.TH UUENCODE 1C "1 June 1980"
uuencode,uudecode \- encode/decode a binary file for tranmission via mail
are used to send a binary file via uucp (or other) mail.
This combination can be used over indirect mail links
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
for recreation on the remote system.
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
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.
uuencode(5), uusend(1), uucp(1), uux(1), mail(1)
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
must have write permission on the specified file.