diff --git a/pyglance/glance/data.py b/pyglance/glance/data.py
index 4e213de9d916dbe8af0737c5e69afcda3ebed079..233a55c43b6054710bb5402c2d809dcc7702d9c7 100644
--- a/pyglance/glance/data.py
+++ b/pyglance/glance/data.py
@@ -236,6 +236,22 @@ class DataObject (object) :
         self.self_analysis()
         return delta.max_with_mask(self.data, self.masks.valid_mask) if len(self.data.shape) > 0 else np.nan
 
+    def describe_shape(self):
+        """
+        describe my data's shape
+
+        Typically just the shape (ex "(50,50)"), but may have
+        additional information.  For example, single value shapes
+        will also show the value.
+
+        Intended strictly for human viewing, not parsing!
+        """
+        if self.data.size == 1:
+            return str(self.data.shape) + " = " + str(self.data.item())
+        return str(self.data.shape)
+
+
+
 class DiffInfoObject (object) :
     """
     This class represents the full difference between two data sets.
diff --git a/pyglance/glance/gui_model.py b/pyglance/glance/gui_model.py
index 422c18864132a82a3ffeba6d3d9e6fbd52f86432..af84b1b99b59d5f755f0f9b7fcd6fa1ac531819b 100644
--- a/pyglance/glance/gui_model.py
+++ b/pyglance/glance/gui_model.py
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ class GlanceGUIModel (object) :
         for dataListener in self.dataListeners :
             LOG.debug("Sending update for file " + filePrefix + " with loaded data.")
             dataListener.fileDataUpdate(filePrefix, newFile.path, tempVariable, tempDataObj.override_fill_value,
-                                        self._select_fill_value(filePrefix), str(tempDataObj.data.shape),
+                                        self._select_fill_value(filePrefix), tempDataObj.describe_shape(),
                                         variable_list=variableList, attribute_list=tempAttrs)
             dataListener.updateSelectedLatLon(filePrefix,
                                               self.fileData[filePrefix].latitude,
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ class GlanceGUIModel (object) :
             for listener in self.dataListeners :
                 listener.fileDataUpdate(file_prefix, self.fileData[file_prefix].file.path, tempVariableName,
                                                      tempDataObject.override_fill_value,   self._select_fill_value(file_prefix),
-                                                     str(tempDataObject.data.shape),       attribute_list=tempAttrsList)
+                                                     tempDataObject.describe_shape(),       attribute_list=tempAttrsList)
     
     def _select_fill_value (self, file_prefix) :
         """