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authorThomas Voss <mail@thomasvoss.com> 2024-11-27 20:54:24 +0100
committerThomas Voss <mail@thomasvoss.com> 2024-11-27 20:54:24 +0100
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+Network Working Group D. Robinson
+Request for Comments: 1154 R. Ullmann
+ Prime Computer, Inc.
+ April 1990
+
+
+ Encoding Header Field for Internet Messages
+
+1. Status of the Memo
+
+ This RFC proposes an elective experimental Encoding header field to
+ permit the mailing of multi-part, multi-structured messages.
+
+ The use of Encoding updates RFC 1049 (Content-Type), and is a
+ suggested update to RFCs 1113, 1114, and 1115 (Privacy Enhancement)
+ [4,7,8].
+
+ Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
+
+2. Introduction
+
+ RFC 822 [2] defines an electronic mail message to consist of two
+ parts, the message header and the message body, separated by an
+ apparently blank line.
+
+ The Encoding header field permits the message body itself to be
+ further broken up into parts, each part also separated from the next
+ by an apparently blank line.
+
+ Thus, conceptually, a message has a header part, followed by one or
+ more body parts, all separated by blank lines.
+
+ Each body part has an encoding type. The default (no Encoding field
+ in the header) is a message body of one part of type "text".
+
+ 3. The Encoding Field
+
+ The Encoding field consists of one or more subfields, separated by
+ commas. Each subfield corresponds to a part of the message, in the
+ order of that part's appearance. A subfield consists of a line
+ count, a keyword defining the encoding, and optional information
+ relevant only to the specific encoding. The line count is optional
+ in the last subfield.
+
+3.1. Format of the Encoding Field
+
+ The format of the Encoding field is:
+
+
+
+
+Robinson & Ullmann [Page 1]
+
+RFC 1154 Encoding Header Field for Internet Messages April 1990
+
+
+ [<count> <keyword> [<options>], ]* [<count>] <keyword> [<options>]
+
+ where:
+
+ <count> := a decimal integer
+ <keyword> := a single alphanumeric token starting with an alpha
+ <options> := keyword-dependent options
+
+3.2. <count>
+
+ The line count is a decimal number specifying the number of text
+ lines in the part. Parts are separated by a blank line, which is not
+ included in the count of either the proceeding or following part.
+ Because a count always begins with a digit and a keywords always
+ begins with an letter, it is always possible to determine if the
+ count is present. (The count is first because it is the only
+ information of interest when skipping over the part.)
+
+ The count is not required on the last or only part.
+
+3.3. <keyword>
+
+ The keyword defines the encoding type. The keyword is a common
+ single word name for the encoding type. The keywords are not case-
+ sensitive.
+
+ The list of standard keywords is intended to be the same as the list
+ used for the Content-Type: header described in [6]. This RFC
+ proposes additions to the list. Implementations can then treat
+ "Content-Type" as an alias of "Encoding", which will always have only
+ one body part.
+
+3.4. <options>
+
+ The optional information is used to specify additional keyword-
+ specific information needed for interpreting the contents of the
+ encoded part. It is any sequence of tokens not containing a comma.
+
+3.5. Encoding Version Numbers
+
+ In general, version numbers for encodings, when not actually
+ available within the contents of the encoded information, will be
+ handled as options.
+
+3.6. Comments
+
+ Comments enclosed in parentheses may, of course, be inserted anywhere
+ in the Encoding field. Mail reading systems may pass the comments to
+
+
+
+Robinson & Ullmann [Page 2]
+
+RFC 1154 Encoding Header Field for Internet Messages April 1990
+
+
+ their clients. Comments must not be used by mail reading systems for
+ content interpretation; that is the function of options.
+
+4. Encodings
+
+ This section describes some of the defined encodings used.
+
+ As with the other keyword-defined parts of the header format
+ standard, extensions in the form of new keywords are expected and
+ welcomed. Several basic principles should be followed in adding
+ encodings:
+
+ - The keyword should be the most common single word name for the
+ encoding, including acronyms if appropriate. The intent is that
+ different implementors will be likely to choose the same name for
+ the same encoding.
