docs: def __universal_read(file_path, file_type):
      """
      Use a file path to create file metadata and load a file in the appropriate way, according to the provided file type.
  
      :param str file_path: Path to file
      :param str file_type: One of approved file types: xls, xlsx, txt, lpd
      :return none:
      """
      global files, cwd, settings
  
      # check that we are using the correct function to load this file type. (i.e. readNoaa for a .txt file)
      correct_ext = load_fn_matches_ext(file_path, file_type)
  
      # Check that this path references a file
      valid_path = path_type(file_path, "file")
  
      # is the path a file?
      if valid_path and correct_ext:
  
          # get file metadata for one file
          file_meta = collect_metadata_file(file_path)
  
          # append to global files, then load in D
          if file_type == ".lpd":
              # add meta to global file meta
              files[".lpd"].append(file_meta)
          # append to global files
          elif file_type in [".xls", ".xlsx"]:
              print("reading: {}".format(print_filename(file_meta["full_path"])))
              files[".xls"].append(file_meta)
          # append to global files
          elif file_type == ".txt":
              print("reading: {}".format(print_filename(file_meta["full_path"])))
              files[".txt"].append(file_meta)
  
  
          # we want to move around with the files we load
          # change dir into the dir of the target file
          cwd = file_meta["dir"]
          if cwd:
              os.chdir(cwd)
  
      return