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(1)
(or other) mail. This combination can be used over indirect mail
links even when uusend(1) is not available.

Uuencode takes the named source file 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 recreation 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(1) or by making
rmail(1) 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.

SEE ALSO
uusend(1), uucp(1), uux(1), mail(1), uuencode(5)

BUGS
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.