UUENCODE(1C)                         SysV                         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(1C) or
     other methods of sending mail.  This combination can be used over
     indirect mail links even when uusend(1C) is not available.

     uuencode takes the named source file (the default is 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 re-creation 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.

EXAMPLE
     The remotedest is the pathname of the file to create on the remote
     system, for example,

          % uuencode /kate/bin/prog1 /tmp/kate.prog1.

BUGS
     The file is expanded by 35% (three bytes become four plus control
     information), increasing the transmission time.

     The user on the remote system who is invoking uudecode (often uucp) must
     have write permission on the specified file.

SEE ALSO
     uusend(1C), uucp(1C), uux(1C), mail(1), uuencode(5);
     Managing SysV System Software.