diff --git a/input1.txt b/input1.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bbe83c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/input1.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{
+    'one':
+    {
+        'two': 3,
+        'four': [ 5,6,7]
+    },
+    'eight':
+    {
+        'nine':
+        {
+            'ten':11
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/input2.txt b/input2.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e632f25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/input2.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+    'one/two':3,
+    'one/four/0':5,
+    'one/four/1':6,
+    'one/four/2':7,
+    'eight/nine/ten':11
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ontraport_test.py b/ontraport_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b8df5e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ontraport_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+# Elliot Brainerd
+# Ontraport Backend Test 5/29
+
+# usage:
+# update main method according to input file format
+# run python .\ontraport_test.py <filename>
+
+# eg. 
+# uncomment line in main "print(expand(data))"
+# python ./ontraport_test.py input2.txt
+
+# solution assumes that list values are final/do not contain nested data structures
+
+import sys
+import ast
+
+
+def compress_helper(data, result, cur_path):
+    for key in data:
+
+        if type(data[key]) is dict:
+            cur_path += key + "/"
+            compress_helper(data[key], result, cur_path)
+            cur_path = ""
+
+        elif type(data[key]) is list:
+            cur_path += key + "/"
+            cur_path_copy = cur_path
+
+            for i in range(len(data[key])):
+                cur_path_copy += str(i)
+                result[cur_path_copy] = data[key][i]
+                cur_path_copy = cur_path
+
+        # integers
+        else:
+            result[cur_path + key] = data[key]
+
+    return result
+
+
+# accepts a multi-dimensional container of any size and converts it into a
+# one dimensional associative array whose keys are strings representing
+# their value's path in the original container
+def compress(data):
+    data = ast.literal_eval(data)
+    if type(data) is dict:
+        return compress_helper(data, {}, "")
+    else:
+        print("Error with input file.")
+        exit
+
+
+def expand_helper(nodes, result, value, prev_node):
+    cur_node = nodes[0]  # nodes represent the keys in a given path
+
+    # integer nodes
+    if cur_node.isnumeric():
+        result[prev_node].insert(int(cur_node), value)
+
+    # last node, non-numeric
+    elif cur_node == nodes[-1]:
+        result[cur_node] = value
+
+    # new node
+    elif cur_node not in result.keys():
+        if nodes[nodes.index(cur_node) + 1].isnumeric():
+            result[cur_node] = [value]
+        else:
+            result[cur_node] = expand_helper(nodes[1:], {}, value, cur_node)
+
+    # node already seen
+    else:
+        if type(result[cur_node]) == list:
+            result[cur_node].insert(
+                int(nodes[nodes.index(cur_node) + 1]), value)
+        else:
+            expand_helper(nodes[1:], result[cur_node], value, cur_node)
+
+    return result
+
+
+# accepts one dimensional associative array whose keys are strings representing
+# their value's path and creates a multi-dimensional container
+def expand(data):
+    data = ast.literal_eval(data)
+    if type(data) is dict:
+        result = {}
+        for key in data:
+            nodes = key.split('/')
+            expand_helper(nodes, result, data[key], None)
+        return result
+    else:
+        print("Error with input file.")
+        exit
+
+
+def main():
+    filename = sys.argv[1]
+    file = open(filename, 'r')
+    data = file.read()
+
+    # input1.txt
+    # print(compress(data))
+
+    # input2.txt
+    print(expand(data))
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()