UUENCODE(1) UNIX 5.0 (1 June 1980) UUENCODE(1)
NAME
uuencode,uudecode - encode/decode a binary file for
transmission via mail
SYNOPSIS
uuencode [ source ] remotedest | mail sys1!sys2!..!decode
uudecode [ file ]
DESCRIPTION
Uuencode and uudecode are used to send a binary file via
uucp (or other) mail. This combination can be used over
indirect mail links even when uusend(1C) is not available.
Uuencode takes the named source file (default standard
input) and produces an encoded version on the standard
output. The encoding uses only printing ASCII characters,
and includes the mode of the file and the remotedest for
recreation on the remote system.
Uudecode reads an encoded file, strips off any leading and
trailing lines added by mailers, and recreates the original
file with the specified mode and name.
The intent is that all mail to the user ``decode'' should be
filtered through the uudecode program. This way the file is
created automatically without human intervention. This is
possible on the uucp network by either using sendmail or by
making rmail be a link to Mail instead of mail. In each
case, an alias must be created in a master file to get the
automatic invocation of uudecode.
If these facilities are not available, the file can be sent
to a user on the remote machine who can uudecode it
manually.
The encode file has an ordinary text form and can be edited
by any text editor to change the mode or remote name.
SEE ALSO
uuencode(5), uusend(1C), uucp(1C), uux(1C), mail(1)
AUTHOR
Mark Horton
BUGS
The file is expanded by 35% (3 bytes become 4 plus control
information) causing it to take longer to transmit.
The user on the remote system who is invoking uudecode
(often uucp) must have write permission on the specified
file.
Page 1 (printed 6/23/92)