       (stream, output, CGAL::parameters::all_default());
 }
 
+template < typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_LAS(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_LAS<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+template <typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_LAS(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_LAS<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+
+/**
+   \ingroup PkgPointSetProcessing3IOLas
+   Reads points (position only) from a .las or .laz file.
+   Potential additional properties are ignored.
+
+   \tparam OutputIteratorValueType type of objects that can be put in `OutputIterator`.
+   It is default to `value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::%type` and can be omitted when the default is fine.
+   \tparam OutputIterator iterator over output points.
+
+   \param stream input stream.
+   \param output output iterator over points.
+
+   \param np optional sequence of \ref psp_namedparameters "Named Parameters" among the ones listed below.
+
+   \cgalNamedParamsBegin
+     \cgalParamBegin{point_map} a model of `WritablePropertyMap` with value type `geom_traits::Point_3`.
+     If this parameter is omitted, `CGAL::Identity_property_map<geom_traits::Point_3>` is used.\cgalParamEnd
+     \cgalParamBegin{geom_traits} an instance of a geometric traits class, model of `Kernel`\cgalParamEnd
+   \cgalNamedParamsEnd
+
+   \return true on success.
+
+   \cgalRequiresCPP11
+*/
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator,
+           #ifdef DOXYGEN_RUNNING
+           typename NamedParameters
+           #else
+           typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS
+           #endif
+           >
+bool read_LAS(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              #ifdef DOXYGEN_RUNNING
+              const NamedParameters& np)
+#else
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+#endif
+{
+  std::ifstream is(fname);
+  return read_LAS(is, output, np);
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_LAS(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_LAS(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator,
+           typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
+bool read_LAS(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+{
+  return read_LAS(fname.c_str(), output, np);
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_LAS(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_LAS(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
 #ifndef CGAL_NO_DEPRECATED_CODE
 // deprecated API
 template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_off_points.h b/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_off_points.h
index 7f94bd0c25a..317faf6c726 100644
--- a/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_off_points.h
+++ b/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_off_points.h
@@ -185,47 +185,147 @@ read_OFF(
   return true;
 }
 
+
+/**
+   \ingroup PkgPointSetProcessing3IO
+   Reads points (positions + normals, if available) from a .off ASCII file.
+   The function expects for each point a line with the x y z position,
+   optionally followed by the nx ny nz normal.
+   Faces are ignored.
+
+   \tparam OutputIteratorValueType type of objects that can be put in `OutputIterator`.
+   It is default to `value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::%type` and can be omitted when the default is fine.
+   \tparam OutputIterator iterator over output points.
+
+   \param stream input stream.
+   \param output output iterator over points.
+   \param np optional sequence of \ref psp_namedparameters "Named Parameters" among the ones listed below.
+
+   \cgalNamedParamsBegin
+     \cgalParamBegin{point_map} a model of `WritablePropertyMap` with value type `geom_traits::Point_3`.
+     If this parameter is omitted, `CGAL::Identity_property_map<geom_traits::Point_3>` is used.\cgalParamEnd
+     \cgalParamBegin{normal_map} a model of `ReadWritePropertyMap` with value type
+     `geom_traits::Vector_3`. If this parameter is omitted, normals in the input stream are
+     ignored.\cgalParamEnd
+     \cgalParamBegin{geom_traits} an instance of a geometric traits class, model of `Kernel`\cgalParamEnd
+   \cgalNamedParamsEnd
+
+   \return true on success.
+*/
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator,
+           #ifdef DOXYGEN_RUNNING
+           typename NamedParameters
+           #else
+           typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS
+           #endif
+           >
+bool read_OFF(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              #ifdef DOXYGEN_RUNNING
+              const NamedParameters& np)
+#else
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+#endif
+{
+  std::ifstream is(fname);
+  return read_OFF(is, output, np);
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator,
+           typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
+bool read_OFF(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+{
+  return read_OFF<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname.c_str(), output, np);
+}
+
+
+
 /// \cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
-// variant with default NP
+// variants with default NP
 template <typename OutputIteratorValueType,
           typename OutputIterator>
 bool
 read_OFF(
-  std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
-  OutputIterator output) ///< output iterator over points.
+    std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+    OutputIterator output) ///< output iterator over points.
 {
   return read_OFF<OutputIteratorValueType>
-    (stream, output, CGAL::parameters::all_default());
+      (stream, output, CGAL::parameters::all_default());
 }
 
