Just drop one or more files onto the Decoder icon and they will be decoded. File segments should be named in alphabetical order.
I have included a sample uu-encoded file and a sample Base64 file. You should be able to drag these files onto the Decoder icon and decode them. The result will be a file called Earth.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.
Setting Preferences:
When Decoder saves files that it decodes it can tell your Macintosh what kind of file it has created. This way, you can double-click documents that Decoder generates and they will open automatically. You can also instruct Decoder to open files automatically as soon as they are decoded and, possibly, delete the temporary mail file. These options are setup through Decoder's preferences feature.
The preferences menu option has a list of file mappings. Each mapping assigns a file extension from a UNIX or Windows machine to Macintosh type and creator codes. An extension is just a file suffix that identifies the file type. For example, Earth.jpg is a jpg file.
A sample Preferences file is provided for your convenience. Drag it into your Preferences folder inside your system folder. It knows how to handle most common file types.
Creating or modifying a File Mapping
Sometimes, you might need to add a file mapping or change a mapping so that it works the way you want it to. To do this, follow these instructions:
Open the Decoder application by double-clicking on it.
Go to Preferences under the file menu.
A list box will appear listing all file extension - file type mappings.
Press the Add button to add a mapping.
Press the Delete button to remove a mapping.
Double-click a line to edit.
Press the Done button when finished.
When you add or edit a file mapping. A file mapping dialog box will appear.
Enter a three character extension in the extension field - don't enter a '.' - it won't be accepted anyway. Enter either upper or lower case. This is the jpg part of a file called Earth.jpg. Another example would be the GIF extension on a file called image.gif.
Enter a creator code for files having this extension or press the Example button to find a file to use as an example. For example, if you want to use GraphicConverter to open all your GIF images, use the Example button to find a file that you have created or re-saved in GraphicConverter. Decoder will make any new GIF files "look" like that example files. If you are the adventurous type, you can just type in a creator code and file type. When in doubt use TEXT or pBIN for the file type.
If you want the decoded file opened automatically by the application you specified, click the appropriate box.
If you want to delete the encoded source after decoding, click the appropriate box.
Click OK when done or Cancel if you have second thoughts.
NOTE!
I know this process is more difficult than it should be. The new version of Decoder will have a much simplified process for assigning Macintosh type and creator codes. If you have problems, just e-mail me at <info@harmony.cnchost.com>.
