Decoder 2.1 Users Guide

Decoding Files:

Decoder 2.1 can decode the following encoding formats:

Decoder 2.1 does not yet support any compression formats such as Stuffit™, ZIP, gzip, unix compress (Z), tar. Support for some of these formats will be provided in later versions. Decoder will display a Status window showing the current file being decoded, how many files are being decoded and a progress bar for the current file. When not decoding, the Status window will say "Idle...".

From the Finder

Just drop one or more files or folders onto the Decoder application icon or the Decoder Status window and they will be decoded.

Included with the Decoder distribution is a sample uu-encoded file and a sample MIME (Base64) file. You should be able to drag these files onto the Decoder icon or Decoder status window and decode them. The result will be two files called EarthUU.jpg and EarthMIME.jpg.

If you have trouble getting Decoder to operate via drag-n-drop, you probably need to rebuild your desktop. To do this, reboot your Mac while holding down the Option and Apple keys simultaneously.

As a helper application

Just tell whatever newsreading program you use to use Decoder as a UU and Base64 decoder.

From Decoder

You can also double-click the Decoder application icon to launch the program in an interactive mode. In this mode, you can decode files, register the software, and set preferences via the menu. You can also drag files into the Status window to decode them.

Setting Preferences:

Preferences allow you to adjust the way Decoder behaves. From Decoder's Edit menu, select Preferences… and you will get the following options:

Delete original files

Turn on this option to have Decoder automatically delete the original, encoded file anytime it successfully decodes the file.

Create a directory for each input file

Turn on this option to have Decoder create a separate directory for each decoded file or folder.

Important note: Do not turn on this option if you are decoding segmented files. Since Decoder will create a folder for each file, it will not be able to find the other segments.

Create directories for MIME files

Turn on this option to have Decoder recreate the structure of complex MIME files by creating folders. Be careful, I have received a spam message that generated folders 19 levels deep!

Automatically open decoded files

Turn on this option to have Decoder automatically open files as they are created. This option requires that you have Internet Config (MacOS™ before version 8) or File Exchange (MacOS™ after version 8) properly configured. You must also have an application that is capable of opening the types of files that you are decoding. See note below on Assigning File Mappings.

Use Decode directory

Turn this option on to have Decoder save newly created file to a directory that you specify. Otherwise, Decoder will create new files in the same location as the original file.

Decode directory

The path to the Decode directory. To change this value, push the Select… button and find a directory in which you want to use to save your decoded files.

Assigning File Mappings:

About File Mappings

Many of the files that you will decode will not have come from a Macintosh computer. Therefore, they will not have the internal codes set up correctly so that you can double-click these files to open them. If this information does not exist, your machine will have to guess. Internet Config is a system extension designed to do just that and assign the best guess for a document so that it will function as a normal macintosh document.

Internet Config is already installed in MacOS™ 8 and later. If you have MacOS™ 8 or later, you can use either the File Exchange control panel or Internet Config itself to set up file mappings. For earlier versions of the system software, you must use the Internet Config software.

If you get an Internet Config error while trying to run Decoder, make sure you have Internet Config 1.2 installed. Internet Config is a free program and can be downloaded from InfoMac or from Stairways Software.

Setting File Mappings using the File Exchange control panel

Start the File Exchange control panel. Select the PC Exchange tab.

What you need to do is assign a file extension and/or MIME type to a particular application. Almost any file extension and MIME type that you will encounter are already listed. You will usually just have to associate an application that you have installed to a particular file type. You can search for applications that have the ability to open a file of a particular type.

Find the mapping that contains the file extension of the file that Decoder generates and click the Change… button. If you don't see the extension you want, click the Add… button.

Enter or change the extension to be that of the file that Decoder is generating. Next, select an application that you want to use when opening files of this type. You can click the Select button to browse your entire hard disk. Finally, chose the File Type that most closely matches the extension.

If you are an advanced user, you can enter the MIME content-type inside the MIME-Type field.

Setting File Mappings using Internet Config

To set file mappings in Internet Config, launch the Internet Config application.

Select File Mappings.

What you need to do is assign a file extension and/or MIME type to a particular application. Almost any file extension and MIME type that you will encounter are already listed. You will usually just have to associate an application that you have installed to a particular file type. You can search for applications that have the ability to open a file of a particular type.

Find the mapping that contains the file extension of the file that Decoder generates and click the Change button. If you don't see the extension you want, click the Add button.

Enter or change the extension to be that of the file that Decoder is generating. Next, select an application that you want to use when opening files of this type. You can click the Choose Example button to browse your entire hard disk for a document to use as an example. Make sure File Type does NOT say APPL.

If you are an advanced user, you can enter the MIME content-type inside the MIME-Type field.

Messages:

When Decoder encounters a file it does not understand, or there is some other kind of error or warning, it will display a Messages window with the problem. Since Decoder is often used as a background helper application, it should not display the normal alert boxes that require user action to close.

Registering Decoder:

To register Decoder, use the online payment system at <http://www.etresoft.com> or fill out the Registration Form and mail it to:

Etresoft
PO Box 202401
Denver, CO 80220-8401
USA

Once you register Decoder, you will receive via snail mail or e-mail a confirmation message with your registration code. Currently, this code consists of the name under which you registered the software and a registration key. You must enter both these values into the Registration dialog. They must be spelled correctly and the case is signification.

To enter your registration code, start Decoder. Select Register from the File menu. Enter your name and registration codes into the appropriate fields.

Once you are registered, the About box (under the Apple™ menu) will show your name and registration code.

If you download a new version of Decoder, you will not have to re-enter your registration information.

Technical Support:

If you have problems, please consult the online Troubleshooting/FAQ page first. It really does answer most questions and can do so much more quickly than we can. If your problem can't be resolved with the FAQ page, please contact Etresoft at info@etresoft.com. At this time, we are not able to provide telephone support.

Decoder is Copyright © 2000 Etresoft. All rights reserved.

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