4.3BSD - /usr/man/cat5/uuencode.0

UUENCODE(5)                                                        UUENCODE(5)


NAME
       uuencode - format of an encoded uuencode file

DESCRIPTION
       Files  output  by  uuencode(1C) consist of a header line, followed by a
       number of body lines, and a trailer line.  Uudecode(1C) 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(1C), uudecode(1C), uusend(1C), uucp(1C), mail(1)


7th Edition                      May 15, 1985                      UUENCODE(5)