Short: Scans UseNet newsgroups and uudecodes binaries automatically

Public release v1.00 - 05.13.1994 - Freeware
Copyright ©1994 by Gregg Giles


   MassDecode  is designed as an aid to those running a system connected to
UseNet.  It will scan through a newsgroup containing uuencoded binaries and
decode  them  automatically,  even  if  those  binaries  are broken up into
multiple files.

   MassDecode is very intelligent, because it is required to deal with huge
amounts   of  information  presented  with  no  common  standard.   To  the
experienced  net  crawler,  dealing  with  uuencoded  files  can be quite a
patience-trying  and time-intensive experience.  First you have to find all
the  seperate  parts of a binary, join them together, and then decode them.
Doing this manually can be quite nauseating.  Enter MassDecode.

   MassDecode  will  scan  through  a  directory  of uuencoded files, piece
together  all  of  the  parts  of  a  binary,  and uudecode those uuencoded
binaries  for  you.  You don't even have to be around.  Obviously, this can
be   a  god-send  for  sysops  carrying  some  of  the  comp.binaries.*  or
alt.binaries.* newsgroups.

   MassDecode  is  pretty darn smart for an ARexx script, because it has to
be.  uuencoded binaries are often posted to newsgroups, and there is no set
standard  on  how  they  will  appear when posted.  The largest obstacle to
writing an automated script has always been finding the names of the binary
parts,  finding  all  the  parts,  and having the script be smart enough to
piece  them  all  together  and decode them for you.  Well, MassDecode does
exactly that.

   Not only does MassDecode look for clues in uuencoded messages as to what
uuencoder  was  used, but it also does some pretty good guessing when there
are absolutely no clues as to what the uuencoder was.



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# Features
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MassDecode has the following features:

*  Recognizes  uuencoded  messages  created  with the following uuencoders:
   -Post-Bin
   -UBIN-PC
   -uudecode 5.25 (by R.E.M.)
   -UUXFER

*  "Smart-guesses" information about a uuencoded message when the uuencoder
   used to create the message is unknown.

*  Possible  to  decode  multiple  directories by running MassDecode from a
   script

*  Capable  of  piecing  together  binaries  which  have been split up into
   multiple parts across multiple files.

*  Supplied "SmartDecode" decoder is capable of ignoring header information
   found  within  encoded  binaries. Alternatively, using other decoders is
   possible.



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# Requirements
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In order to use MassDecode, you must have the following:

*  An Amiga computer

*  An  active  UseNet  feed  with newsgroups containing uuencoded binaries.
   Examples     of     such    newsgroups    include    alt.binaries.amiga,
   alt.binaries.pictures,  etc.   (The  "AmigaUUCP"  package by Matt Dillon
   will  permit  you  to connect your system to another UseNet system - see
   that package for details or ask your local Internet guru for help.)

*  Workbench 2.0 or better

*  ARexx (must be installed - see your Amiga manual for details)

*  The "MassDecode.rexx" ARexx script (supplied)

*  The "SmartDecode" executable file (supplied)



What you do NOT need to use MassDecode:

*  MassDecode does NOT require any special BBS package. It can, however, be
   used   with   ANY  bulletin  board  system  package  with  no  problems.
   (MassDecode  operates completely independently of both AmigaUUCP and any
   BBS software which you may have in operation.)

*  MassDecode does NOT require any special registration keys to work.

(FURTHER DOCUMENTATION IS INCLUDED IN THE DISTRIBUTION ARCHIVE)
.
