uuencode(4)                                              uuencode(4)


       NAME
             uuencode - encoded uuencode file format

       DESCRIPTION
             Files output by uuencode consist of a header line, followed by
             a number of body lines, and a trailer line.  uudecode ignores
             any lines preceding the header or following the trailer.
             Lines preceding a header must not, of course, look like a
             header.

             The header line is distinguished by having the first 6
             characters begin  (the word begin followed by a space).  begin
             is followed by a mode (in octal), and a string which names the
             remote file.  Spaces separate the three items in the header
             line.

             The body consists of a number of lines, each at most 62
             characters long (including the trailing NEWLINE).  These
             consist of a character count, followed by encoded characters,
             followed by a NEWLINE.  The character count is a single
             printing character, and represents an integer, the number of
             bytes the rest of the line represents.  Such integers are
             always in the range from 0 to 63 and can be determined by
             subtracting the character space (octal 40) from the character.

             Groups of 3 bytes are stored in 4 characters, 6 bits per
             character.  All are offset by a space to make the characters
             printing.  The last line may be shorter than the normal 45
             bytes.  If the size is not a multiple of 3, this fact can be
             determined by the value of the count on the last line.  Extra
             characters will be included to make the character count a
             multiple of 4.  The body is terminated by a line with a count
             of zero.  This line consists of one ASCII space.

             The trailer line consists of end on a line by itself.

       REFERENCES
             mail(1), uucp(1C), uuencode(1C)










                           Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 1