A New Method for File Transfer via Pine--MIME

You may want to have the ability to exchange a wide variety of files via email. You can use Pine (both Unix and PC versions) to include word processing documents, spreadsheets, foreign language texts, images, audio and visual files, and executable binary files in your email messages. Traditionally, such files could not be sent by email. Transfer is now possible because Pine supports a new standard--called Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) for attaching files to email messages.

Both you and the recipient of your email message must use a MIME-compatible mail program to take advantage of this easy way to transfer files.

It has always been possible to insert plain text files (created with text editors such as Pico, vi, emacs, and H19) in Pine messages. Now Pine allows you to attach non-text files such as Microsoft Word documents and Excel spreadsheets (see "Sending Files With Pine").

There are a couple of steps you may need to take before you send an attachment:

Encourage your colleagues to use email programs that support MIME attachments.
If the document you are sending is unusual, for example, if it is very large, check with the receiver to be sure that he or she can handle it.

GETTING MIME

Pine is only one of the growing number of MIME-compatible email programs. MIME decoder programs for popular mailers such as Elm and Berkeley mail also exist. Soon, MIME- compatible email tools will be widely deployed around the Internet, making email an effective way to transfer files.

Send email to help@cac.washington.edu for more information about MIME-compatible email programs.

University of Washington Computing & Communications
Windows on Computing, No. 13, May 1993
newsltr@cac.washington.edu