4.3BSD - /usr/man/cat1/uudecode.0

UUENCODE(1C)                                                      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
       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  pro‐
       duces  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 speci‐
       fied 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  automati‐
       cally 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
       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 uudecode (often uucp)
       must have write permission on the specified file.


4th Berkeley Distribution       April 24, 1986                    UUENCODE(1C)