diff -r 19aaf0f68bc1 share/lib/hoc/import3d/import3d_sec.hoc
--- a/share/lib/hoc/import3d/import3d_sec.hoc	Sun Apr 24 09:00:59 2011 -0400
+++ b/share/lib/hoc/import3d/import3d_sec.hoc	Thu May 05 11:07:00 2011 -0400
@@ -115,7 +115,11 @@
 
 proc mkglyph() {local i, d1, d2   localobj x, y, norm, x1, y1, i1
 	g = new Glyph()
-	if (xyz.ncol - first < 2) { return }
+	if (xyz.ncol - first < 2) {
+		// must be single point soma from swc
+		circle(xyz.x[0][0], xyz.x[1][0], d.x[0]/2)
+		return
+	}
 	// normal
 	x1 = xyz.getrow(0)
 	y1 = xyz.getrow(1)
@@ -383,4 +387,28 @@
 	return x
 }
 
+proc circle() {
+	x = $1
+	y = $2
+	r = $3
+
+	p0 = 1.00000000 * r
+	p1 = 0.89657547 * r   // cos 30 * sqrt(1 + tan 15 * tan 15)
+	p2 = 0.70710678 * r   // cos 45
+	p3 = 0.51763809 * r   // cos 60 * sqrt(1 + tan 15 * tan 15)
+	p4 = 0.26794919 * r   // tan 15
+	g.path()
+	g.m(x+p0, y) 
+	g.curve(x+p2, y+p2, x+p0, y+p4, x+p1, y+p3)
+	g.curve(x, y+p0, x+p3, y+p1, x+p4, y+p0)
+	g.curve(x-p2, y+p2, x-p4, y+p0, x-p3, y+p1)
+	g.curve(x-p0, y, x-p1, y + p3, x-p0, y+p4)
+	g.curve(x-p2, y-p2, x-p0, y-p4, x-p1, y-p3)
+	g.curve(x, y-p0, x-p3, y-p1, x-p4, y-p0)
+	g.curve(x+p2, y-p2, x+p4, y-p0, x+p3, y-p1)
+	g.curve(x+p0, y, x+p1, y-p3, x+p0, y-p4)
+	g.close()
+	g.s(1,3)
+}
+
 endtemplate Import3d_Section
diff -r 19aaf0f68bc1 share/lib/hoc/import3d/read_swc.hoc
--- a/share/lib/hoc/import3d/read_swc.hoc	Sun Apr 24 09:00:59 2011 -0400
+++ b/share/lib/hoc/import3d/read_swc.hoc	Thu May 05 11:07:00 2011 -0400
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 double a[7]
 
 proc init() {
+	single_point_root = 0
 	filetype = "SWC"
 	vectors = new List()
 	header = new List()
@@ -183,9 +184,9 @@
 	// however warn if the first two points do not have the same type
 	if ( type.x[0] != type.x[1]) {
 		err = 1
-printf("\nNotice: %s:\nThe first two points have different types (%d and %d) but\n    a single point root section is not allowed.\n    Changing point id %d so that it is type %d.\n    If this is an incorrect repair, then change the file.\n"\
-, file.getname, type.x[0], type.x[1], pt2id(1), type.x[0])
-		type.x[1] = type.x[0]
+printf("\nNotice: %s:\nThe first two points have different types (%d and %d) but\n    a single point root section is not allowed.\n    Adding a few points of type %d before and after the first point\n    so that it looks like a sphere.\n    Children will be logically connected to the center point\n    with pt3dstyle(1,...).\n    If this is an incorrect repair, then change the file.\n"\
+, file.getname, type.x[0], type.x[1], type.x[0])
+		single_point_root = 1
 	}
 
 	$o1 = new Vector(id.size)
@@ -228,6 +229,13 @@
 		if (pid.x[first] == 0) { sec.parentx = 0 }
 		sec.append(0, pid.x[first], 1, x, y, z, d)
 		sec.append(1, first, i-first, x, y, z, d)
+		if (single_point_root && pid.x[first] == 0) {
+			sec.parentx = 0.5 // middle
+			sec.first = 1
+		}
+	}else if (single_point_root) {
+		sec = new Import3d_Section(first, 1)
+		sec.append(0, first, 1, x, y, z, d)
 	}else{// pid not first point in root section
 		sec = new Import3d_Section(first, i-first)
 		sec.append(0, first, i-first, x, y, z, d)