Decode Shell Extension FAQ

 
Funduc Software, Inc.
www.funduc.com / www.searchandreplace.com
P.O Box 530904
Livonia, MI  48153 USA
V: 734.462.1552 F: 734.462.1886

Here are some questions and answers on decoding Internet Email attachments. This document is oriented towards Decode Shell Extension users. However, the information on problem email attachments will be of interest to Directory Toolkit and Explorer Extensions users.

America Online Users - Please see our AOL Decode Email Example for step-by-step instructions.

CompuServe 2000 Users - We do not have instructions specific to CS2000. However, please see the AOL Decode Email Example. The email message downloading steps will differ with CS2000 but the same principles apply.

If you have a suggestion or a question that is not answered here, write us at support@funduc.com.
 

General FAQ Topics:
  >>Virus Warning<<
  Is there a secret charge for using Decode Shell Extension
  Decode Shell Extension Installation Issues
  Don't See Decode My Right Click Menu
  Don't See Decode In My Start Menu
  Don't See Decode In My Email Program
  Readme.txt appears every time I start my computer
  Basic Steps for Decoding Messages
  AOL Mail Problems & Suggestions
  Decoding AOL Mail That Doesn't Download
  POP3 Problems & Suggestions
  "File Not Encoded" Response
  Clicked on the MIM file - Nothing Happened
  Cannot Find America.exe
  Cannot Open the Files Sent to Me
  Tried Everything & Nothing Works
  The Program Won't Decode WebTV Messages
  Will Funduc Software Decode Attachments For Me?
  Decoded Files Named NONAME
  Microsoft Word Documents & Messages
  What Encoding Types are Supported?
  Creating Encoded Files
  Is Decode Shell Extension Y2K Compatible?

Virus Warning - Many things you have heard about getting a virus via an email attachment are true. If you are sent a program that you can run or a document that can execute a macro, your computer can become infected with a virus.

Purchase an up-to-date anti-virus software and use it!! Keep your virus definition files current!!

For information on anti-virus software, see CIAC Security Tools. Regardless of what program you purchase, keep your license current and update the anti-virus definitions regularly!!

Q: I was told there is a hidden charge each time I use Decode Shell Extension. Is this true?
A: Absolutely not! The program is "contribution-ware", which means you are free to use it at no cost. We are not associated with AOL in any way. We receive no reimbursement from AOL and we certainly do not have a secret arrangment with AOL to charge you when you download or use the program. If you see fit to send us the $5.00 contributione for email support and automatic email delivery of program updates, fine. If not, that's also fine.

Addendum: We have heard that Microsoft Wallet repeatedly issues a notice of some kind that the software is unregistered when you decode files. We do not have a secret arrangement with Microsoft Wallet. By report, if you uncheck the Microsoft Wallet "Always Use..." option the warning will cease.

Q: How do I install Decode Shell Extension program?
A: We recommend the self-installing version, available from our Decode Shell Extension page. The self-installer, named setupdx.exe, will place all files in the directory of your choice. It does not overwrite any of your 'Windows system files'. Run setupdx.exe from Windows Explorer - the Explorer that runs after you click on "My Computer". AOL and CompuServe 2000 Users - Exit AOL before you run setupdx.exe. Do not attempt to run setupdx.exe from the AOL or CS2000 File Menu.

Note: There is a resource prepared by "Decodmime@aol.com" at http://members.aol.com/decodemime/index.htm with instructions for installing the program. Please do not pester this gracious individual with questions about Decode Shell Extension or their page. She/he prepared it out of the goodness of their heart and they are not affiliated with Funduc Software. Write support@funduc.com instead.

Q: I downloaded setupdx.exe but nothing happened. I don't see a Decode option in my Windows Explorer right click menu.
A: Did you actually run setupdx.exe to install the program? AOL or CS2000 won't do this automatically. You should run setupdx.exe from Windows Explorer, not the AOL or CS2000 File Menu. By default, AOL stores downloaded files in a subdirectory named 'download' under the parent AOL subdirectory. For AOL 4.0, the default download path is "c:\America Online 4.0\download". For AOL 5.0 it is "c:\America Online 5.0\download". Open Windows Explorer, navigate to where setupdx.exe was saved, and double click on setupdx.exe to run the installer.

