


UUENCODE(1C)	    UNIX Programmer's Manual	     UUENCODE(1C)



NAME
     uuencode, uudecode - encode/decode a binary file for
     transmission via mail

SYNOPSIS
     uuencode [ source ] remotedest | mail sys1!sys2!..!decode
     uudecode [ file ]

DESCRIPTION
     _U_u_e_n_c_o_d_e and _u_u_d_e_c_o_d_e are used to send a binary file via
     uucp (or other) mail.  This combination can be used over
     indirect mail links even when _u_u_s_e_n_d(1C) is not available.

     _U_u_e_n_c_o_d_e takes the named source file (default standard
     input) and produces an encoded version on the standard out-
     put.  The encoding uses only printing ASCII characters, and
     includes the mode of the file and the _r_e_m_o_t_e_d_e_s_t for recrea-
     tion on the remote system.

     _U_u_d_e_c_o_d_e 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 _u_u_d_e_c_o_d_e program.  This way the file is
     created automatically without human intervention.	This is
     possible on the uucp network by either using _s_e_n_d_m_a_i_l or by
     making _r_m_a_i_l be a link to _M_a_i_l instead of _m_a_i_l.  In each
     case, an alias must be created in a master file to get the
     automatic invocation of _u_u_d_e_c_o_d_e.

     If these facilities are not available, the file can be sent
     to a user on the remote machine who can uudecode it manu-
     ally.

     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
     atob(n), uusend(1C), uucp(1C), uux(1C), mail(1), uuencode(5)

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 _u_u_d_e_c_o_d_e
     (often _u_u_c_p) must have write permission on the specified
     file.







Printed 11/26/99	 April 24, 1986                         1



