A C3D file is an implementation of the above general format where the first block of the file comprises of the standard pointer/ID word followed by a header record that contains a number of parameters that are, in general, copies of parameters stored within the parameter section of the C3D file.  C3D files also contain a data section that stores 3D and analog information – the location of this data section is described in the parameter section.

The general ADTech family of formats only specifies where the parameter section starts in the file, and always does this through the first word of the file, which contains a single byte pointer and ID byte.  The intent is that the pointer, contained within the first word, is used to locate the parameter section.  Data within the parameter section describes any number of data sections in the file, together with their starting locations within the C3D file.