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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  channels
       that support only simple ASCII data.

       Uuencode  reads  file  (or by default the standard input) and writes an
       encoded version to the standard  output,  using  only  printable  ASCII
       characters.   The  encoded  output  begins  with  a  header, for use by
       uudecode, which records the mode of the input file  and  suggests  name
       for  the  decoded  file  that will be created.  (If name is /dev/stdout
       then uudecode will decode to standard output.)  The  encoding  has  the
       format  documented  at uuencode(5), unless the option -m is given, when
       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  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 determines from
       the header which of the two supported encoding schemes was used.

EXAMPLES

       The following  example  packages  up  a  source  tree,  compresses  it,
       uuencodes  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
       uuencode in the subject line.  It helps to spot the message.

HISTORY

       The uuencode command appeared in BSD 4.0.

                                                                   uuencode(1)