uuencode(5)

NAME

       uuencode, uudecode - encode a binary file, or decode its representation

SYNOPSIS

       uuencode [-m] [ file ] name

       uudecode [-o outfile] [ file ]...

DESCRIPTION

       Uuencode and uudecode are used to transmit binary files over  transmis-
       sion mediums that do not support other than simple ASCII data.

       Uuencode  reads  file  (or by default the standard input) and writes an
       encoded version to the standard output.  The encoding uses only  print-
       ing  ASCII characters and includes the mode of the file and the operand
       name for use by uudecode.  If name is /dev/stdout the  result  will  be
       written to standard output.  By default the standard UU encoding format
       will be used.  If the option -m is given on  the  command  line  base64
       encoding is used instead.

       Note:  uuencode  uses  buffered  input  and assumes that it is not hand
       typed from a tty.  The consequence is that at a tty, you  may  need  to
       hit Ctl-D several times to terminate input.

       Uudecode transforms uuencoded files (or by default, the standard input)
       into the original form.  The resulting file is named name  (or  outfile
       if  the -o option is given) and will have the mode of the original file
       except that setuid and execute bits are not retained.   If  outfile  or
       name  is  /dev/stdout  the  result  will be written to standard output.
       Uudecode ignores any leading and trailing lines.  The program can auto-
       matically decide which of the both supported encoding schemes are used.

EXAMPLES

       The following example packages up a source tree, compresses  it,  uuen-
       codes  it  and  mails it to a user on another system.  When uudecode is
       run on the target system, the file ``src_tree.tar.Z'' will  be  created
       which may then be uncompressed and extracted into the original tree.

              tar  cf  -  src_tree | compress | uuencode src_tree.tar.Z | mail
              sys1!sys2!user

SEE ALSO

       compress(1), mail(1), uucp(1), uuencode(5)

STANDARDS

       This implementation is compliant with P1003.2b/D11.

BUGS

       If more than one file is given to uudecode and the -o option  is  given
       or  more  than one name in the encoded files are the same the result is
       probably not what is expected.

       The encoded form of the file is expanded by 37% for UU encoding and  by
       35% for base64 encoding (3 bytes become 4 plus control information).

REPORTING BUGS

       Report  bugs to <bug-gnu-utils@gnu.org>.  Please put sharutils or uuen-
       code in the subject line.  It helps to spot the message.

HISTORY

       The uuencode command appeared in BSD 4.0.

                                                                   uuencode(1)