dear all,
i have had many many requests for this info, so i think it is time to post it
on the list. i must say, however, that i had no success in getting the
program they mentioned (wincode), and don't clearly understand how they
intend me to use it, since i not an adequate alphanerd. i am also questioning
why they have in effect downgraded the service they claim to offer, since now
instead of easily reading my downloaded files, i apparently have to jump
through a bunch of hoops. and as if to ad insult to injury, they have sent
practically every lactnet digest as a mysterious downloaded file i can't get!
to quote a famous philosopher, AARGGH!
carol brussel
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Forwarded message:
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: 97-08-21 12:16:54 EDT
Dear cbrussel,
I am writing to you on behalf of America Online to answer your recent email.
The Internet's e-mail system handles basic text files nicely, but doesn't
reliably handle binary files. So, when you send an e-mail message with a file
attachment to someone on the Internet, the AOL software automatically encodes
the attachment using a system called MIME. (MIME stands for Multipurpose
Internet Mail Extensions.) MIME converts the binary attachment to a text
format that can be handled by Internet e-mail. The message's recipient needs
a program that can decode the MIME e-mail and turn it back into a binary file
that the computer can work with.
When someone sends you a MIME-encoded file in e-mail, it needs to be
translated back into a format that your computer can understand.
Depending on the mail system that the sender used, the AOL software may or
may not be able to automatically decode the MIME file. If it was able to
decode the file, the e-mail's file attachment will be in its original, binary
format: such as .GIF or .ZIP.
If AOL was unable to decode the MIME file, the attachment will be in MIME
format, with an filename extension of .MME. Download this file--it is simple
to use a utility to convert the .MME file back to a binary file.
Windows users can use the freeware application WinCode to easily decode MIME
files. You can download WinCode from AOL's File Archive at keyword FILESEARCH
or from this web site:
http://www.members.global2000.net/snappy/software.html. After you've
downloaded and installed WinCode, run the program and choose "Decode" from
the FILE menu. Choose the .MME file that you downloaded and the file will be
decoded.
Macintosh users can use the shareware application "Decoder" to easily decode
MIME files. You can download Decoder from AOL's File Archive at keyword
FILESEARCH or from this web site: http://www.concentric.net/~Columbin/.
After you've downloaded and uncompressed Decoder, drag-and-drop the .MME
file that you downloaded onto Decoder. A decoded, binary version of the file
will be created on your hard disk.
When you attach a file to an e-mail message that you send to an Internet
user, it will automatically be MIME-encoded.
In order to use the attachment, your message's recipient must have a
MIME-compliant e-mail program or use software that can decode MIME files--to
translate it back into a format that his or her computer can understand. If
the recipient has a MIME-complaint e-mail program, the MIME attachment will
probably be automatically decoded for him. If not, the recipient can easily
translate the file using a utility program.
Windows users can use the freeware application WinCode, available from this
site: http://www.members.global2000.net/snappy/software.html. Macintosh
users can use the shareware application "Decoder" , available from:
http://www.concentric.net/~Columbin/.
Thank you for using America Online. We hope that you will continue to enjoy
the service.
S.McNair
The TechMail Department
America Online, Inc.
P.S. Please check the "What's Hot" online area for information about your
America Online Community.
-------------------------
dear aol,
a week ago i spoke with an online rep about my current problem, which is that
newsgroup digests are being sent to me as download files which then "do not
exist." i was assured that this was caused by a technical change by AOL and
that it would be fixed within a week. another week has gone by and this is
not just a nuisance but a professional difficulty. fix this! and i would
appreciate a personal reply about when this will be fixed, not just a form
letter spam reply.
carol brussel
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