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 $             MINC_MODIFY_HEADER(1)