> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.imerit.net/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.imerit.net/data/data-in-ango-hub/nrrd-file-compatibility.md).

# NRRD File Compatibility

NRRD header requirements for 3D medical assets in Ango Hub

Ango Hub supports NRRD files in the 3D Medical labeling editor when they describe a single 3D medical volume with enough spatial information to build the Axial, Coronal, and Sagittal views.

The `.nrrd` file extension alone does not guarantee that the file can be opened. The NRRD header must also describe a supported volume.

## Supported NRRD files

A supported NRRD asset must meet all of the following requirements:

| Header field       | Required value                                                                                                         |
| ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `dimension`        | Must be `3`.                                                                                                           |
| `sizes`            | Must contain exactly 3 values, one for each axis.                                                                      |
| `space`            | Must be one of `left-posterior-superior`, `LPS`, `right-anterior-superior`, `RAS`, `left-anterior-superior`, or `LAS`. |
| `space directions` | Must be a 3x3 matrix. Each of the 3 rows must contain exactly 3 values.                                                |
| `space origin`     | Must contain exactly 3 values.                                                                                         |
| `space units`      | Optional. If omitted, Ango Hub uses `mm`.                                                                              |

Ango Hub supports NRRD files using `raw`, `ascii`, `txt`, `text`, `gzip`, or `gz` encoding.

The voxel data must use a scalar numeric NRRD `type`, such as signed or unsigned 8-bit, 16-bit, or 32-bit integers, `float`, or `double`.

## Unsupported NRRD files

Ango Hub does not support NRRD assets with any of the following properties:

* 2D, 4D, time-series, vector, or multi-component volumes where `dimension` is not `3`.
* 4D medical volumes with a leading list/vector/time axis, even if only 3 of the axes are spatial.
* Scanner-based coordinate systems, including `scanner-xyz` and `3D-*` spaces.
* Coordinate systems other than LPS, RAS, or LAS.
* Files with missing or malformed `sizes`, `space directions`, or `space origin` values.
* Detached-header NRRD files that use `data file` or `datafile`.
* NRRD files using `hex`, `bzip2`, or other encodings outside the supported encodings listed above.
* NRRD files using `block` or 64-bit integer data types.

If an unsupported NRRD file is opened in Ango Hub, the asset may fail to load and the editor may show warnings such as *Only 3D volumes are supported*, *Space information is missing in the NRRD file*, or *Space directions matrix is of incorrect shape*.

## Example supported header

```
NRRD0005
type: short
dimension: 3
space: left-posterior-superior
sizes: 512 512 128
space directions: (0.7,0,0) (0,0.7,0) (0,0,1.5)
space origin: (0,0,0)
space units: "mm" "mm" "mm"
encoding: gzip
```

## What to do if a file is not supported

Convert the volume before importing it into Ango Hub. The converted file should be a single 3D scalar volume with an LPS, RAS, or LAS coordinate system, 3 values in `sizes`, a 3x3 `space directions` matrix, and a 3-value `space origin`.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://docs.imerit.net/data/data-in-ango-hub/nrrd-file-compatibility.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
