> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ccv.brown.edu/bnc-user-manual/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ccv.brown.edu/bnc-user-manual/xnat-to-bids-intro/getting-started.md).

# Getting Started

We provide custom code and sample data to export your XNAT imaging session to BIDS format. Our process relies on few basic principles:

* Naming of sequences in a BIDS friendly manner at the scanner as outined in the [BIDS Ready Protocols section.](/bnc-user-manual/xnat/bids-compliant-protocols.md)
* DICOMS exported from XNAT using our software is converted to BIDS using [Heudiconv](https://github.com/nipy/heudiconv)
* We rely on the [ReproIn](https://github.com/repronim/reproin) specification and heuristic
* Our code is available in the [xnat-tools repository](https://github.com/brown-bnc/xnat-tools)

## Requirements

Before exporting, you'll need to have available, XNAT authentication and session information as well as our software.

### 1. Familiarize with BNC's Demo Dataset

We will use the [BNC's Demo Dataset](#1.-xnat-login-information) in the following walk-through examples. It is helpful to be familiar with the general description and protocol details of the data

### 1. XNAT Login Information

If you have not registered to use our XNAT, please follow these [instructions to create a new XNAT account](/bnc-user-manual/xnat/accessing-xnat.md#first-time-users).

Then, log in with your XNAT username and password

### 2. Image Session Identifier

In order to export an imaging session, we need to find XNAT's ID for that session. You can do so as follows:

#### 2.1 Navigate to project of interest

<figure><img src="https://4276957606-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LtSg7ZEM6EHbi9iE84a%2Fuploads%2FSBsqRvlfWRo2lzZ22IlC%2FScreenshot%202026-03-23%20at%202.19.54%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=5dafe95c-14e5-4372-8bc8-eb584d6e8bce" alt="BNC Demodat 2 is listed under projects on the XNAT portal&#x27;s home page."><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### 2.2 Navigate to subject of interest

<figure><img src="https://4276957606-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LtSg7ZEM6EHbi9iE84a%2Fuploads%2FG83qLq0EghpFXqBbNN0T%2FScreenshot%202026-03-23%20at%202.23.33%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=af891952-97c6-4636-8616-140828c93ed4" alt="Subjects are listed in the BNC Demodat 2 project page on XNAT."><figcaption><p>Participants associated with a project</p></figcaption></figure>

#### 2.3 Navigate to MR Session

<figure><img src="https://4276957606-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LtSg7ZEM6EHbi9iE84a%2Fuploads%2FX4CXTcRv0dmhz9ZjqLyj%2FScreenshot%202026-03-23%20at%202.27.00%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=a98ff6fd-d5a9-49bd-a20c-d5b97cd7ba67" alt="Sessions are listed in the Subject Details page on XNAT."><figcaption><p>MR Sessions associated with a participant</p></figcaption></figure>

2.4. Find Accession #

<figure><img src="https://4276957606-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LtSg7ZEM6EHbi9iE84a%2Fuploads%2FAfGDOg41SRavcC2KIIAJ%2FScreenshot%202026-03-23%20at%202.30.08%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=66fc7b4e-5865-4e48-a177-36313fd23294" alt="Accession # is listed under the Details tab for an individual session of data on XNAT."><figcaption><p>Accession # for a session</p></figcaption></figure>