The CTP XmlObject

The CTP XmlObject is an XML file in any XML schema. To be useful, such an object must contain certain identifiers which allow it to be related to other objects obtained in a trial. The XmlObject provides some flexibility in the placement of those identifiers. This article describes the order in which the XmlObject searches for the identifiers. In all cases, the value of an identifier is defined to be the value in the first place found.

UID

1. the uid attribute of the root element
2. the uid child element of the root element
3. the uid attribute of the first child element of the root element
4. default: the string value of the MD5 hash of the text of the file.

This attribute is required. The DICOM UID format is strongly suggested, but there is no technical requirement imposed by the the XmlObject on the format.

Date

1. the date attribute of the root element
2. the study-date attribute of the root element
3. the last-modified-date of the file

This value is technically not required, but since the object automatically supplies its last-modified-date if no other date is found, a date is always available.

Description

1. the description child element of the root element
2. the description child of the first child element of the root element

This value is not required.

Patient Name

1. the pt-name attribute of the root element
2. the pt-name child element of the root element
3. the pt-name child of the first child element of the root element

This value is not required.

Patient ID

1. the pt-id attribute of the root element
2. the pt-id child element of the root element
3. the pt-id child element of the first child element of the root element

This value is technically not required, but it is required if the intent is to relate the object to other objects for the same patient.

Study UID

1. the study-uid attribute of the root element
2. the StudyInstanceUID attribute of the root element
3. the study-uid child element of the root element
4. the StudyInstanceUID child element of the root element
5. the study-uid child element of the first child element of the root element
6. the StudyInstanceUID child element of the first child element of the root element

This value is technically not required, but it is required if the intent is to relate the object to other objects of the same study. The DICOM UID format is strongly suggested, but there is no technical requirement imposed by the XmlObject on the format. Note that the DICOM UID format is required if the object is to be related to DicomObjects for the same study.