dcmconv(1)

NAME

dcmconv - Convert DICOM file encoding

SYNOPSIS

dcmconv [options] dcmfile-in dcmfile-out

DESCRIPTION

The dcmconv utility reads a DICOM file (dicomfile-in), performs an encoding conversion and writes the converted data to an output file (dicomfile-out).

PARAMETERS

dcmfile-in DICOM input filename to be converted

dcmfile-out DICOM output filename to write to

OPTIONS

general options: -h --help
print this help text and exit; --version
print version information and exit; -v --verbose
verbose mode, print processing details; -d --debug
debug mode, print debug information
input options: input file format:

+f --read-file
read file format or data set (default)

+fo --read-file-only

read file format only

-f --read-dataset

read data set without file meta information
input transfer syntax:: -t= --read-xfer-auto
use TS recognition (default); -td --read-xfer-detect
ignore TS specified in the file meta header; -te --read-xfer-little
read with explicit VR little endian TS; -tb --read-xfer-big
read with explicit VR big endian TS; -ti --read-xfer-implicit
read with implicit VR little endian TS
parsing of odd-length attributes:: +ao --accept-odd-length
accept odd length attributes (default); +ae --assume-even-length
assume real length is one byte larger
handling of undefined length UN elements:: +ui --enable-cp246
read undefined len UN as implicit VR (default); -ui --disable-cp246
read undefined len UN as explicit VR
handling of defined length UN elements:: -uc --retain-un
retain elements as UN (default)
+uc --convert-un: convert to real VR if known
automatic data correction:: +dc --enable-correction
enable automatic data correction (default); -dc --disable-correction
disable automatic data correction
bitstream format of deflated input:: +bd --bitstream-deflated
expect deflated bitstream (default); +bz --bitstream-zlib
expect deflated zlib bitstream
output options: output file format:

+F --write-file
write file format (default)

-F --write-dataset

write data set without file meta information
output transfer syntax:: +t= --write-xfer-same
write with same TS as input (default); +te --write-xfer-little
write with explicit VR little endian TS; +tb --write-xfer-big
write with explicit VR big endian TS; +ti --write-xfer-implicit
write with implicit VR little endian TS; +td --write-xfer-deflated
write with deflated expl. VR little endian TS
post-1993 value representations:: +u --enable-new-vr
enable support for new VRs (UN/UT) (default); -u --disable-new-vr
disable support for new VRs, convert to OB
group length encoding:: +g= --group-length-recalc
recalculate group lengths if present (default); +g --group-length-create
always write with group length elements; -g --group-length-remove
always write without group length elements
length encoding in sequences and items:: +e --length-explicit
write with explicit lengths (default); -e --length-undefined
write with undefined lengths
data set trailing padding (not with --write-dataset):: -p= --padding-retain
do not change padding (default if not --write-dataset); -p --padding-off
no padding (implicit if --write-dataset); +p --padding-create [f]ile-pad [i]tem-pad: integer
align file on multiple of f bytes
and items on multiple of i bytes
deflate compression level (only with --write-xfer-deflated):: +cl --compression-level level: 0-9 (default 6)
0=uncompressed, 1=fastest, 9=best compression

COMMAND LINE

All command line tools use the following notation for parameters: square brackets enclose optional values (0-1), three trailing dots indicate that multiple values are allowed (1-n), a combination of both means 0 to n values.

Command line options are distinguished from parameters by a leading '+' or '-' sign, respectively. Usually, order and position of command line options are arbitrary (i.e. they can appear anywhere). However, if options are mutually exclusive the rightmost appearance is used. This behaviour conforms to the standard evaluation rules of common Unix shells.

In addition, one or more command files can be specified using an '@' sign as a prefix to the filename (e.g. @command.txt). Such a command argument is replaced by the content of the corresponding text file (multiple whitespaces are treated as a single separator) prior to any further evaluation. Please note that a command file cannot contain another command file. This simple but effective approach allows to summarize common combinations of options/parameters and avoids longish and confusing command lines (an example is provided in file share/data/dumppat.txt).

ENVIRONMENT

The dcmconv utility will attempt to load DICOM data dictionaries specified in the DCMDICTPATH environment variable. By default, i.e. if the DCMDICTPATH environment variable is not set, the file <PREFIX>/lib/dicom.dic will be loaded unless the dictionary is built into the application (default for Windows).

The default behaviour should be preferred and the DCMDICTPATH environment variable only used when alternative data dictionaries are required. The DCMDICTPATH environment variable has the same format as the Unix shell PATH variable in that a colon (':') separates entries. The data dictionary code will attempt to load each file specified in the DCMDICTPATH environment variable. It is an error if no data dictionary can be loaded.

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See also