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)