C3D_VaxD2PC

Convert C3D file from DEC (VAXD) to PC (IEEE-LE) format so that they can be read in Matlab >= 2008b.

Convert the numerical format of C3Ds from VaxD ("Dec") to IEEE-LE ("PC")

C3D is a file format commonly used in biomechanics and motion analysis. Floating point numbers can be stored in 3 different ways in C3D files: VAX-D, IEEE-LE and IEEE-BE (Vicon calls them DEC, PC and MIPS). Several Matlab routines to read C3D files can be found in the WWW, but unfortunately Matlab >= 2008b (v7.7) does not open files in VAX-D format anymore.

This function converts C3D files written from VAX-D to IEEE-LE files (PC style) and works under Matlab 6 and 7. This function does not import the contents of the C3D files to Matlab!

Calling:
VAXD = C3D_VaxD2PC(Mode, FileSpec)
Depending on the input [Mode] the files are only checked or converted. In addition either a single file or all files in a folder and all subfolders can be processed.

Backups of the VAX-D files are created as "<FileName>.c3d.vaxd" during the conversion. The original file is patched by changing the binary representation of all float32 numbers. Integers do not need a conversion and double64 numbers do not appear in C3D files.

Example 1: Check all C3D files in the current folder and subfolders:
VAXDFiles = C3D_VaxD2PC('CheckFolder', cd);

Example 2: Convert one file (insert a file name):
isVAXD = C3D_VaxD2PC('ConvertFile', <AC3DFileName>);

The function has been tested with Vicon-C3Ds only. Please feel free to contact me on problems.

WARNING AND DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY:
Although no error appeared during the tests of this function, touching the expensive measurement files must be performed with care! Create a backup of all accessed files before!

Tested: Matlab 6.5 and 2009a.