Volume 2, Issue 4
November 1998

QCT

Quick Computing Topics (QCT) is an electronic Newsletter published by Computer and Telecommunication Services and Media Services/User Support for CSUB Faculty, Staff, and Students. Past issues will be archived on Computer and Telecommunication Services and Media Services/User Support homepages. Please address any comments or suggestions to: Melanie Butler on First Class, mbutler@csubak.edu, or call extension 2115.

Decoding FirstClass Attachments

One of the questions we get asked frequently is how to view, or decode, an attachment that has been sent along with a FirstClass e-mail message. FirstClass does not automatically detect and open every kind of attachment. User Support has made several utilities available to assist users in viewing attachments, and placed these utilities on file servers for easy access. Depending on whether you have a Macintosh computer or a PC computer, the directions for viewing attachments varies somewhat. You can always call User Support for assistance (2307), but for those users who feel confident in trying this themselves, the following directions should be helpful.

Decoding Attachments on the Macintosh
1. Copy the Decoding Utilities folder to computer HD. Download the external decoders from our FTP site at: ftp.csubak.edu/Mac/PPC/Utilities/decoders.hqx or copy the Decoding Utilities folder from the Server Disk: Server Disk: Applications: Software You Can Copy: Decoding Utilities

2. Verify the type of encoding used on the attachment. In the body of the message, look for the "Content-transfer-encoding:" statement at the beginning of the encoded message. At the end of this statement you will find the type of encoding used on the attachment. Examples are: MIME-Base64 and UUENCODE

3. Download the attachment to the HD by double clicking on the attachment. (It will be called ARTICLE.TXT) Open the Decoding Utilities folder.

4. Drag the file ARTICLE.TXT onto the appropriate utility. A new decoded file will appear in the same directory as the file ARTICLE.TXT (For instance, if the file ARTICLE.TXT is on the desktop, the decoded file will be on the desktop as well.)

Utility Encoding Type

YA-Base64          MIME/Base64         (Most commonly used with PC mail utilities)
uuUndo                  Uuencode                  (Unix based, commonly used in News Groups [.uue])
UnZip                     Zip                            (Unix based, Zip files [.zip])
Stuffit Expander    Binhex,MacBinary, (Grand daddy of Macintosh decoders [.hqx, .bin, .cpt, .sit])
                               CompactPro, Stuffit

Decoding Attachments on the PC (Windows machine)
1. Install UUDeview (decoder for MIME-Base64, BinHex and uuencoding).
This program can be obtained by downloading and installing the file ud3212.exe from:

a. The CSUB FTP site: Using Netscape type ftp://ftp.csubak.edu/PC/Win95-NT/UUDeview/ in the location window, and press enter. Double click on the file ud3212, and select a folder to have it saved to. Close Netscape. Go to the folder you saved the file ud3212.exe to, and double click on it. An install program will start, and if you accept all the defaults UUDeview will be installed on your hard drive in c:\Program Files\UUDeview.

Or
b. A file server: The file ud3212.exe can be found on the F: drive at F:\apps\uudeview. Go to the file ud3212.exe and double click on it. An install program will start, and if you accept all the defaults UUDeview will be installed on your hard drive in c:\Program Files\UUDeview.

2. With an E-Mail message open, that has an attachment, double click on the attachment and save it to a folder on your hard drive.

3. Close or Minimize FirstClass.

4. Click on the Start button, select programs, UUDeview, and finally select the UUDeview program.
The UUDeview window will be opened

5. Click on ADD, then find and select the file you saved in the left-hand window.

6. Click on Path and designate a directory to save the decoded file to.

7. Select Preview. At this point you can highlight and rename the output file if desired.

8. Select Go.

9. You will now see "done decoding" in the information section at the bottom of the window.

10. The file is now decoded and stored in the folder you selected in step 7. You may now open the file in whatever application it was created in, Word, Excel, etc.

NOTE: These instructions are for Windows 95, or Windows NT. If you have windows 3.1, or have any questions about these instructions, call the Helpdesk at extension 2307.