SetTag Actions

SetTag actions set DICOM tag values in the current DICOM object. Each SetTag action sets a single tag value.

Basic Syntax

<SetTag name="ActionName" tag="(GGGG,EEEE)">
  TagValue
</SetTag>

Attributes

Attribute	Required	Description
name	Yes	Unique identifier for this action.
tag	Yes	The DICOM tag in (GGGG,EEEE) format.
vr	No	Value Representation (e.g., LO, PN, DT). Usually inferred from the DICOM dictionary. Required for private tags.
tagName	No	Name for private tags (odd group number).
type	No	"Global" (default) applies the value to all instances; "Unique" generates a distinct value per image instance.

Optional Attributes

type

Determines how the tag value is applied:

• Global (default) - The tag value applies to all instances in the job
• Unique - Each instance gets a unique value (useful for generating unique UIDs)

<!-- Global: Same value for all instances -->
<SetTag tag="0008,0080" name="SetInstitution" type="Global">
  Medical Center
</SetTag>

<!-- Unique: Generate unique value per instance -->
<SetTag tag="0020,000E" name="SetSeriesUID" type="Unique">
  #{SeriesInstanceUID}
</SetTag>

Default: Global

vr

The Value Representation for the tag.

<SetTag tag="0008,0080" name="SetInstitution" vr="LO">
  Hospital
</SetTag>

If not specified, the VR is determined automatically from the DICOM standard.

Using Placeholders

SetTag actions support all placeholder types:

Tag Value Placeholders

<!-- Copy Patient Name to Institution Name -->
<SetTag tag="0008,0080" name="CopyPatientToInstitution">
  #{PatientName}
</SetTag>

<!-- Copy by tag number -->
<SetTag tag="0008,1030" name="CopyPatientToDescription">
  #{0010,0010}
</SetTag>

Date Placeholders

<!-- Current date -->
<SetTag tag="0008,0020" name="SetStudyDate">
  #{Date}
</SetTag>

<!-- Yesterday -->
<SetTag tag="0008,0021" name="SetSeriesDate">
  #{Date,-1}
</SetTag>

<!-- Series Date = Study Date -->
<SetTag tag="0008,0021" name="CopyStudyDate">
  #{StudyDate}
</SetTag>

Combined Placeholders

<!-- Combine static text with placeholders -->
<SetTag tag="0008,1030" name="SetDescription">
  Study for #{PatientName} on #{Date}
</SetTag>

<!-- Multiple placeholders -->
<SetTag tag="0008,0080" name="SetInstitutionDept">
  #{InstitutionName} - #{Department}
</SetTag>

Common Examples

Set Study Metadata

Multiple SetTag actions to set study metadata:

<Actions>
  <SetTag tag="0008,0020" name="SetStudyDate">#{Date}</SetTag>
  <SetTag tag="0008,0030" name="SetStudyTime">#{Time}</SetTag>
  <SetTag tag="0008,0050" name="SetAccessionNumber">#{AccessionNumber}</SetTag>
  <SetTag tag="0008,1030" name="SetStudyDescription">Printed Document</SetTag>
  <SetTag tag="0020,000D" name="SetStudyInstanceUID">#{StudyInstanceUID}</SetTag>
</Actions>

Set Institution Information

<Actions>
  <SetTag tag="0008,0080" name="SetInstitutionName">General Hospital</SetTag>
  <SetTag tag="0008,0081" name="SetInstitutionAddress">123 Medical Drive</SetTag>
  <SetTag tag="0008,0082" name="SetInstitutionDept">Radiology Department</SetTag>
</Actions>

Set Device Information

<Actions>
  <SetTag tag="0008,0070" name="SetManufacturer">Flux Inc</SetTag>
  <SetTag tag="0008,1090" name="SetManufacturerModel">DICOM Printer 2</SetTag>
  <SetTag tag="0018,1020" name="SetSoftwareVersion">2.0.0</SetTag>
</Actions>

Copy Tags

<Actions>
  <!-- Copy patient demographics to study level -->
  <SetTag tag="0010,1010" name="CopyPatientAge">#{PatientAge}</SetTag>
  <SetTag tag="0010,1020" name="CopyPatientSize">#{PatientSize}</SetTag>
  <SetTag tag="0010,1030" name="CopyPatientWeight">#{PatientWeight}</SetTag>
</Actions>

Conditional Tag Setting

Combine with workflow conditionals to set tags based on conditions:

<Workflow>
  <Perform action="QueryWorklist"/>

  <If field="QUERY_FOUND" value="true">
    <!-- Query succeeded - use data from worklist -->
    <Perform action="SetStudyDate"/>
    <Perform action="SetStudyDescription"/>
  </If>

