Store Actions

Store actions send DICOM objects to remote PACS systems or storage nodes using the DICOM C-STORE operation.

Basic Syntax

xml

<Store name="ActionName">
  <ConnectionParameters>
    <PeerAETitle>RemoteAE</PeerAETitle>
    <MyAETitle>LocalAE</MyAETitle>
    <Host>hostname</Host>
    <Port>104</Port>
  </ConnectionParameters>
  <Compression type="CompressionType"/>
  <ColorMode mode="ColorType"/>
</Store>

Note: Error handling (onError) is configured on <Perform> nodes in the workflow, not on the action definition. See Actions Overview for details.

Required Attributes

`name`

Unique identifier for this action.

Required Elements

`ConnectionParameters`

Network connection settings for the remote DICOM server. Must contain the following nested elements:

`PeerAETitle`

The AE Title of the remote DICOM storage server (PACS).

`MyAETitle`

The AE Title of DICOM Printer 2 (this application).

`Host`

The hostname or IP address of the remote DICOM storage server.

`Port`

The TCP port number of the remote DICOM storage server (typically 104 or 11112).

Optional Elements

`Compression`

Specifies the compression algorithm to apply before sending.

Attribute: typeValid Values: RLE, JPEG_Lossless, JPEG_LossyDefault: None (uncompressed)

xml

<Store name="SendToPACS">
  <Compression type="JPEG_Lossless"/>
  <ConnectionParameters>...</ConnectionParameters>
</Store>

Note: If the <Compression> element is omitted, images are sent uncompressed with the default transfer syntax.

Compression Types:

`RLE`

RLE (Run-Length Encoding) lossless compression.

xml

<Compression type="RLE"/>

Best for:

Images with large areas of solid color
Binary images
Fast compression/decompression required

`JPEG_Lossless`

JPEG lossless compression (1.2.840.10008.1.2.4.70).

xml

<Compression type="JPEG_Lossless"/>

Best for:

Medical images requiring no quality loss
Smaller file sizes than RLE
Widely supported by PACS systems

`JPEG_Lossy`

JPEG lossy compression with configurable quality.

xml

<Compression type="JPEG_Lossy"/>

Best for:

Non-diagnostic images
Maximum compression ratios
Scanned documents or secondary captures where slight quality loss is acceptable

Warning: Lossy compression may not be appropriate for diagnostic images. Verify compliance with local regulations and policies.

`ColorMode`

Specifies the color mode for image conversion.

Attribute: modeValid Values: RGB, Monochrome8, Monochrome12Default: Preserves original color mode

xml

<ColorMode mode="Monochrome8"/>

Color Modes:

`RGB`

24-bit color RGB images.

xml

<ColorMode mode="RGB"/>

`Monochrome8`

8-bit grayscale images (256 gray levels).

xml

<ColorMode mode="Monochrome8"/>

Best for:

Standard grayscale images
Compatibility with older PACS systems
Smaller file sizes

`Monochrome12`

12-bit grayscale images (4096 gray levels).

xml

<ColorMode mode="Monochrome12"/>

Best for:

High dynamic range medical images
CT, MR, CR, DR modalities
Maximum grayscale precision

Storage Classes

Store actions automatically select the appropriate SOP Class based on the DICOM object type:

Encapsulated PDF Storage - For PDF documents (1.2.840.10008.5.1.4.1.1.104.1)
Secondary Capture Image Storage - For image-based print jobs (1.2.840.10008.5.1.4.1.1.7)

Basic Example

Send uncompressed images to a PACS:

xml

<Store name="SendToPACS">
  <ConnectionParameters>
    <PeerAETitle>PACS_SERVER</PeerAETitle>
    <MyAETitle>DICOM_PRINTER</MyAETitle>
    <Host>192.168.1.100</Host>
    <Port>104</Port>
  </ConnectionParameters>
</Store>

Use in workflow with error handling:

xml

<Perform action="SendToPACS" onError="Hold"/>

Compression Examples

JPEG Lossless Compression

xml

<Store name="SendCompressed">
  <ConnectionParameters>
    <PeerAETitle>PACS_ARCHIVE</PeerAETitle>
    <MyAETitle>PRINTER</MyAETitle>
    <Host>pacs.hospital.local</Host>
    <Port>11112</Port>
  </ConnectionParameters>
  <Compression type="JPEG_Lossless"/>
</Store>

