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mpack/munpack version 1.5 for mac |
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Mpack and munpack are utilities for encoding and decoding |
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(respectively) binary files in MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail |
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Extensions) format mail messages. For compatibility with older forms |
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of transferring binary files, the munpack program can also decode |
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messages in split-uuencoded format. The Macintosh version can also |
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decode messages in split-BinHex format. |
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The canonical FTP site for this software is ftp.andrew.cmu.edu:pub/mpack/ |
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Binaries are no longer provided. The pc, os2, amiga and archimedes ports |
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have been removed. The mac version probably doesn't compile anymore, but |
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is still included (MacOS X users can use the unix version...) |
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This MIME implementation is intended to be as simple and portable as |
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possible. For a slightly more sophisticated MIME implementation, see |
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the program MetaMail, available via anonymous FTP to |
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thumper.bellcore.com, in directory pub/nsb |
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Decoding MIME messages: |
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To decode a MIME message, first save it to a text file. If possible, |
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save it with all headers included. Mpack can decode some MIME files |
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when the headers are missing or incomplete, other files it cannot |
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decode without having the information in the headers. In general, |
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messages which have a statement at the beginning that they are in MIME |
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format can be decoded without the headers. Messages which have been |
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split into multiple parts generally require all headers in order to be |
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reassembled and decoded. |
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Some LAN-based mail systems and some mail providers (including America |
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Online, as of the writing of this document) place the mail headers at |
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the bottom of the message, instead of at the top of the message. If |
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you are having problems decoding a MIME message on such a system, you |
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need to convert the mail back into the standard format by removing the |
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system's nonstandard headers and moving the standard Internet headers |
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to the top of the message (separated from the message body with a |
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blank line). |
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There must be exactly one message per file. Mpack cannot deal with |
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multiple messages in a single file, to decode things correctly it must |
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know when one message ends and the next one begins. |
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The Macintosh version of mpack/munpack is a single standalone |
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application. A text file may be decoded either by drag & drop, or by |
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choosing the "Decode Files..." item from the application's File menu. |
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Non-text files may be encoded either by drag & drop, or by choosing |
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the "Encode Files..." item from the application's File menu. |
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The Macintosh version of mpack/munpack supports the new MacMIME |
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standard (RFC 1740). This allows cross-platform transport of |
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Macintosh files to any MIME-capable machine, and also preserves |
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Macintosh specific file attributes between two Macintoshes. Mpack |
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will use MacMIME for any unrecognized Macintosh file, and regular MIME |
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for standard MIME types. |
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For more details and descriptions of the preferences, see the "Help |
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Using Mpack..." menu item in mpack which can be found under the help |
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menu in systems 7 and above, and under the apple menu in older |
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systems. |
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Reporting bugs: |
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Bugs and comments should be reported to mpack-bugs@andrew.cmu.edu. |
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When reporting bugs or other problems, please include the following |
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information: |
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* The version number of Mpack |
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* The platform (Unix, PC, OS/2, Mac, Amiga, Archimedes) |
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* The EXACT output of any unsuccessful attempts. |
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* If having a problem decoding, the first couple of lines |
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of the input file. |
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Compilation: |
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Mpack was compiled with THINK C 6.0 with the 4-byte int option turned |
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on (and the ANSI-small library compiled with the 4-byte int option) |
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and prototype enforcement turned off. Included with this distribution |
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should be the files "macproj.hqx" which is a BinHex4 version of the |
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THINK C 6.0 project file, and "macrsrc.hqx" which is a BinHex4 version |
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of the resources file. |
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Mpack checks for the existence of "Internet Config", and if it is |
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available, mpack uses it to translate MIME types to and from Macintosh |
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type/creator codes. Included is the file "macICglue.hqx" which is a |
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BinHex4 version of Internet Config's MPW object file library. This |
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needs to be linked with the application. |
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Using mpack: |
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See the "Help Using Mpack..." menu item in the application. |
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Acknowledgements: |
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Written by John G. Myers, jgm+@cmu.edu |
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The mac version was written by Christopher J. Newman, chrisn+@cmu.edu |
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Send all bug reports to mpack-bugs@andrew.cmu.edu |
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Thanks to Nathaniel Borenstein for testing early versions of mpack and |
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for making many helpful suggestions. |
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PGP signature: |
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The mpack 1.6 distribution is not pgp signed. |
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Legalese: |
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(C) Copyright 1993,1994 by Carnegie Mellon University |
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All Rights Reserved. |
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Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, and sell this software |
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and its documentation for any purpose is hereby granted without fee, |
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provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that |
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both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in |
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supporting documentation, and that the name of Carnegie Mellon |
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University not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to |
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distribution of the software without specific, written prior |
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permission. Carnegie Mellon University makes no representations about |
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the suitability of this software for any purpose. It is provided "as |
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is" without express or implied warranty. |
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CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO |
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THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY |
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AND FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY BE LIABLE |
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FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES |
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WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN |
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AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING |
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OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS |
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SOFTWARE. |
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Portions of this software are derived from code written by Bell |
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Communications Research, Inc. (Bellcore) and by RSA Data Security, |
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Inc. and bear similar copyrights and disclaimers of warranty. |
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