mimencode(1)
NAME
mimencode - Translate to and from mail-oriented encoding
formats
SYNOPSIS
mimencode[-u] [-b] [-q] [-p] [file name] [-o outputfile]
DESCRIPTION
The mimencode program simply converts a byte stream into
(or out of) one of the standard mail encoding formats
defined by MIME, the proposed standard for internet multi
media mail formats. Such an encoding is necessary because
binary data cannot be sent through the mail. The encod
ings understood by mimencode are preferable to the use of
the uuencode/uudecode programs, for use in mail, in sev
eral respects that were important to the authors of MIME.
By default, mimencode reads standard input, and sends a
"base64" encoded version of the input to standard output.
The (really not necessary) "-b" option tells mimencode to
use the "base64" encoding.
The "-q" option tells mimencode to use the "quoted-print
able" encoding instead of base64.
The "-u" option tells mimencode to decode the standard
input rather than encode it.
The "-p" option tells mimencode to translate decoded CRLF
sequences into the local newline convention during decod
ing and to do the reverse during encoding. This option is
only meaningful when -b (base64 encoding) is in effect.
If a file name argument is given, input is read from that
file rather than from standard input.
The "-o" option, which must be followed by a file name,
sends output to the named file rather than to standard
output.
RATIONALE
Mimencode is intended to be a replacement for uuencode for
mail and news use. The reason is simple: uuencode
doesn't work very well in a number of circumstances and
ways. In particular, uuencode uses characters that don't
translate well across all mail gateways (particularly
ASCII <-> EBCDIC gateways). Also, uuencode is not stan
dard -- there are several variants floating around, encod
ing and decoding things in different and incompatible
ways, with no "standard" on which to base an implementa
tion. Finally, uuencode does not generally work well in a
pipe, although some variants have been modified to do so.
Mimencode implements the encodings which were defined for
MIME as uuencode replacements, and should be considerably
more robust for email use.
SEE ALSO
COPYRIGHT
Copyright (c) 1991 Bell Communications Research, Inc.
(Bellcore)
Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this mate
rial for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
provided that the above copyright notice and this permis
sion notice appear in all copies, and that the name of
Bellcore not be used in advertising or publicity pertain
ing to this material without the specific, prior written
permission of an authorized representative of Bellcore.
BELLCORE MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE ACCURACY OR
SUITABILITY OF THIS MATERIAL FOR ANY PURPOSE. IT IS PRO
VIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES.
AUTHOR
- Nathaniel S. Borenstein