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)