Resources & Services: Computing
MIME Attachments
Sending MIME attachments
MIME (Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions) is a method of encoding files that contain binary data (such as graphics or compressed files) so they can be sent as attachments to e-mail messages.
To send non-text files, first be sure the recipient has a MIME-capable e-mail program (such as Pine, Eudora, Exchange, Outlook, or mh), and the appropriate software to handle the attachment.
Before you can attach a file to a message, you first need to use a file transfer program to move the file from your personal computer (or diskette) to your e-mail account. You'll find instructions for this in the Knowledge Base (http://kb.indiana.edu/).
Search for the words: pine attachment
To attach a non-text file to an e-mail message, move the cursor to the Attchmnt: field in the header section and press CTRL/j.
Type the name of the file you want or press Ctrl/t to select from a list of files in your account directory. Use your arrow keys to select the file, then press Enter.
Note: Text files do not need to be sent as attachments; they can be inserted into the body of the message. To read in a file, move your cursor down into the message text area (below the headers). Press Ctrl/r, then type the name of the file you wish to include or press Ctrl/t to select from a list of files in your account directory.
Receiving MIME attachments
When you receive a MIME message, press v to view a menu of the parts of the message. Select the attachment, and press s to save it to your Pine account. Make sure you save it without any spaces in the file name. Transfer the file from your e-mail account to a desktop computer (see above). Then use the appropriate program to view the attachment (ask the message sender what program was used to create the file).