Q: Where is the Decode Shell Extension program item in my Windows Start Menu?
A: There isn't one. All functions are via a Folder/File view from Windows Explorer. Highlight a file in Windows Explorer and right click with your mouse. "Decode" will activate Decode Shell Extension on the highlighted file. "Decode" is not present when a folder is highlighted.

Q. How come I can't find the Decode menu in my Email program.
A. There won't be one. Decode Shell Extension relies on the fact most modern Email  programs can save a message to a file (see below). You then use Windows Explorer to get the command to decode the file.

Q: Your annoying "Readme.txt" on Decode Shell Extension comes up every time I re-start my computer. Make it stop!
A: This absolutely is not by design. Promise! We would never intentionally harass users like that.  Unfortunately, we have never been able to repeat this so we are not 100% sure why it occurs in rare cases. Please try the suggestions below.

Q. How do I use Decode Shell Extension to decode a message?
A. Follow these steps:

1. First use your Email software and save the entire message that contains the attachment as a text file. For most Email programs you will find a "save" function under the File/Save menu. Make note of the filename and path you use when saving the message to a file.
2. Use Windows Explorer and navigate to the file you created in step 1.
3. Highlight that file, Right-click with your mouse, and pick Decode from the right-click context menu.
4. The program will automatically detect the attachment format and provide you with prompts for file names and overwrites.
5. See the AOL Decode Email Example for a step-by-step example for AOL mail.

Q. How can I decode the file to another directory?
A. When prompted, click the "Change Name button" and select a different directory.

Q. I'm new to computers and cannot decode attachments that come to my America Online mail.
A. Many users report "problems" receiving attachments through AOL mail. Some attachments simply refuse to decode properly. Sometimes we can debug the problem messages for users, sometimes not. These problem is not exclusive to our software - other decoding software has trouble as well. Furthermore, the problem is not exclusive to a proprietary service such as AOL mail.

However, there is good news for AOL users. If you take the correct steps with your correspondents, the AOL client software can receive attachments just fine. In fact, you may not even need to use Decode Shell Extension!!.

Here are some suggestions: 

• Have your correspondent set their email program to send messages to you as "plain text". DO NOT use "html" or "rich text" messages. This is very very important!!!! The majority of attachment problems involve "html" format messages. We have added enhancements to our decoding software to handle this but the highest probability for success will be if your correspondent uses "plain text" formatting for their messages.
• Tell your correspondents to attach files as separate attachments and not as "in line" images or text.
• Have your correspondent send only one attachment per message. The AOL mail client will probably not be able to decode a multiple attachment message, thus requiring you to use another program such as Decode Shell Extension, Directory Toolkit or Explorer Extensions. In contrast, if your correspondent sends only one attachment using "plain text" format, the AOL mail client may well be able to handle the message automatically.
• If you are dealing with images, ask your correspondents to send only .gif or .jpg format images (one per message). AOL mail can decode these natively.
• Another tactic, if you are dealing with images, is to have your correspondents send you a single word processing document with the images embedded in the document. For example, they could send you a single MS Word or Corel Word Perfect file that contains a series of images. This of course requires that you and your correspondent have compatible word processing programs.
• Have your correspondent use a mainstream Email program to send their mail to you. Programs such as Forte Agent, Eudora, or Pegasus work well sending attachments to AOL. Again, sending one attachment per message greatly increases the odds that the mail will get through properly. Programs such as Outlook, Outlook Express, and Netscape Communicator also work fine, provided the sender does not use "html" or "rich text" message format. Ditto for Windows Messaging.
• Experiment with your correspondent if you still cannot receive their attachment(s) with your AOL software. Have he/she try sending a few messages, with one attachment per message, using different settings for his/her Email program.
• Upgrade your AOL client software to the latest version. Version 4.0 really is very nice package!

Q: I followed the AOL Decode Email Example but AOL never downloaded the attachment. What is wrong?
A: Any chance the message did not have an attachment? Also, check in the AOL default download directory - perhaps it did download. This will probably be something like
   "c:\America Online 4.0\download"
if you haven't changed the default settings in AOL Preferences. Beyond this, contact AOL support.

