Table 1.

Scanner vendor data formats

Vendor	Data Format	File naming convention	Dimensionality (Default)	Comments
GE	p-file	P01234.7	Np x Ntra/Npc	-By default, RF coil channels pre-combined online; and groups of Npc phase cycle steps pre-combined online. The resulting number of separately stored transients is Ntra/Npc. -However, the p-file can be customized to preserve or combine any/all dimensions. -Both water and metabolite data can may be stored within the same series.
Philips	data/list	filename.data filename.list	Np x Ntra	-Water and metabolite data are normally stored in separate files, but some pulse sequences may store both within the same series. -Depending on settings, water unsuppressed transients may be interleaved within groups of water suppressed transients, and frequency drift correction may have been applied. -Two files for each acquisition: .data file contains the acquired signal data; .list file contains header info.
	sdat/spar	filename.sdat filename.spar	Np x Ntra/Npc	-Separate files for water and metabolite data. -Two files for each acquisition: .sdat file contains the acquired signal data; .spar file contains header info.
Siemens	Twix	filename.dat	Np x NRF x Ntra	-All dimensions (RF channels, transients) are preserved without modification. - Water and metabolite data are normally stored in separate files, but some pulse sequences may store both within the same series.
	rda	filename.rda	Np	-By default, all dimensions (except time/spectral dimension) are pre-combined online. -However, .rda files can be customized to preserve or combine any/all dimensions. - Water and metabolite data are normally stored in separate files, but some pulse sequences may store both within the same series.
	.ima	filename.ima	Np	-By default all dimensions (except time/spectral dimension) are pre-combined online. -However, .ima files can be customized to preserve or combine any/all dimensions. In this case, each individual transient is stored in a separate .ima file. - Water and metabolite data are normally stored in separate files, but some pulse sequences may store both within the same series.
Bruker	fid-file	fid	Np	-All dimensions (except time/spectral dimension) are pre-combined online. -Separate files for water and metabolite data.
	fid.raw file	fid.raw (Up to PV 5)	Np x Ntra	-RF channels are pre-combined online. -All transients are preserved without modification. -Separate files for water and metabolite data.
	job0 file	rawdata.job0 (PV 6 and later)	Np x Ntra	-RF channels are pre-combined online. -All transients are preserved without modification. -Separate files for water and metabolite data.
Varian/Agilent	Fid file	Fid	Np x NRF x Ntra	-Full flexibility to preserve or collapse all dimensions. -Separate files for water and metabolite data.
DICOM (any vendor)	DICOM	Various e.g.: filename.dcm	Np	-By default, all dimensions are collapsed. -However, dicom files can be customized to preserve or combine any/all dimensions. In this case, each individual transient may be stored in a separate dicom file. -Separate files for water and metabolite data.

N_p = number of points in the FID

N_RF = number of RF channels

N_tra = number of transients

N_pc = number of phase encoding steps in one phase cycle