  <If field="QUERY_FOUND" value="false">
    <!-- No match - use default values -->
    <Perform action="SetDefaultStudyDate"/>
    <Perform action="SetDefaultDescription"/>
  </If>
</Workflow>

Workflow Example

Multiple SetTag actions used in a workflow:

<Actions>
  <!-- Patient information -->
  <SetTag tag="0010,0010" name="SetPatientName">#{PatientName}</SetTag>
  <SetTag tag="0010,0020" name="SetPatientID">#{PatientID}</SetTag>

  <!-- Study information -->
  <SetTag tag="0008,0020" name="SetStudyDate">#{Date}</SetTag>
  <SetTag tag="0008,1030" name="SetStudyDescription">Printed Report</SetTag>

  <!-- Institution information -->
  <SetTag tag="0008,0080" name="SetInstitutionName">Medical Center</SetTag>
  <SetTag tag="0008,0081" name="SetInstitutionAddress">123 Main Street</SetTag>
</Actions>

<Workflow>
  <Perform action="SetPatientName"/>
  <Perform action="SetPatientID"/>
  <Perform action="SetStudyDate"/>
  <Perform action="SetStudyDescription"/>
  <Perform action="SetInstitutionName"/>
  <Perform action="SetInstitutionAddress"/>
  <Perform action="SendToPACS"/>
</Workflow>

Value Representation (VR)

Common VR types:

• AE - Application Entity (16 chars)
• AS - Age String (4 chars)
• CS - Code String (16 chars)
• DA - Date (8 chars, YYYYMMDD)
• DS - Decimal String
• DT - Date Time
• IS - Integer String
• LO - Long String (64 chars)
• PN - Person Name
• SH - Short String (16 chars)
• TM - Time (6-13 chars)
• UI - Unique Identifier
• US - Unsigned Short

The VR is usually determined automatically from the DICOM data dictionary.

Complete Example

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE DicomPrinter SYSTEM "config.dtd">
<DicomPrinter>
  <Actions>
    <!-- Parse patient ID from filename -->
    <ParseJobFileName name="GetPatientID">
      <Pattern>(\d+)_.*\.pdf</Pattern>
      <DcmTag tag="0010,0020" group="1"/>
    </ParseJobFileName>

    <!-- Query worklist for patient data -->
    <Query name="FindPatient" type="Worklist">
      <ConnectionParameters>
        <PeerAETitle>RIS</PeerAETitle>
        <MyAETitle>PRINTER</MyAETitle>
        <Host>192.168.1.200</Host>
        <Port>104</Port>
      </ConnectionParameters>
      <DcmTag tag="0010,0020">#{PatientID}</DcmTag>
    </Query>

    <!-- Set metadata tags -->
    <SetTag tag="0008,0020" name="SetStudyDate">#{Date}</SetTag>
    <SetTag tag="0008,0030" name="SetStudyTime">#{Time}</SetTag>
    <SetTag tag="0008,1030" name="SetStudyDescription">Printed Document - #{PatientName}</SetTag>
    <SetTag tag="0008,0080" name="SetInstitutionName">General Hospital</SetTag>
    <SetTag tag="0008,0081" name="SetInstitutionDept">Radiology Department</SetTag>
    <SetTag tag="0008,0070" name="SetManufacturer">Flux Inc</SetTag>
    <SetTag tag="0008,1090" name="SetManufacturerModel">DICOM Printer 2</SetTag>

    <!-- Store to PACS -->
    <Store name="SendToPACS">
      <ConnectionParameters>
        <PeerAETitle>PACS</PeerAETitle>
        <MyAETitle>PRINTER</MyAETitle>
        <Host>192.168.1.100</Host>
        <Port>104</Port>
      </ConnectionParameters>
    </Store>
  </Actions>

  <Workflow>
    <Perform action="GetPatientID"/>
    <Perform action="FindPatient"/>

    <If field="QUERY_FOUND" value="true">
      <Perform action="SetStudyDate"/>
      <Perform action="SetStudyTime"/>
      <Perform action="SetStudyDescription"/>
      <Perform action="SetInstitutionName"/>
      <Perform action="SetInstitutionDept"/>
      <Perform action="SetManufacturer"/>
      <Perform action="SetManufacturerModel"/>
      <Perform action="SendToPACS"/>
    </If>
  </Workflow>
</DicomPrinter>

Related Topics

• Actions Overview
• Placeholders
• Query Actions
• Workflow Conditional Nodes