-// variant with default output iterator value type
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_OFF(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_OFF<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_OFF(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_OFF<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+// variants with default output iterator value type
 template <typename OutputIterator,
           typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
 bool
 read_OFF(
-  std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
-  OutputIterator output,
-  const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np,
-    typename boost::enable_if<
-    CGAL::is_iterator<OutputIterator>
-    >::type* =0)
+    std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+    OutputIterator output,
+    const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
 {
   return read_OFF<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>
-    (stream, output, np);
+      (stream, output, np);
 }
 
-// variant with default NP and output iterator value type
+template <typename OutputIterator,typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
+bool read_OFF(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+{
+  std::ifstream is(fname);
+  return read_OFF<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(is, output, np);
+}
+
+template <typename OutputIterator, typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
+bool read_OFF(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+{
+  return read_OFF<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname.c_str(), output, np);
+}
+
+// variants with default NP and output iterator value type
 template <typename OutputIterator>
 bool
 read_OFF(
     std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
-    OutputIterator output,
-    typename std::enable_if<
-    CGAL::is_iterator<OutputIterator>::value
-    >::type* =0)
+    OutputIterator output)
 {
   return read_OFF<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>
-    (stream, output, CGAL::parameters::all_default());
+      (stream, output, CGAL::parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_OFF(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_OFF<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+template <typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_OFF(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_OFF<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
 }
 
 #ifndef CGAL_NO_DEPRECATED_CODE
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_ply_points.h b/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_ply_points.h
index 9e2af3ff171..bae313af0cc 100644
--- a/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_ply_points.h
+++ b/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_ply_points.h
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ bool read_PLY_with_properties (std::istream& stream,
     return false;
   }
 
-  IO::internal::PLY_reader reader;
+  IO::internal::PLY_reader reader(true);
 
   if (!(reader.init (stream)))
   {
@@ -256,9 +256,65 @@ bool read_PLY(std::istream& stream,
                                    make_ply_point_reader (point_map));
 }
 
+/**
+   \ingroup PkgPointSetProcessing3IOPly
+   Reads points (positions + normals, if available) from a .ply
+   file (ASCII or binary).
+   Potential additional point properties and faces are ignored.
+
+   \tparam OutputIteratorValueType type of objects that can be put in `OutputIterator`.
+   It is default to `value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::%type` and can be omitted when the default is fine.
+   \tparam OutputIterator iterator over output points.
+
+   \param stream input stream.
+   \param output output iterator over points.
+   \param np optional sequence of \ref psp_namedparameters "Named Parameters" among the ones listed below.
+
+   \cgalNamedParamsBegin
+     \cgalParamBegin{point_map} a model of `WritablePropertyMap` with value type `geom_traits::Point_3`.
+     If this parameter is omitted, `CGAL::Identity_property_map<geom_traits::Point_3>` is used.\cgalParamEnd
+     \cgalParamBegin{normal_map} a model of `ReadWritePropertyMap` with value type
+     `geom_traits::Vector_3`. If this parameter is omitted, normals in the input stream are
+     ignored.\cgalParamEnd
+     \cgalParamBegin{geom_traits} an instance of a geometric traits class, model of `Kernel`\cgalParamEnd
+   \cgalNamedParamsEnd
+
+   \return true on success.
+
+   \cgalRequiresCPP11
+*/
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator,
+           #ifdef DOXYGEN_RUNNING
+           typename NamedParameters
+           #else
+           typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS
+           #endif
+           >
+bool read_PLY(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              #ifdef DOXYGEN_RUNNING
+              const NamedParameters& np)
+#else
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+#endif
+{
+  std::ifstream is(fname);
+  return read_PLY<OutputIteratorValueType>(is, output, np);
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator,
+           typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
+bool read_PLY(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+{
+  return read_PLY<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname.c_str(), output, np);
+}
 
