
                                 UUDEVIEW 0.3
                    a decoder for multipart-encoded binaries
                         Written 1994 by Frank Pilhofer

INTRO
-----

 This is the third release of a new uudecoding program. It will load in a 
number of files, detect any uuencoded data, sort the data and decode it if 
possible. It is planned as an easy point-and-shoot program.
 After all files are scanned, the user will be prompted for each single file if
it should be decoded. You can also view the files before decoding.
 Introduced in V0.2 is the automatic uncompression. It allows you to uncompress
or gunzip files without decoding them. That is - if a file 'uudeview.tgz' is
found, you'll be asked if you want to save just the gunzipped 'uudeview.tar'.
 Since V0.3, uudeview features the "Smart Part Merging System" (r). It will
try to decode files even if the subject lines didn't match (spelling mistakes).


INSTALLATION
------------

 Extract the tar file to a new directory and change to that directory. Now 
simply type "make". The makefile assumes "gcc" as your compiler. This default
can be changed in the "CC" macro in the "Makefile".
 If you want the program to run in DOS, get the DOS binary executable.


USAGE
-----

  uudeview [{+-}e .ext1.ext2] [{+-}i] [{+-}d] [file ...]

 file ... are the files to be processed. If the file is '-', data is read
from the standard input. Even if data is read from standard input, other
files can be specified as well.
 With +/-e filename extensions can be selected. +e .ext will decode only
files with the extension .ext. -e .ext will decode files with an extension
other than .ext. There may be more than one +/-e directive on the command
line. All extensions are read in, but only the last '+' or '-' is recog-
nized. -e .jpg +e .gif will decode all .gif AND .jpg files.
 Normally, the user is questioned for each file if it should be decoded.
This can be overridden with -i.
 If data is read from standard in, the +/-i flag is ignored and all files
encountered are decoded.
 +d automatically decompresses files that are compressed or gzipped.

 For each uuencoded file that was found, you can choose among a lot of features
what to do with them. (?) will list you all options that you have. The most
obvious is to (d)ecode them (that's what all other decoders can do, too).
You can also (l)ist the files (make sure it's text :-)). If you don't like
the filename, you can change it with (r).
 If the file in question is gnu-zipped or compressed, you can unpack it with
(u). You must have gunzip and/or uncompress installed. You will then be asked
what to do with the resulting file.
 If the file in question is a tar archive, you can enter the archive with (t).
You DON'T need to have tar installed. You will then be asked what to do with
each of the files inside the archive.
 After processing the contents of an archive (be it tared or compressed), you
can still choose to extract the original archive.


CAPABILITIES
------------

 In Newsgroups, binaries are often splitted up into many smaller files. They
contain a "subject" line that should indicate the part number of each posting.
This program tries to obtain the part number from there. If that fails, the
program cannot order them properly and must assume the postings are in correct
order.
 The program has been tested under the following conditions and it looked like
it worked properly:
  o One file just created by uuencode
  o uuencoded and splitted data in order, not containing a subject line
  o multiple files, splitted, no subject line, in order
  o multiple files, splitted, subject line, scrambled order
  o a combination of splitted files without subject in order and
    splitted files with subject in scrambled order
  o some postings with misspelled subject lines.


PLANNED
-------

The program will hopefully feature sometime:
  o Curses front-end
  o maybe better speed (unlikely)
  o more features (do you have an idea what to do next?)


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
-------------------

  o Ansi C-Compiler
  o uncompress and gunzip installed and in the path; otherwise (u)npack
    will fail


COPYRIGHT
---------

 This program was written by Frank Pilhofer in 1994. It may be copied freely
if (1) the source is not modified, (2) this file is included. The program may
also be distributed in compiled (binary) form, but it is recommended to in-
clude the source as well.
 The program is declared as "mailware". If you like the program and use it
frequently, you have to send an email to the author stating so. If you don't
have email access, I would really enjoy a postcard or anything from you.
 Anyway, no registration fee is necessary but donations are gladly accepted.
 Please not that the decoding functions are not developed by me. They are
based on a program named "uunconc". Since its source file did not contain    
any message of the author, I felt free to use it. If you are the author,
please contact me.


FEEDBACK
--------

 Up to know, I just received 2 mails of people who actually used uudeview.
I'd really like to get some feedback. So, if you made some experiences (be
it good or bad), please mail me.


BUGS
----

 There will be plenty, of course. I have tested it with some programs and it
worked. If you have any bugs to report, please send them to me. I will need
the data file and a description of the error.
 There are some informational "printf's" included that are hopefully not too
confusing.
  o The manpage in the archive describes version 0.1 and is outdated.


UPDATING
--------

 The most recent version of uudeview is always available at
    ftp.uni-frankfurt.de:/pub/dist/frank
 For those without hostname resolution, the IP address is 141.2.1.7.


SIGNATURE
---------

 + Frank Pilhofer                          frank@informatik.uni-frankfurt.de +
 | Darmstaedter Str. 22                                                      |
 | D-63225 Langen, Germany                                                   |
 +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
 | Department of Computer Sciences * University of Frankfurt / Main, Germany |

