


      UUENCODE(4)                 (bsd 4.2)                 UUENCODE(4)



      NAME
           uuencode - format of an encoded uuencode file

      DESCRIPTION
           Files output by uuencode(1) consist of a header line,
           followed by a number of body lines, and a trailer line.
           Uudecode(1) will ignore any lines preceding the header or
           following the trailer.  Lines preceding a header must not,
           of course, look like a header.

           The header line is distinguished by having the first 6
           characters begin .  The word begin is followed by a mode (in
           octal), and a string which names the remote file.  A space
           separates the three items in the header line.

           The body consists of a number of lines, each at most 62
           characters long (including the trailing newline).  These
           consist of a character count, followed by encoded
           characters, followed by a newline.  The character count is a
           single printing character, and represents an integer, the
           number of bytes the rest of the line represents.  Such
           integers are always in the range from 0 to 63 and can be
           determined by subtracting the character space (octal 40)
           from the character.

           Groups of 3 bytes are stored in 4 characters, 6 bits per
           character.  All are offset by a space to make the characters
           printing.  The last line may be shorter than the normal 45
           bytes.  If the size is not a multiple of 3, this fact can be
           determined by the value of the count on the last line.
           Extra garbage will be included to make the character count a
           multiple of 4.  The body is terminated by a line with a
           count of zero.  This line consists of one ASCII space.

           The trailer line consists of end on a line by itself.

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

















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