Sample C3D data files
These files have been collected and made available as a resource for users, programmers and developers who want to test their programs and applications for C3D compatibility. All "C3D-compatible" programs should be able to open, and either read (in the case of correctly formatted data files), or detect and sensibly handle the sample C3D files that contain errors.
C3D files that comply with the original C3D specification are marked with a green check, while C3D files that contain formatting or data errors are marked with a red cross. Files marked with a blue check are good C3D files that meet the current published C3D file format description. It is strongly recommended that any software application that want to claim C3D-compatibility be able to open and read all sample files marked with a green and blue checks and handle the files that contain errors in a sensible manner.
sample01.zip - C3D file set for data format testing (762Kb)
This is a unique set of six C3D files created using Adtech AMASS software. Each of the six files contain identical data and parameters in each of the C3D formats variants (DEC, PC, and SGI formats) in both floating-point and integer data types. These files can be used to check that an application reads each of the C3D file types correctly. Each file has been generated from the same original data.
sample02.zip - C3D file set for data format testing (226Kb)
A file set that contains a set of six C3D files created using AMASS with Oxford Metrics "370" hardware - each file contains identical data and parameters in each of the C3D formats variants. Note that these files locate the FORCE_PLATFORM:ORIGIN parameter incorrectly.
sample03.zip - C3D files containing human gait data (516Kb)
Three sample C3D files containing human gait data generated on an Oxford Metrics "370" motion capture system. These are; a normal adult gait trial, the same file after processing to add gait events, kinematics, and kinetics information. An additional copy of the output file has been generated with a non-zero start time.
sample04.zip - C3D files containing Vicon BodyBuilder parameters (6.4Mb)
Two files - bodybuilder.c3d is a very large C3D file generated using Oxford Metrics "370" software and is stored in DEC floating-point format. The second file, sub_labels.c3d, uses an interesting form of labeling to identify two subjects for the 3D point data. This is stored in DEC integer format and some of the calculated POINT variables show a loss of resolution as the data values approach the POINT:SCALE value.
sample05.zip - large C3D file containing human gait data (4.8Mb)
A single, very large, C3D file containing human gait data generated using Oxford Metrics "370" software and stored in DEC floating-point format.
sample06.zip - C3D file with incorrect parameter names (79Kb)
A sample C3D file from a Motion Analysis Corporation motion capture system that uses an old set of group and parameter names that deviate from the C3D standard. This file contains signed analog data and is stored in SGI integer format.
sample07.zip - C3D file with 16-bit analog data (140Kb)
A sample C3D file from Vicon Motion Systems that contains 16-bit analog data - note the values for the parameter ANALOG:OFFSET. Stored in PC floating point format.
sample08.zip - C3D compatibility test suite (540Kb)
A set of C3D test files in Intel/MS-DOS, INT format data generated by Motion Lab Systems. These files can be used to check that your C3D compatible application reads the correct values from the C3D header in block 1 of the C3D file. All files contain identical 3D and parameter data but place the parameter and 3D data sections in different locations. All C3D compliant applications should be able to read these files correctly. Many commercial applications fail to read one or more of these sample files.
sample09.zip - C3D files containing Vicon gait processing information (608Kb)
A set of C3D files created by VICON Workstation 4.4 with kinematic processing that has added additional gait parameters and kinematic variables to the C3D file.
sample10.zip - C3D files for force plate TYPE-2 and TYPE-4 tests (111Kb)
These are two C3D files have been derived from a single source and contain identical force plate data. The file type-2.c3d describes the force plates as a TYPE-2 plate using only the major diagonal components of the force plate sensitivity matrix while type-4c3d describes the force plate as a TYPE-4 plate using the entire sensitivity matrix. A copy of the AMTI force plate sensitivity matrix information is included in a separate file together with an Excel spreadsheet that illustrates the output calculations using the entire calibration matrix. These files can be used to verify or test application support for TYPE-4 force plates.
sample11.zip - Two C3D files containing noise in the Force Plate channels (277Kb)
Two sample C3D files from different laboratories using different 3D systems and different force platforms. Both C3D files contain unexpectedly noisy analog data in the force plate channels.
sample12.zip - A single C3D file over 100Mb in size (compressed to 952Kb)
This is a single C3D file that contains over 100Mb of 3D data in one trajectory - a total of 18,178 frames at 60Hz. An excellent test file for C3D software applications to examine their ability to handle large C3D files.
sample13.zip - C3D files from PhoeniX Technologies (435Kb)
Four sample C3D data files from PhoeniX Technologies - the first two files contain format errors that will cause some C3D applications to crash, while the second pair of files contain the same data with the formatting errors corrected. This data is interesting in that it does not use +Z as the vertical axis and the two sets of files illustrate the subtle differences between good and bad C3D files.
sample14.zip - A C3D file illustrating analog data synchronization errors (116Kb)
A single C3D file that contains 3D and analog data that illustrates a loss of 3D data and analog data synchronization - in this example the analog data has been written to the file incorrectly as can be clearly seen when looking at the force plate Fz channels.
sample15.zip - A C3D file with more than 127 3D points (388Kb)
A C3D file that contains more than 127 3D points - this file uses unsigned integers within the C3D parameter section to store up to 255 3D points within the POINT:LABELS parameter - C3D applications that expect signed integers (particularly as array indexes) may not be able to read this data correctly.
sample16.zip - C3D files with invalid data points (131Kb)
Three sample C3D files produced by a SIMI motion capture system. These file are in floating point IBMPC format and have their point residuals set to -1 indicating that the data points are invalid. As a result most C3D applications will report that these files do not contain any valid data points.
sample17.zip - A C3D file with 128 analog data channels (1.17Mb)
A sample C3D file from a Vicon system with 128 channels of analog data.
sample18.zip - A C3D file with an invalid parameter (193Kb)
This C3D file contains a corrupted parameter section and may cause some applications to crash if they assume that the parameter section is correctly formatted. The problem in this file is that there seems to be an "empty" group which has a name with length=9, but actually contains no data. This is the group which is reporting a zero offset of -1. Strictly speaking when all the groups/parameters are done, the next byte should have a zero value.
sample19.zip - A C3D file with 34672 frames of video and analog data (2.25Mb)
This C3D file contains 34672 frames of analog data (two channels) stored as a PC-Real formatted file. Note that this file will not be read correctly by any application that reads the C3D header or the parameters as 16-bit SIGNED values.