Q: I can see that a message I received via AOL mail is encoded but AOL doesn't offer me a Download Now button. What can I do.
A: See the Basic Steps for Decoding Messages section above. For the AOL mail client, there are two methods to use. We recommend the first method. We're including the second method, FYI.

Method 1 (Preferred):

1. Open the message in the AOL mail reader.
2. Click anywhere in the message text to be sure the 'focus' of the cursor is on the message.
3. From the AOL 4.0 Edit menu, select 'Select All'. This will highlight the entire message. (Ctrl+A will probably do the same thing).
4. From the AOL 4.0 Edit menu, select Copy. This will copy the highlighted part to the Windows clipboard. (Ctrl+C will probably do the same thing).
5. Open a new, blank text file in Windows Notepad or your favorite text editor. Press Ctrl+V to paste the clipboard contents from the above step into the file. (Note: We recommend that you use a standard text editor here. Multi-function word processing programs such as Word or WordPerfect tend to introduce formatting changes even when you use their 'save as text file' functions. There are ways to prevent this but many users may find it easiest to use a plain old text editor.)
6. Save the file, making note of the path and file name you use.
7. Close Notepad or the text editor you used.
8. Use Windows Explorer to make your way to the path & file name you used when you saved the Notepad file. Right click on the file. Select Decode from the menu.

Method 2 (May have problems):

1. Open the message in the AOL mail reader.
2. From the AOL File menu, select 'Save' or 'Save As'. You will then be offered a dialog which you can use to define a file name and path where you want to save the message text to. Make note of your choices. Click on the 'Save' button in the dialog to save the file.
3. Next use Windows Explorer to make your way to the path & file name you used in the above step. Right click on the file. Select Decode from the menu.

Note: Method 2 may result in the message being saved with html coding embedding in the file even though none appeared to exist in the original message. If you open the the file in your text editor and see things like <HTML> or <FONT SIZE=3 PTSIZE=10> or <BR> which are not in the original message, then html code was added as AOL saved the file. Although we have added functions to our decoding programs to handle this, should you have problems, try Method 1 above.

Q: I right clicked on a file and Decode Shell Extension tells me the file is not encoded. What gives?
A: First, is it possible that the file really is not encoded. Don't forget, the AOL software will decode basic messages just fine. If the original message contained only one attachment, perhaps AOL decoded the file from that message and that is what was saved on your hard disk. Double click on the file and see what happens. If you can open the file, you are all set. If you get a "Click the program you want to use..." type message, then perhaps the file is not encoded but you don't have the correct program installed. See Cannot Open the Files Sent to Me.

If Windows give you a "Click the program to use... MIM file" or "Cannot open MIM" type of message, the problem may be that there is an error in the message that leads Decode Shell Extension to conclude that the message is not encoded. What could cause this? Forwarded messages seem to be the primary culprit here - Sue hears a funny joke and pictures that she forwards to Michele, she forwards them to Alice, who forwards them to you. By the time you get the message it is such a mess that Decode Shell Extension cannot make sense of what's there. Another cause is an outright error in the message. This, in fact, is probably what happens with forwarded mail - somewhere along the line a sender made a user error or their email program made a mistake.

Whatever the cause, the solution is the same for most users. Write your correspondent, tell them you could not receive their message properly, and ask them to send it again. Tell them that if they are forwarding you something, they should save the attachments first on their end and create a fresh message in which they add the attachments they received. Even better is that if there are multiple attachments involved, send you one fresh message for each attachment.

Q: I right clicked and Decode Shell Extension tells me a file was successfully decoded. But when I double click on the MIM file I get an "Open with" message telling me to click the program to use to open the MIM file.
A: Don't double click on the original raw message. You have to locate and click on the file(s) that were created when Decode Shell Extension decoded the original raw message. By default Decode Shell Extension creates these in the same folder as the original message. Press F5 to refresh Windows Explorer and update the file list. The file(s) should be there.

Q: When I click on a file I get a message telling me "Cannot find America.exe".
A: Technically, what has happened is that a program was installed on your computer that modified the "file association" for the file type you are trying to view.  "America.exe", whatever may be a graphics program of some type, is now apparently gone from your computer but the disturbance to the file associations remains. 

The exact source and purpose of "America.exe" is unclear. 

