Opening Compact File Set (CFS) files in Linux
By @edent
· DICOM linux · 4 comments · 350 words
I was sent some medical images in a password-protected CFS file. Here's how to open them in Linux.
You can't.
OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration. It's complex, but here's how to do it.
The Linux software for the Compact File Set hasn't been updated in years and only works with ancient versions of Linux. Here's how to temporarily install an old version, install the software, and then liberate your files.
- Install VirtualBox or your favourite Virtual Machine.
- Install Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS (Bionic Beaver)
- Once you're in Ubuntu, run
sudo apt install make gcc - Download the Pismo File System Redirector build 23X for Linux.
- Run
chmod +x fsr-23X-lin.run - Extract it with
runstub_folder=. ./fsr-23X-lin.run - Go into the folder it created
cd fsr-23X-lin/ - Install with
sudo ./fsrcmd install - Go back to the location where you downloaded the files
cd .. - Downloand the Pismo File Mount build 23X
- Run
chmod +x pfm-23X-lin.run - Run
sudo ./pfm-23X-lin.run install - Mount the file with
pfm mount YourFile.cfs - Type the file's password (not your login password)
- Open your file explorer, you should see the folder mounted with the files ready to copy off.
If that doesn't work, there is an alternative.
- Download an install Pismo File Mount build 23X as above.
- That installs a helper app called
ptcfs - Run
ptcfs extract YourFile.cfsand all the contents should be unpacked.
Thanks to the NHS for supplying my medical files free of charge. But why did they have to use this weird and non-standard file format? Luckily the medical images are in DICOM format, so I can 3D print my brains.
@Edent also hasn't the Linux software been updated in the past year? https://pismotec.com/ talks about a release of 23X being 2023.11.22
Pismo Technic Inc.
EB says:
Have you tried just mounting it as an ISO file? I haven't tried it but CFS files may just be a minimalist ISO-9660 file system (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CFS_(file_format)).
@edent says:
I tried mounting it, opening it in various tools, unzipping, etc. Nothing worked.
Very nice! I requested (and received) my brain MRI scan from the NHS. A few years back, I told my dentist about it. He was so excited I took a 1:1 scale 3D print with me the next time I visited, now we’re trying to figure out what fun can be had with my tooth scans too! 😅
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