 /// \cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
-// variant with default NP
+// variants with default NP
 template <typename OutputIteratorValueType,
           typename OutputIterator>
 bool
@@ -270,7 +326,23 @@ read_PLY(
       (stream, output, CGAL::parameters::all_default());
 }
 
-// variant with default output iterator value type
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_PLY(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_PLY<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_PLY(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_PLY<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+// variants with default output iterator value type
 template <typename OutputIterator,
           typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
 bool
@@ -283,7 +355,24 @@ read_PLY(
       (stream, output, np);
 }
 
-// variant with default NP and output iterator value type
+template <typename OutputIterator,typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
+bool read_PLY(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+{
+  std::ifstream is(fname);
+  return read_PLY<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(is, output, np);
+}
+
+template <typename OutputIterator, typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
+bool read_PLY(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+{
+  return read_PLY<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname.c_str(), output, np);
+}
+
+// variants with default NP and output iterator value type
 template <typename OutputIterator>
 bool
 read_PLY(
@@ -294,6 +383,20 @@ read_PLY(
       (stream, output, CGAL::parameters::all_default());
 }
 
+template < typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_PLY(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_PLY<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+template <typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_PLY(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_PLY<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
 #ifndef CGAL_NO_DEPRECATED_CODE
 // deprecated API
 template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_points.h b/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_points.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a13c1d1c65b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_points.h
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2020  Geometry Factory
+// All rights reserved.
+//
+// This file is part of CGAL (www.cgal.org).
+//
+// $URL$
+// $Id$
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later OR LicenseRef-Commercial
+//
+// Author(s) : Maxime Gimeno
+#ifndef CGAL_READ_POINTS_H
+#define CGAL_READ_POINTS_H
+
+#ifdef CGAL_LINKED_WITH_LASLIB
+#include <CGAL/IO/read_las_points.h>
+#endif
+#include <CGAL/IO/read_off_points.h>
+#include <CGAL/IO/read_ply_points.h>
+#include <CGAL/IO/read_xyz_points.h>
+
+namespace CGAL {
+
+template <typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+          typename OutputIterator,
+          typename NamedParameters>
+bool read_points(const std::string& fname,
+                    OutputIterator output,
+                    const NamedParameters& np)
+{
+  if (fname.find(".xyz") != std::string::npos) {
+    return read_XYZ<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname, output, np);
+  }
+
+  if (fname.find(".off") != std::string::npos) {
+    return read_OFF<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname, output, np);
+  }
+
+  if (fname.find(".ply") != std::string::npos) {
+    return read_PLY<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname, output, np);
+  }
+
+#ifdef CGAL_LINKED_WITH_LASLIB
+  if (fname.find(".las") != std::string::npos) {
+    return read_LAS<OutputIteratorValueType>fname, output, np);
+  }
+#endif
+  return false;
+}
+
+//variant with default OutputIteratorType
+template <typename OutputIterator,
+          typename NamedParameters>
+bool read_points(const std::string& fname,
+                    OutputIterator output,
+                    const NamedParameters& np)
+{
+  return read_points<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname, output, np);
+}
+
+//variant with default np
+template <typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+          typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_points(const std::string& fname,
+                    OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_points<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+//variant with all default
+template<typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_points(const std::string& fname,
+                 OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_points<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+
+//variants with char*
+
+template <typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+          typename OutputIterator,
+          typename NamedParameters>
+bool read_points(const char* fname,
+                    OutputIterator output,
+                    const NamedParameters& np)
+{
+  return read_points<OutputIteratorValueType>(std::string(fname), output, np);
+}
+
+template <typename OutputIterator,
+          typename NamedParameters>
+bool read_points(const char* fname,
+                    OutputIterator output,
+                    const NamedParameters& np)
+{
+  return read_points<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname, output, np);
+}
+
+template <typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+          typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_points(const char* fname,
+                    OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_points<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+template<typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_points(const char* fname,
+                 OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_points<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+}//end CGAL
+
+#endif // CGAL_READ_POINTS_H
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_xyz_points.h b/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_xyz_points.h
index ed627dc1c02..86088d934ee 100644
--- a/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_xyz_points.h
+++ b/Point_set_processing_3/include/CGAL/IO/read_xyz_points.h
@@ -174,44 +174,145 @@ read_XYZ(
   return true;
 }
 
