diff --git a/daskms/chunking.py b/daskms/chunking.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7088b007
--- /dev/null
+++ b/daskms/chunking.py
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+import os
+from os.path import join as pjoin
+
+import numpy as np
+import pyrap.tables as pt
+
+from daskms.reads import DatasetFactory
+
+
+class TableChunking(object):
+    def __init__(self, ms, group_cols=None, index_cols=None):
+        self._ms = ms
+        self._group_cols = group_cols
+        self._index_cols = index_cols
+        self._dataset_factory = None
+
+    def __call__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        if self._dataset_factory is None:
+            factory = DatasetFactory(self._ms, [],
+                                     self._group_cols,
+                                     self._index_cols)
+            self._dataset_factory = factory
+        else:
+            factory = self._dataset_factory
+
+        table_proxy = factory.table_proxy_factory()
+
+        return self.chunk(table_proxy)
+
+    def chunk(self, table_proxy):
+        from pprint import pprint
+        pprint(inspect_ms(self._ms))
+
+        print(table_proxy)
+
+
+class MSChunking(TableChunking):
+    pass
+
+
+# {(subtable, required): number_column}
+SUBTABLES = {
+    ("FEED", False): "NUM_RECEPTORS",
+    ("FIELD", False): "NUM_POLY",
+    ("POINTING", False): "NUM_POLY",
+    ("POLARIZATION", True): "NUM_CORR",
+    ("SOURCE", False): "NUM_LINES",
+    ("SPECTRAL_WINDOW", True): "NUM_CHAN"
+}
+
+
+def _inspect_subtables(ms):
+    for (subtable, required), num_column in SUBTABLES.items():
+        subtable_path = pjoin(ms, subtable)
+        subtable_name = "::".join((ms, subtable))
+
+        if not os.path.isdir(subtable_path):
+            if required:
+                raise ValueError("%s required but not present", subtable)
+
+            continue
+
+        with pt.table(subtable_name, ack=False, readonly=True) as T:
+            yield ((subtable, num_column), T.getcol(num_column))
+
+
+def inspect_ms(ms):
+    subtables = dict(_inspect_subtables(ms))
+
+    ddid_name = "::".join((ms, "DATA_DESCRIPTION"))
+
+    spw = subtables[("SPECTRAL_WINDOW", "NUM_CHAN")]
+    pol = subtables[("POLARIZATION", "NUM_CORR")]
+
+    with pt.table(ddid_name, ack=False, readonly=True) as T:
+        spw_id = T.getcol("SPECTRAL_WINDOW_ID")
+        pol_id = T.getcol("POLARIZATION_ID")
+
+        nchan = spw[spw_id]
+        ncorr = pol[pol_id]
+
+        ddid_shapes = np.stack([nchan, ncorr], axis=1)
+        return subtables, ddid_shapes
+
+
+
+
+
+
diff --git a/daskms/ms_structure.py b/daskms/ms_structure.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..216d57c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/daskms/ms_structure.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+import os
+from os.path import join as pjoin
+
+import numpy as np
+import pyrap.tables as pt
+
+
+SUBTABLES = {
+    ("FEED", False): "NUM_RECEPTORS",
+    ("FIELD", False): "NUM_POLY",
+    ("POINTING", False): "NUM_POLY",
+    ("POLARIZATION", True): "NUM_CORR",
+    ("SOURCE", False): "NUM_LINES",
+    ("SPECTRAL_WINDOW", True): "NUM_CHAN"
+}
+
+
+def _inspect_subtables(ms):
+    for (subtable, required), num_column in SUBTABLES.items():
+        subtable_path = pjoin(ms, subtable)
+        subtable_name = "::".join((ms, subtable))
+
+        if not os.path.isdir(subtable_path):
+            if required:
+                raise ValueError("%s required but not present", subtable)
+
+            continue
+
+        with pt.table(subtable_name, ack=False, readonly=True) as T:
+            yield ((subtable, num_column), T.getcol(num_column))
+
+
+def inspect_ms(ms):
+    subtables = dict(_inspect_subtables(ms))
+
+    ddid_name = "::".join((ms, "DATA_DESCRIPTION"))
+
+    spw = subtables[("SPECTRAL_WINDOW", "NUM_CHAN")]
+    pol = subtables[("POLARIZATION", "NUM_CORR")]
+
+    with pt.table(ddid_name, ack=False, readonly=True) as T:
+        spw_id = T.getcol("SPECTRAL_WINDOW_ID")
+        pol_id = T.getcol("POLARIZATION_ID")
+
+        nchan = spw[spw_id]
+        ncorr = pol[pol_id]
+
+        ddid_shapes = np.stack([nchan, ncorr], axis=1)
+        return ddid_shapes
+
+
+
diff --git a/daskms/reads.py b/daskms/reads.py
index 6894eca0..d99d97db 100644
--- a/daskms/reads.py
+++ b/daskms/reads.py
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ def __init__(self, table, select_cols, group_cols, index_cols, **kwargs):
         if len(kwargs) > 0:
             raise ValueError("Unhandled kwargs: %s" % kwargs)
 
-    def _table_proxy_factory(self):
+    def table_proxy_factory(self):
         return TableProxy(pt.table, self.table_path, ack=False,
                           readonly=True, lockoptions='user',
                           __executor_key__=executor_key(self.canonical_name))
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ def _group_datasets(self, table_proxy, groups, exemplar_rows, orders):
         return datasets
 
     def datasets(self):
-        table_proxy = self._table_proxy_factory()
+        table_proxy = self.table_proxy_factory()
 
         # No grouping case
         if len(self.group_cols) == 0:
diff --git a/daskms/tests/test_chunking.py b/daskms/tests/test_chunking.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..390c8d02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/daskms/tests/test_chunking.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+import pytest
+
+from daskms.chunking import MSChunking
+from daskms.table_proxy import TableProxy
+
+def test_chunking():
+    chunks = MSChunking("/home/sperkins/data/AF0236_spw01.ms/")
+
+    chunks(1, 2)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/daskms/tests/test_ms_structure.py b/daskms/tests/test_ms_structure.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..488ef14b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/daskms/tests/test_ms_structure.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+from daskms.ms_structure import inspect_ms
+
+
+def test_ms_structure():
+    print(inspect_ms("/home/sperkins/data/WSRT_multiple.MS_p0"))