NAME
minc_modify_header - modify the attributes in the header of a minc file
SYNOPSIS
minc_modify_header [<options>] <file>.mnc
DESCRIPTION
Minc_modify_header allows the modification, insertion or deletion of
attributes in a minc file. If possible, the file is modified in place,
without copying the data. This will happen when inserting (modifying)
an attribute that already exists and that ends up being the same length
or shorter in the new file. If an attribute is deleted or lengthened,
then a complete copy of the data is made, resulting in a completely new
file that replaces the original.
If the file is compressed, then it is first decompressed into a file
whose name is either the same as that of the original file up to the
".mnc" extension or the same minus the compression extension (".bz",
".bz2", ".gz", ".Z", ".z" or ".zip"). The new file will not be re-
compressed.
Care is taken to completely overwrite any existing attribute when
inserting a new attribute so that information is guaranteed to be
removed from the file.
OPTIONS
Note that options can be specified in abbreviated form (as long as they
are unique) and can be given anywhere on the command line.
-sinsert var:attr=value
Insert a string attribute into the header. If the attribute does
not exist or the new string is longer than the existing one,
then all data in the file will be copied.
-sappend var:attr=value
Similar to -sinsert, but appends the string to the attribute’s
value. If the attribute already exists it must be of string
type.
-dinsert var:attr=value(,...)
Insert a double precision attribute into the header. If the
attribute does not exist or the new attribute is longer than the
existing one, then all data in the file will be copied. A comma-
separated array of values can be specified.
-dappend var:attr=value(,...)
Similar to -dinsert, but appends the list of double precision
values to the attribute’s value. If the attribute already
exists it must be of double precision type.
-delete var:attr
Delete an attribute from the header. USE OF THIS OPTION WILL
FORCE A COMPLETE COPY OF ALL DATA TO BE MADE. Use -sinsert with
an empty string to delete information without copying data (the
attribute will continue to exist).
-help Print summary of command-line options and exit.
-version
Print the program’s version number and exit.
EXAMPLES:
To replace the patient name with an identifier string:
minc_modify_header file.mnc -sinsert
’patient:full_name=C02-F0023’
To delete the patient name completely (forcing a copy of all data):
minc_modify_header file.mnc -delete ’patient:full_name’
To hide the patient name without copying data, assuming that we know
that the attribute exists (the attribute will remain in the file, but
it will be empty):
minc_modify_header file.mnc -sinsert ’patient:full_name=’
AUTHOR
Peter Neelin
COPYRIGHTS
Copyright © 1995 by Peter Neelin
$Date: 2004-05-25 21:33:11 $