+/**
+   \ingroup PkgPointSetProcessing3IO
+   Reads points (positions + normals, if available) from a .xyz ASCII file.
+   The function expects for each point a line with the x y z position,
+   optionally followed by the nx ny nz normal.
+   The first line may contain the number of points in the file.
+   Empty lines and comments starting by # character are allowed.
+
+   \tparam OutputIteratorValueType type of objects that can be put in `OutputIterator`.
+   It is default to `value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::%type` and can be omitted when the default is fine.
+   \tparam OutputIterator iterator over output points.
+
+   \param stream input stream.
+   \param output output iterator over points.
+   \param np optional sequence of \ref psp_namedparameters "Named Parameters" among the ones listed below.
+
+   \cgalNamedParamsBegin
+     \cgalParamBegin{point_map} a model of `WritablePropertyMap` with value type `geom_traits::Point_3`.
+     If this parameter is omitted, `CGAL::Identity_property_map<geom_traits::Point_3>` is used.\cgalParamEnd
+     \cgalParamBegin{normal_map} a model of `ReadWritePropertyMap` with value type
+     `geom_traits::Vector_3`. If this parameter is omitted, normals in the input stream are
+     ignored.\cgalParamEnd
+     \cgalParamBegin{geom_traits} an instance of a geometric traits class, model of `Kernel`\cgalParamEnd
+   \cgalNamedParamsEnd
+
+   \return true on success.
+*/
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator,
+           #ifdef DOXYGEN_RUNNING
+           typename NamedParameters
+           #else
+           typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS
+           #endif
+           >
+bool read_XYZ(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              #ifdef DOXYGEN_RUNNING
+              const NamedParameters& np)
+#else
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+#endif
+{
+  std::ifstream is(fname);
+  return read_XYZ(is, output, np);
+}
+
 /// \cond SKIP_IN_MANUAL
-// variant with default NP
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator,
+           typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS
+           >
+bool read_XYZ(const std::string& fname,
+   OutputIterator output,
+   const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+{
+  return read_XYZ<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname.c_str(), output, np);
+}
+// variants with default NP
 template <typename OutputIteratorValueType,
           typename OutputIterator>
 bool
 read_XYZ(
-  std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
-  OutputIterator output) ///< output iterator over points.
+    std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+    OutputIterator output) ///< output iterator over points.
 {
   return read_XYZ<OutputIteratorValueType>
-    (stream, output, CGAL::parameters::all_default());
+      (stream, output, CGAL::parameters::all_default());
 }
 
-// variant with default output iterator value type
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_XYZ(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_XYZ<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIteratorValueType,
+           typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_XYZ(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_XYZ<OutputIteratorValueType>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+// variants with default output iterator value type
 template <typename OutputIterator,
           typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
 bool
 read_XYZ(
-  std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
-  OutputIterator output,
-  const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+    std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+    OutputIterator output,
+    const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
 {
   return read_XYZ<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>
-    (stream, output, np);
+      (stream, output, np);
 }
 
-// variant with default NP and output iterator value type
+template <typename OutputIterator,typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
+bool read_XYZ(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+{
+  std::ifstream is(fname);
+  return read_XYZ<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(is, output, np);
+}
+
+template <typename OutputIterator, typename CGAL_BGL_NP_TEMPLATE_PARAMETERS>
+bool read_XYZ(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output,
+              const CGAL_BGL_NP_CLASS& np)
+{
+  return read_XYZ<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname.c_str(), output, np);
+}
+
+// variants with default NP and output iterator value type
 template <typename OutputIterator>
 bool
 read_XYZ(
-  std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
-  OutputIterator output,
-    typename boost::enable_if<
-    CGAL::is_iterator<OutputIterator>
-    >::type* =0)
+    std::istream& stream, ///< input stream.
+    OutputIterator output)
 {
   return read_XYZ<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>
-    (stream, output, CGAL::parameters::all_default());
+      (stream, output, CGAL::parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+template < typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_XYZ(const std::string& fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_XYZ<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
+}
+
+template <typename OutputIterator>
+bool read_XYZ(const char* fname,
+              OutputIterator output)
+{
+  return read_XYZ<typename value_type_traits<OutputIterator>::type>(fname, output, parameters::all_default());
 }
 
