BFT(1)                  Utility Commands                   BFT(1)



NAME
     bft - binary file transfer via e-mail

SYNOPSIS
     bft  [ -c ]  [ -e ]  <filename>  <address>  [ <address> ... ]

DESCRIPTION
     bft is a tool for transmitting binary files (i.e., text pro-
     cessor documents, executables, graphics, sounds, and so on)
     via electronic mail (e-mail).
     It saves the user from manually encoding the binary file to
     be transmitted with uuencode(1) and to provide a companion
     mail with instructions for the recipient on how to extract
     and restore the original file.

OPTIONS

     -c  suppresses the dialog asking the sender to enter a comment
         to describe the transmitted file.

     -e  directs bft to use an editor (as determined by the EDITOR
         environment variable) when asking the user for a comment
         about the transmitted file. If this option isn't specified,
         simple line edit mode will be used.

         However, this option only affects the first time the comment
         is entered. If the user decides to modify the comment just
         entered, an editor (as determined by the EDITOR environment
         variable) is ALWAYS supplied (if available).

         If both -e and -c are given, the -c option takes precedence
         over the -e option.

     -h  issues a help screen (overrides all other options)
     -?  issues a help screen (overrides all other options)

EXAMPLE
     bft -c taxes.doc joe@sdm.ey-de.de

     sends the document "taxes.doc" to the user joe@sdm.ey-de.de
     (Internet address), suppresses the comment on the file's
     contents.

SEE ALSO
     uuencode(1), uudecode(1), bft_reader(1), procmail(1).

     See bft_reader(1) and procmail(1) on how to extract files sent
     with bft automatically.

RESTRICTIONS
     Some providers on the Internet limit the maximum size an electro-
     nic mail message may have.
     They either bounce back the offending message or truncate it to
     the maximum permitted length.

VERSION INFORMATION
     This man page documents bft, version 1.3.

AUTHOR
     Steffen Beyer at sd&m GmbH & Co. KG, Munich, Germany