# 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="/files/ng9uKHgoKvvG3Dxq5xKR" 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="/files/IGoJ7K9oqwtvmkNS6Hdz" 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="/files/qI606vHkk7V8zNi6etvA" 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="/files/cJ9VwxUbVLCS0fqqwP5Q" 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>


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

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

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.ccv.brown.edu/bnc-user-manual/xnat-to-bids-intro/getting-started.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
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.