One solution for the "cannot find America.exe" problems is to write your correspondent and ask him/her what program you need to have on your computer in order to deal with what they sent to you. It is possible you already have the necessary program installed. For more information, see the program help for that respective program.

If you clicked on a .gif or .jpg file and got the "Cannot find America.exe" message, try opening the file with your web browser. All modern web browsers can view these image files.

Also, Win 95/98/NT comes with an accessory called "Quick View". If you installed Quick View you will see a choice for this in your Windows Explorer right click menu. Try viewing the file with Quick View.

If you double click on a .mim file and get the "Cannot find America.exe" message then your mistake was double clicking on the .mim file. Don't double click on .mim files. Right click and select Decode instead.

Also see your Windows 95/98/NT operating system help for additional instructions and background information concerning "file types", "file associations", and "file extensions".

Q. My email program can't decode a multiple attachment message I received. I read the bit in your FAQ about America Online but I'm not using that. I have a standard POP3 mail account. Can you help?
A. Is the message coming to you in "html" or "rich text" format? Our own experiments indicate that "html text" or "rich text" format messages sent by one email program may not be understood properly when received by another email program. For example, Microsoft's Outlook Express does a fine job handling multi-attachment html text messages sent by someone using Outlook Express. But the receiver may have trouble handling the message if they're using another brand of html text-capable email program. Our decoding software may or may not be of help here. We suggest that you are having ongoing problem with a particular sender, ask them to use "plain text" messages. If that doesn't help, try having them send only one attached file per message.

Q: I tried everything but I still can't decode some attachments I receive.
A: Here are some things to consider: a) Is the message a forwarded message? If so, obtain the original, non-forwarded version from your correspondent. b) The attachment may be hopelessly corrupted due to an error on the sender's end. We have seen all sorts of errors, ranging from things like <snip> or <section deleted> in the middle of an attachment to mis-matched &/or missing attachment headers. Have your correspondent try again. c) If your correspondent is sending you something via a 'forward this to a friend' function of some type, have them instead copy the text to the Windows clipboard and paste it into a standard email message. d) WebTV attachments may be impossible to decode? Try some of the other suggestions in this FAQ. d) If you routinely have problem attachments, sign up with a generic internet service provider with POP3 mail service where you can use an email program such as Forte Agent, Eudora, Pegasus, Outlook, Outlook Express, or Netscape Communicator.

Q. Can you fix & decode my attachment for me if I send it to you?
A. Do not send us your problem attachment without asking first. We will try to help but please understand that we cannot provide ongoing support for a freeware product. For ongoing support you need to purchase Explorer Extensions or Directory Toolkit. As a registered user, if you have ongoing problems with a particular sender we would help you fix the initial problem rather than continually debug problem attachments.

Q. Why is the decoded file named NONAME.DAT and how do I open it?
A. If the program that encoded it did not specify the original file name, Decode will still decode it but will use that default name. When decoding, you can click the Change Name button and use the correct name and extension. If you're not sure what name and extension to use, write the person who sent it to you and ask them.

Q. The decoded file is corrupt. Why? I pasted the message text into Word, then saved it to a file and tried to decode it.
A. Word and other editors may add extraneous characters to the file and corrupt the attachment. Instead, use the File/Save menu from your Email program to save the message to a text file.

Q: I received some Word documents and I think they decoded OK but when I try to open the files I set a "WINWORD cannot locate file" type of message.
A: Are you using the Decode Shell Extension 'open file' function? If so, do not let Decode Shell Extension launch Word (e.g., click on 'no' when Decode Shell Extension asks 'Would you like to open it'). Instead, open Word separately, use the Word File Open menu to navigate to the file, and open it from within Word. As we have seen with other softwares, under some conditions, some versions of Word have problems with automatic launching and opening of files.

Q. What types of encoding are supported?
A. UUENCODED(or UUE), Base64 (MIME), BinHex (Mac), XXENCODED (or XXE), quoted printable, 7 bit (unencoded) and plain text.

Q. How can I encode a file and send it to someone else?
A. Decode Shell Extension only decodes files. You'll need either Directory Toolkit or Funduc Explorer Extensions if you want to create an encoded file.

Q: Is Decode Shell Extension Y2K Compatible?
A: Yes, it is Year 2000 safe. Plus, the program does not manipulate dates. Also see our Y2K Statement.