# Error loading DICOM files - unicode conversion error

**URL:** https://discourse.slicer.org/t/error-loading-dicom-files-unicode-conversion-error/9005
**Category:** Support
**Tags:** dicom
**Created:** [November 3, 2019, 1:09pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/error-loading-dicom-files-unicode-conversion-error/9005 "2019-11-03T13:09:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![dixmos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@dixmos](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/dixmos)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2019, 1:09pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/error-loading-dicom-files-unicode-conversion-error/9005/1 "2019-11-03T13:09:49Z")

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Operating system: Windows 10  
Slicer version: 4.10.2

Hello  
I have some problems loading my DICOM files. Other DICOM viewrs open my files but the Slicer didnt recognize them.  
Could you help me please?

LOG:  
DICOM plugin failed to load ‘3: 1.25 ABDOMEN SIMPLE’ as a ‘Scalar Volume’.  
Traceback (most recent call last):  
File “C:\Program Files\Slicer 4.10.2\lib\Slicer-4.10\qt-scripted-modules\DICOMLib\DICOMWidgets.py”, line 867, in proceedWithReferencedLoadablesSelection  
loadSuccess = plugin.load(loadable)  
File “C:/Program Files/Slicer 4.10.2/bin/…/lib/Slicer-4.10/qt-scripted-modules/DICOMScalarVolumePlugin.py”, line 413, in load  
volumeNode = self.loadFilesWithSeriesReader(“GDCM”, loadable.files, loadable.name)  
File “C:/Program Files/Slicer 4.10.2/bin/…/lib/Slicer-4.10/qt-scripted-modules/DICOMScalarVolumePlugin.py”, line 290, in loadFilesWithSeriesReader  
reader.SetArchetype(files[0]);  
TypeError: SetArchetype argument 1: (unicode conversion error)

DICOM plugin failed to load ‘1: XIFOIDES - imageOrientationPatient 2’ as a ‘Scalar Volume’.  
Traceback (most recent call last):  
File “C:\Program Files\Slicer 4.10.2\lib\Slicer-4.10\qt-scripted-modules\DICOMLib\DICOMWidgets.py”, line 867, in proceedWithReferencedLoadablesSelection  
loadSuccess = plugin.load(loadable)  
File “C:/Program Files/Slicer 4.10.2/bin/…/lib/Slicer-4.10/qt-scripted-modules/DICOMScalarVolumePlugin.py”, line 413, in load  
volumeNode = self.loadFilesWithSeriesReader(“GDCM”, loadable.files, loadable.name)  
File “C:/Program Files/Slicer 4.10.2/bin/…/lib/Slicer-4.10/qt-scripted-modules/DICOMScalarVolumePlugin.py”, line 290, in loadFilesWithSeriesReader  
reader.SetArchetype(files[0]);  
TypeError: SetArchetype argument 1: (unicode conversion error)

DICOM plugin failed to load ‘1: XIFOIDES’ as a ‘Scalar Volume’.  
Traceback (most recent call last):  
File “C:\Program Files\Slicer 4.10.2\lib\Slicer-4.10\qt-scripted-modules\DICOMLib\DICOMWidgets.py”, line 867, in proceedWithReferencedLoadablesSelection  
loadSuccess = plugin.load(loadable)  
File “C:/Program Files/Slicer 4.10.2/bin/…/lib/Slicer-4.10/qt-scripted-modules/DICOMScalarVolumePlugin.py”, line 413, in load  
volumeNode = self.loadFilesWithSeriesReader(“GDCM”, loadable.files, loadable.name)  
File “C:/Program Files/Slicer 4.10.2/bin/…/lib/Slicer-4.10/qt-scripted-modules/DICOMScalarVolumePlugin.py”, line 290, in loadFilesWithSeriesReader  
reader.SetArchetype(files[0]);  
TypeError: SetArchetype argument 1: (unicode conversion error)

DICOM plugin failed to load ‘1: XIFOIDES - imageOrientationPatient 1’ as a ‘Scalar Volume’.  
Traceback (most recent call last):  
File “C:\Program Files\Slicer 4.10.2\lib\Slicer-4.10\qt-scripted-modules\DICOMLib\DICOMWidgets.py”, line 867, in proceedWithReferencedLoadablesSelection  
loadSuccess = plugin.load(loadable)  
File “C:/Program Files/Slicer 4.10.2/bin/…/lib/Slicer-4.10/qt-scripted-modules/DICOMScalarVolumePlugin.py”, line 413, in load  
volumeNode = self.loadFilesWithSeriesReader(“GDCM”, loadable.files, loadable.name)  
File “C:/Program Files/Slicer 4.10.2/bin/…/lib/Slicer-4.10/qt-scripted-modules/DICOMScalarVolumePlugin.py”, line 290, in loadFilesWithSeriesReader  
reader.SetArchetype(files[0]);  
TypeError: SetArchetype argument 1: (unicode conversion error)

Could not load: 3: 1.25 ABDOMEN SIMPLE as a Scalar Volume  
Could not load: 1: XIFOIDES - imageOrientationPatient 2 as a Scalar Volume  
Could not load: 1: XIFOIDES as a Scalar Volume  
Could not load: 1: XIFOIDES - imageOrientationPatient 1 as a Scalar Volume

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![lassoan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/lassoan/32/13_2.png) [@lassoan](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/lassoan)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2019, 1:12pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/error-loading-dicom-files-unicode-conversion-error/9005/2 "2019-11-03T13:12:38Z")

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It seems that there are special characters in the path. Please make sure that Slicer is installed in a folder that only has ASCII characters in the path and store all data in folders that only contain ASCII characters.