RLE Compression with Grayscale Conversion

xml

<Store name="SendGrayscaleRLE">
  <ConnectionParameters>
    <PeerAETitle>PACS_SERVER</PeerAETitle>
    <MyAETitle>PRINTER</MyAETitle>
    <Host>192.168.1.100</Host>
    <Port>104</Port>
  </ConnectionParameters>
  <Compression type="RLE"/>
  <ColorMode mode="Monochrome8"/>
</Store>

Multiple Storage Destinations

You can define multiple Store actions to send to different destinations:

xml

<Actions>
  <!-- Primary PACS -->
  <Store name="SendToPrimaryPACS">
    <ConnectionParameters>
      <PeerAETitle>PACS_PRIMARY</PeerAETitle>
      <MyAETitle>PRINTER</MyAETitle>
      <Host>192.168.1.100</Host>
      <Port>104</Port>
    </ConnectionParameters>
    <Compression type="JPEG_Lossless"/>
  </Store>

  <!-- Backup archive -->
  <Store name="SendToBackupArchive">
    <ConnectionParameters>
      <PeerAETitle>PACS_BACKUP</PeerAETitle>
      <MyAETitle>PRINTER</MyAETitle>
      <Host>192.168.1.200</Host>
      <Port>104</Port>
    </ConnectionParameters>
    <Compression type="RLE"/>
  </Store>

  <!-- Film printer -->
  <Store name="SendToFilm">
    <ConnectionParameters>
      <PeerAETitle>FILM_PRINTER</PeerAETitle>
      <MyAETitle>PRINTER</MyAETitle>
      <Host>192.168.1.50</Host>
      <Port>104</Port>
    </ConnectionParameters>
    <ColorMode mode="Monochrome12"/>
  </Store>
</Actions>

<Workflow>
  <!-- Primary PACS - retry on failure -->
  <Perform action="SendToPrimaryPACS" onError="Hold"/>

  <!-- Backup - ignore failures -->
  <Perform action="SendToBackupArchive" onError="Ignore"/>

  <!-- Film printer - ignore failures -->
  <Perform action="SendToFilm" onError="Ignore"/>
</Workflow>

Conditional Storage

Use workflow conditionals to route to different destinations based on data:

xml

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

  <If field="QUERY_FOUND" value="true">
    <!-- Patient matched - send to primary PACS -->
    <Perform action="SendToPrimaryPACS"/>
  </If>

  <If field="QUERY_FOUND" value="false">
    <!-- No patient match - send to holding area -->
    <Perform action="SendToHoldingPACS"/>
  </If>
</Workflow>

Error Handling

Error handling is configured on <Perform> nodes in the workflow, not on the Store action itself.

Retry on Network Failures

Action definition:

xml

<Store name="SendWithRetry">
  <ConnectionParameters>
    <PeerAETitle>PACS_SERVER</PeerAETitle>
    <MyAETitle>PRINTER</MyAETitle>
    <Host>192.168.1.100</Host>
    <Port>104</Port>
  </ConnectionParameters>
</Store>

Workflow with retry:

xml

<Perform action="SendWithRetry" onError="Hold"/>

With onError="Suspend", failed stores are retried after the SuspensionTime interval.

Discard on Permanent Failures

Action definition:

xml

<Store name="SendOrDiscard">
  <ConnectionParameters>
    <PeerAETitle>OPTIONAL_ARCHIVE</PeerAETitle>
    <MyAETitle>PRINTER</MyAETitle>
    <Host>192.168.1.200</Host>
    <Port>104</Port>
  </ConnectionParameters>
</Store>

Workflow with discard:

xml

<Perform action="SendOrDiscard" onError="Discard"/>

Ignore Optional Destinations

Action definition:

xml

<Store name="SendOptional">
  <ConnectionParameters>
    <PeerAETitle>OPTIONAL_PACS</PeerAETitle>
    <MyAETitle>PRINTER</MyAETitle>
    <Host>192.168.1.150</Host>
    <Port>104</Port>
  </ConnectionParameters>
</Store>

Workflow with ignore:

xml

<Perform action="SendOptional" onError="Ignore"/>

Checking Store Success

Use workflow conditionals to check if a store operation succeeded:

xml

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

  <If field="STORE_SUCCEEDED" tag="SendToPACS" value="true">
    <!-- Store succeeded -->
    <Perform action="NotifySuccess"/>
  </If>

  <If field="STORE_SUCCEEDED" tag="SendToPACS" value="false">
    <!-- Store failed -->
    <Perform action="NotifyFailure"/>
  </If>
</Workflow>

