Using the RPE to Create DICOM RP Rule Cards

Introduction

Use the New Rule option to create a new DICOM Reading Protocol rule card in the Reading Protocol Editor.

Task Considerations

You cannot add a new rule card to an index-based or an empty viewport. When the viewport is indexed-based or the Type is Empty, the New Rule option is grayed out.

The New Rule option also excludes:

  • Mammography viewports
  • Stacking reading protocols
  • Series-based reading protocols that are opened in the standalone Reading Protocol Editor (RPE)

Prerequisites

You must have the Manage Reading Protocols privilege to create a new DICOM reading protocol rule card.

Steps

  1. Select Edit Reading Protocol from the RP drop-down list.
  2. Click Add New Rule .
  3. Complete any of the following applicable steps.

    If you want to do this...

    Complete these steps...

    Expand all rule cards within a group.

    • Click Expand All .
    • Use the scroll bar to view all of the rule cards.

    Collapse all rule cards within a group.

    • Click Collapse All .
    • Hover over the stacked rule card titles to view the defined properties for each card.

    Remove a rule card.

    • Click Remove Rule associated with the rule card to be removed.
    • Select Yes in the Delete Rule dialog box to continue the operation.
    • Optional: Select Do not show again to not display this dialog box again during your current session.

    Results:

    • When you remove a rule card, the remaining rule card numbers dynamically update.
    • If all rule cards are removed in a viewport, the viewport Type is set to Empty.

    Remove all rule cards.

    • Click Remove All Cards .
    • Select Yes in the Delete Rules dialog box to continue the operation.
    • Optional: Select Do not show again to not display this dialog box again during your current session.

    Results: When you remove all cards, a new card remains with the Type as Empty.

    Add a property value to the rule card.

    • Click Plus .

     

    Remove a property value from a rule card.

    • Click Minus .

    Note: If the Minus icon is grayed out, you cannot remove the only DICOM property in the rule card. Hover over the Minus icon to display the tooltip.

    Edit the new rule card properties.

    • Edit the applicable fields in a rule card.

    Note: Any changes made to a new rule card are independent of other cards. Pending displays in the title bar of the new rule card until you click Save to apply all pending changes.

    For more information, see:

     

    Display rule card properties information.

    • Hover over a rule card title bar to view a tooltip with all of the currently defined properties.

    Reorder rule cards.

    • Click and drag a rule card to the preferred location within a group.

    Results:

    • A yellow line indicates the new position.
    • When the rule card hierarchy is changed, the rule card numbers dynamically update.
  4. Optional: Click Preview to see your changes in the Viewer before saving.
  5. Click Save to apply all changes made to the new rule card.
  6. In the Save Reading Protocol dialog box, make any necessary changes and click .

Results

Synapse creates a new rule card using the properties from the prior rule card with the exception of the Rules Target and any fields containing a text box, such as Series Contains and Series Does Not Contain. The content in text boxes from the prior rule card is replaced with dashes in the new rule card, until edited.

The new rule card contains the following properties and initial values taken from the prior card, except as noted here for Rules Target and Series Contains:

  • Type
  • Study Reference
  • Tile Format
  • Apply Tools To
  • Initial Zoom
  • Text Overlays
  • Rules Target: The default value is Undisplayed Series.
  • Series Contains: The prior rule card text is replaced with dashes.
  • Image Type
  • Image Orientation
  • Contrast
  • Image Preset

Each of the new rule cards will use the same properties as the original, except for the Series Contains rule. A maximum of six rule cards can display in the Reading Protocol Editor. However, if a reading protocol from a prior version had more than six Series Contains rules, Synapse displays the first six and honors the remaining items.

Additional Options

Using the Viewer to Create DICOM RP Rule Cards

Related Topics

Reading Protocol Overview

Reading Protocol Editor Toolbar

Using the RPE from the Viewer