Write DICOM data

This example shows how to write a DICOM file from scratch using pydicom. This example does not produce a DICOM standards compliant file as written, you will have to change UIDs to valid values and add all required DICOM data elements.

Out:

Setting file meta information...
Setting dataset values...
Writing test file /tmp/tmpnq6w9dqg.dcm
File saved.
Writing test file as Big Endian Explicit VR /tmp/tmp_rf7o5ep.dcm
Load file /tmp/tmpnq6w9dqg.dcm ...
Dataset.file_meta -------------------------------
(0002, 0002) Media Storage SOP Class UID         UI: CT Image Storage
(0002, 0003) Media Storage SOP Instance UID      UI: 1.2.3
(0002, 0012) Implementation Class UID            UI: 1.2.3.4
-------------------------------------------------
(0008, 0023) Content Date                        DA: '20201204'
(0008, 0033) Content Time                        TM: '004539.771056'
(0010, 0010) Patient's Name                      PN: 'Test^Firstname'
(0010, 0020) Patient ID                          LO: '123456'
Remove file /tmp/tmpnq6w9dqg.dcm ...
Load file /tmp/tmp_rf7o5ep.dcm ...
Dataset.file_meta -------------------------------
(0002, 0002) Media Storage SOP Class UID         UI: CT Image Storage
(0002, 0003) Media Storage SOP Instance UID      UI: 1.2.3
(0002, 0010) Transfer Syntax UID                 UI: Explicit VR Big Endian
(0002, 0012) Implementation Class UID            UI: 1.2.3.4
-------------------------------------------------
(0008, 0023) Content Date                        DA: '20201204'
(0008, 0033) Content Time                        TM: '004539.771056'
(0010, 0010) Patient's Name                      PN: 'Test^Firstname'
(0010, 0020) Patient ID                          LO: '123456'
Remove file /tmp/tmp_rf7o5ep.dcm ...

# authors : Guillaume Lemaitre <g.lemaitre58@gmail.com>
# license : MIT

import os
import tempfile
import datetime

import pydicom
from pydicom.dataset import Dataset, FileDataset, FileMetaDataset

# Create some temporary filenames
suffix = '.dcm'
filename_little_endian = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix=suffix).name
filename_big_endian = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix=suffix).name

print("Setting file meta information...")
# Populate required values for file meta information
file_meta = FileMetaDataset()
file_meta.MediaStorageSOPClassUID = '1.2.840.10008.5.1.4.1.1.2'
file_meta.MediaStorageSOPInstanceUID = "1.2.3"
file_meta.ImplementationClassUID = "1.2.3.4"

print("Setting dataset values...")
# Create the FileDataset instance (initially no data elements, but file_meta
# supplied)
ds = FileDataset(filename_little_endian, {},
                 file_meta=file_meta, preamble=b"\0" * 128)

# Add the data elements -- not trying to set all required here. Check DICOM
# standard
ds.PatientName = "Test^Firstname"
ds.PatientID = "123456"

# Set the transfer syntax
ds.is_little_endian = True
ds.is_implicit_VR = True

# Set creation date/time
dt = datetime.datetime.now()
ds.ContentDate = dt.strftime('%Y%m%d')
timeStr = dt.strftime('%H%M%S.%f')  # long format with micro seconds
ds.ContentTime = timeStr

print("Writing test file", filename_little_endian)
ds.save_as(filename_little_endian)
print("File saved.")

# Write as a different transfer syntax XXX shouldn't need this but pydicom
# 0.9.5 bug not recognizing transfer syntax
ds.file_meta.TransferSyntaxUID = pydicom.uid.ExplicitVRBigEndian
ds.is_little_endian = False
ds.is_implicit_VR = False

print("Writing test file as Big Endian Explicit VR", filename_big_endian)
ds.save_as(filename_big_endian)

# reopen the data just for checking
for filename in (filename_little_endian, filename_big_endian):
    print('Load file {} ...'.format(filename))
    ds = pydicom.dcmread(filename)
    print(ds)

    # remove the created file
    print('Remove file {} ...'.format(filename))
    os.remove(filename)