 #ifndef CGAL_NO_DEPRECATED_CODE
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/pig_points.las b/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/pig_points.las
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..07904d3c5c1
Binary files /dev/null and b/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/data/read_test/pig_points.las differ
diff --git a/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/read_test.cpp b/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/read_test.cpp
index de346c56ef1..ffab5efefc2 100644
--- a/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/read_test.cpp
+++ b/Point_set_processing_3/test/Point_set_processing_3/read_test.cpp
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 #include <CGAL/property_map.h>
 #include <CGAL/IO/read_off_points.h>
 #include <CGAL/IO/read_xyz_points.h>
+#include <CGAL/IO/read_ply_points.h>
 
 #include <CGAL/config.h>
-#include <CGAL/IO/read_ply_points.h>
+#include <CGAL/Point_set_3/point_set_io.h>
+#include <CGAL/IO/read_points.h>
 
 #include <vector>
 #include <cassert>
@@ -62,6 +64,15 @@ bool read_ply (std::string s,
                          normal_map(CGAL::Second_of_pair_property_map<PointVectorPair>()));
 }
 
+bool read_ps(std::string s)
+{
+  std::vector<PointVectorPair> pv_pairs;
+  return CGAL::read_points(s,
+                              std::back_inserter(pv_pairs),
+                              CGAL::parameters::point_map(CGAL::First_of_pair_property_map<PointVectorPair>()).
+                              normal_map(CGAL::Second_of_pair_property_map<PointVectorPair>()));
+}
+
 int main()
 {
   std::cerr << "### There should be three errors following this line...\n";
@@ -110,5 +121,12 @@ int main()
   assert(pv_pairs[1] == std::make_pair(Point_3(3,3,3), Vector_3(4,4,4)));
   assert(pv_pairs[2] == std::make_pair(Point_3(5,5,5), Vector_3(6,6,6)));
 
+  assert(read_ps("data/read_test/ok_1.xyz"));
+  assert(read_ps("data/read_test/ok_1.off"));
+  assert(read_ps("data/read_test/simple.ply"));
+  #ifdef CGAL_LINKED_WITH_LASLIB
+  assert(read_ps("data/read_test/pig_points.las"));
+#endif
+
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/Stream_support/include/CGAL/IO/PLY.h b/Stream_support/include/CGAL/IO/PLY.h
index 68c3315c0ba..69ad33210b7 100644
--- a/Stream_support/include/CGAL/IO/PLY.h
+++ b/Stream_support/include/CGAL/IO/PLY.h
@@ -381,7 +381,13 @@ bool read_PLY(const char* fname,
 template <typename PointRange, typename PolygonRange>
 bool read_PLY(const char* fname,
               PointRange& points,
-              PolygonRange& polygons)
+              PolygonRange& polygons
+              #ifndef DOXYGEN_RUNNING
+              ,typename std::enable_if<
+              CGAL::is_iterator<PolygonRange>::value
+              >::type* =0
+              #endif
+    )
 {
   return read_PLY(fname, points, polygons, parameters::all_default());
 }
@@ -399,7 +405,13 @@ bool read_PLY(const std::string& fname,
 template <typename PointRange, typename PolygonRange>
 bool read_PLY(const std::string fname,
               PointRange& points,
-              PolygonRange& polygons)
+              PolygonRange& polygons
+              #ifndef DOXYGEN_RUNNING
+              ,typename std::enable_if<
+              CGAL::is_iterator<PolygonRange>::value
+              >::type* =0
+              #endif
+    )
 {
   return read_PLY(fname, points, polygons, parameters::all_default());
 }