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

SYNTAX
     uuencode <infilename >outfilename filename
     uudecode filename.uu

DESCRIPTION
     The uuencode and uudecode commands are used to send a binary
     file via uucp (or other) mail.

     The uuencode command takes the named source file (default
     standard input) and produces an encoded version on the stan-
     dard output.  The encoding uses only printing ASCII charac-
     ters, and includes the mode of the file and the remotedest
     for recreation on the remote system.

     The uudecode command 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 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.

RESTRICTIONS
     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.

