C3D Documentation
C3D User Manual (auto-update installation).
This link installs a PDF copy of the C3D technical implementation manual, containing over 100 pages. This documents the C3D specification and includes detailed notes and illustrations for programmers who need to access or create C3D files for any application. The manual includes a complete description of the C3D file format and is supplied as a PDF file that can be printed and redistributed with any C3D application. The installation of the manual includes an update program that can automatically check (and optionally download) future updates to the C3D manual.
C3D User Manual (Adobe PDF format).
This is a standard PDF version of the C3D technical implementation manual and is identical to the version described above. This PDF file can be printed and redistributed with any C3D application.
Original C3D specification (ASCII text file).
The original ASCII text file that documented the C3D file format as written by Dr. Andrew Dainis for the AMASS software package, released in the mid 1980's. This software description has largely been superceded by the C3D Technical User manual (above) which should be used as a reference for all new applications.
Proposed Camera Mask format extension (PDF format).
A document from Vicon Motion Systems that describes a proposed extension to the C3D standard to encode more than seven camera contribution bits.
Proposed New Label and Range format extension (PDF format)
A document released by the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, that describes a proposed extension to the C3D format called "New Label and Range" that allows C3D files to store event and event range information.
Analog Scale Parameters (Excel spreadsheet)
A spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel format) written by Motion Lab Systems that calculates the correct C3D Analog Scale parameters for AMTI (TYPE2 and TYPE-4) force plates, Kistler (TYPE-3) force plates and EMG or any other analog signal source. The spreadsheet supports both 12-bit and 16-bit ADC resolutions.
Storing Data as INTEGER or REAL (PDF format).
A document written by a C3D user that containing a discussion of the issues involved in storing 3D and analog data in C3D files using the INTEGER and REAL formats.