Complete Example

Complete configuration with query, tag setting, and multiple store destinations:

xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE DicomPrinter SYSTEM "config.dtd">
<DicomPrinter>
  <Actions>
    <!-- Query 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 -->
    <SetTag name="SetMetadata">
      <DcmTag tag="0008,0020">#{Date}</DcmTag>
      <DcmTag tag="0008,0080" value="Medical Center"/>
    </SetTag>

    <!-- Primary PACS with compression -->
    <Store name="SendToPrimaryPACS">
      <ConnectionParameters>
        <PeerAETitle>PACS_PRIMARY</PeerAETitle>
        <MyAETitle>DICOM_PRINTER</MyAETitle>
        <Host>pacs.hospital.local</Host>
        <Port>11112</Port>
      </ConnectionParameters>
      <Compression type="JPEG_Lossless"/>
    </Store>

    <!-- Backup without compression -->
    <Store name="SendToBackup">
      <ConnectionParameters>
        <PeerAETitle>PACS_BACKUP</PeerAETitle>
        <MyAETitle>DICOM_PRINTER</MyAETitle>
        <Host>backup.hospital.local</Host>
        <Port>11112</Port>
      </ConnectionParameters>
    </Store>
  </Actions>

  <Workflow>
    <!-- Find patient with retry on failure -->
    <Perform action="FindPatient" onError="Hold"/>

    <If field="QUERY_FOUND" value="true">
      <Perform action="SetMetadata"/>

      <!-- Primary PACS - critical, retry on failure -->
      <Perform action="SendToPrimaryPACS" onError="Hold"/>

      <!-- Backup - optional, ignore failures -->
      <Perform action="SendToBackup" onError="Ignore"/>
    </If>
  </Workflow>
</DicomPrinter>

Performance Considerations

Compression reduces network bandwidth but increases CPU usage
JPEG Lossless provides good compression with moderate CPU usage
RLE is fastest but provides less compression
JPEG Lossy provides maximum compression but may not be suitable for diagnostic images

DICOM Capacitor

Configuration

Filters

DICOM Printer 2

Configuration

Actions

Workflow

Store Actions

Basic Syntax

Required Attributes

`name`

Required Elements

`ConnectionParameters`

`PeerAETitle`

`MyAETitle`

`Host`

`Port`

Optional Elements

`Compression`

`RLE`

`JPEG_Lossless`

`JPEG_Lossy`

`ColorMode`

`RGB`

`Monochrome8`

`Monochrome12`

Storage Classes

Basic Example

Compression Examples

JPEG Lossless Compression

RLE Compression with Grayscale Conversion

Multiple Storage Destinations

Conditional Storage

Error Handling

Retry on Network Failures

Discard on Permanent Failures

Ignore Optional Destinations

Checking Store Success

Complete Example

Performance Considerations

Configuration

Filters

Configuration

Actions

Workflow

Store Actions ​

Basic Syntax ​

Required Attributes ​

name ​

Required Elements ​

ConnectionParameters ​

PeerAETitle ​

MyAETitle ​

Host ​

Port ​

Optional Elements ​

Compression ​

RLE ​

JPEG_Lossless ​

JPEG_Lossy ​

ColorMode ​

RGB ​

Monochrome8 ​

Monochrome12 ​

Storage Classes ​

Basic Example ​

Compression Examples ​

JPEG Lossless Compression ​

RLE Compression with Grayscale Conversion ​

Multiple Storage Destinations ​

Conditional Storage ​

Error Handling ​

Retry on Network Failures ​

Discard on Permanent Failures ​

Ignore Optional Destinations ​

Checking Store Success ​

Complete Example ​

Performance Considerations ​

Related Topics ​

Store Actions

Basic Syntax

Required Attributes

`name`

Required Elements

`ConnectionParameters`

`PeerAETitle`

`MyAETitle`

`Host`

`Port`

Optional Elements

`Compression`

`RLE`

`JPEG_Lossless`

`JPEG_Lossy`

`ColorMode`

`RGB`

`Monochrome8`

`Monochrome12`

Storage Classes

Basic Example

Compression Examples

JPEG Lossless Compression

RLE Compression with Grayscale Conversion

Multiple Storage Destinations

Conditional Storage

Error Handling

Retry on Network Failures

Discard on Permanent Failures

Ignore Optional Destinations

Checking Store Success

Complete Example

Performance Considerations

Related Topics