DICOM PS3.3 2020b - Information Object Definitions

5.4 Attribute Macros (Current)
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## 5.4 Attribute Macros

Some tables contain references to Attribute Macros. This convention is used in cases where the same Attributes are used in multiple tables or multiple places in one Module. The reference means that the Attributes of the Attribute Macro shall be included in the Module in place of the row that contains the reference to the Attribute Macro.

In some cases, the Attribute Macro is used in a Sequence (the VR of the Data Element in which the Attribute is encoded is SQ, see PS3.5). When this is done, the reference is preceded by one or more ">" characters. The number of ">" characters indicates the level in the Sequence that all of the Attributes in the Attribute Macro occupy.

There may be specialization of the description of the Attributes in the Attribute Macro. In these cases, this specialization is described in the Description column of the Module.

Following is an example of this convention.

Table 5.4-1 is an example of a Module table using the Attribute Macro convention.

Table 5.4-1. Example Module Table

Attribute Name | Tag | Type | Attribute Description
--- | --- | --- | ---
Attribute A | (aaaa,aaaa) | 1 | This is an example.
Attribute B Sequence | (bbbb,bbbb) | 1 | This is an example of a Sequence Attribute
>Include Table 5.4-2 “Example Macro Attributes” | In this Module, Attribute D (dddd,dddd) is Type 1

Table 5.4-2 is an example of the Attribute Macro referenced in Table 5.4-1.

Table 5.4-2. Example Macro Attributes

Attribute Name | Tag | Type | Attribute Description
--- | --- | --- | ---
Attribute C | (cccc,cccc) | 1 | This is an example.
Attribute D | (dddd,dddd) | 3 | This Attribute is generally a Type 3.

The contents of the Example Module Table, if it had not been described with the Example Macro would have been as shown in Table 5.4-3.

Table 5.4-3. Example Module Table Without The Use of An Attribute Macro

Attribute Name | Tag | Type | Attribute Description
--- | --- | --- | ---
Attribute A | (aaaa,aaaa) | 1 | This is an example.
Attribute B Sequence | (bbbb,bbbb) | 1 | This is an example of a Sequence Attribute.
>Attribute C | (cccc,cccc) | 1 | This is an example.
>Attribute D | (dddd,dddd) | 1 | In this Module, this Attribute has been specialized to Type 1 as indicated in Table 5.4-1.

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DICOM PS3.3 2020b - Information Object Definitions