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File-opening guide

How to open a scan folder with no DICOMDIR file

If the DICOM image files are present, Ossidex can scan the folder and group them without a DICOMDIR index. Import the complete folder; creating or downloading an unrelated DICOMDIR will not restore images that were never copied.

By the Ossidex team · How we write and check these pages · Updated

Download on the App StoreFree to download · iPhone & iPad · iOS 17+

Missing index versus missing examination

What you haveWhat it means
Many image files but no DICOMDIRThe image metadata can identify studies and series. Try folder import before requesting a new index.
One multi-frame DICOM fileMay hold an entire volume without a separate directory. Check the actual frames and series, not the file count alone.
Only viewer programs or documentsThere may be no image data to group. An index cannot create it.

How to open the images

  1. Keep every image file. Include nested folders and extensionless files. Filtering only for .dcm can miss valid images.
  2. Import the folder on iPhone or iPad. In Ossidex, tap +, then Folder. Select the copied folder containing the images, not just the launcher or index. If you received a ZIP, choose Files / ZIP instead. These are the English app labels.
  3. Try the image folder on Mac. Use Open folder in the browser viewer. If importing a ZIP, preserve all the image files inside it.
  4. Compare with the original export. Ask the clinic which examination and series were included. A directory scan can group available images, but cannot prove omitted series never existed.

What to check if it still does not open

DICOMDIR is required in a standard DICOM media file set, but individual DICOM image files can also be exchanged outside that disc layout. The viewer scans the available images without checking every DICOM media-export requirement.

If the folder has no readable images, request a complete DICOM export. Avoid building an index from arbitrary filenames or merging separate examinations just to make the import appear larger.

Viewer options and format limits

On a Mac, open the browser viewer and choose Open folder for the complete DICOM folder or Open files for a ZIP. Browser format and memory limits differ from the iPhone/iPad app; a successful import does not establish that the examination is complete.

See the matching format or export guide and tested samples and compatibility limits. Ossidex is a viewer and planning aid, not a diagnostic device.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a DICOMDIR generator?

Not just to try opening intact images in Ossidex. Import their complete folder first. A sender can regenerate a conforming media export if your receiving system requires one.

Does no DICOMDIR mean no scan?

No. The images may still be present. Conversely, having DICOMDIR alone does not mean the referenced images were included.

Sources

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