+
+ - Keywords not be too general: "binary" would have been a bad
+ choice for the "hex" encoding.
+
+ - The encoding should be as free from unnecessary idiosyncracies
+ as possible, except when conforming to an existing standard, in
+ which case there is nothing that can be done.
+
+ - The encoding should, if possible, use only the 7 bit ASCII
+ printing characters if it is a complete transformation of a source
+ document (e.g., "hex" or "uuencode"). If it is essentially a text
+ format, the full range may be used. If there is an external
+ standard, the character set may already be defined.
+
+ Keywords beginning with "X-" are permanently reserved to
+ implementation-specific use. No standard registered encoding keyword
+ will ever begin with "X-".
+
+4.1. Text
+
+ This indicates that the message is in no particular encoded format,
+ but is to be presented to the user as is.
+
+ The full range of the ASCII character set is used. The message is
+ expected to consist of lines of reasonable length (less than 1000
+ characters).
+
+ On some transport services, only the 7 bit subset of ASCII can be
+ used. Where full 8 bit transparency is available, the text is
+ assumed to be ISO 8859-1 [3] (ASCII-8).
+
+
+
+
+
+Robinson & Ullmann [Page 3]
+
+RFC 1154 Encoding Header Field for Internet Messages April 1990
+
+
+4.2. Message
+
+ This encoding indicates that the body part is itself in the format of
+ an Internet message, with its own header part and body part(s). A
+ "message" body part's message header may be a full internet message
+ header or it may consist only of an Encoding field.
+
+ Using the message encoding on returned mail makes it practical for a
+ mail reading system to implement a reliable resending function, if
+ the mailer generates it when returning contents. It is also useful
+ in a "copy append" MUA operation.
+
+ Message encoding is also used when mapping to X.400 to handle
+ recursively included X.400 P2 messages.
+
+4.3. Hex
+
+ The encoding indicates that the body part contains binary data,
+ encoded as 2 hexadecimal digits per byte, highest significant nibble
+ first.
+
+ Lines consist of an even number of hexadecimal digits. Blank lines
+ are not permitted. The decode process must accept lines with between
+ 2 and 1000 characters, inclusive.
+
+4.4. EVFU
+
+ EVFU (Electronic Vertical Format Unit) specifies that each line
+ begins with a one-character "channel selector". The original purpose
+ was to select a channel on a paper tape loop controlling the printer.
+
+ This encoding is sometimes called "FORTRAN" format. It is the default
+ output format of FORTRAN programs on a number of computer systems.
+
+ The legal characters are '0' to '9', '+', '-', and space. These
+ correspond to the 12 rows (and absence of a punch) on a printer
+ control tape (used when the control unit was electromechanical).
+
+ The channels that have generally agreed definitions are:
+
+ 1 advances to the first print line on the next page
+ 0 skip a line, i.e., double-space
+ + over-print the preceeding line
+ - skip 2 lines, i.e., triple-space
+ (space) print on the next line, single-space
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Robinson & Ullmann [Page 4]
+
+RFC 1154 Encoding Header Field for Internet Messages April 1990
+
+
+4.5. EDI
+
+ The EDI (Electronic Document Interchange) keyword indicates that the
+ message or part is a business document, formatted according to ANSI
+ X12 or related standards.
+
+ The first word after the EDI keyword indicates the particular
+ interchange standard.
+
+ A message containing a note and 2 X12 purchase orders might have an
+ encoding of:
+
+ Encoding: 17 TEXT, 146 EDI X12, 69 EDI X12
+
+4.6. X.400
+
+ The Encoding header field provides a mechanism for mapping multi-part
+ messages between CCITT X.400 [1] and RFC 822.
+
+ The X.400 keyword specifies a section that is converted from an X.400
+ body part type not known to the gateway, or not corresponding to a
+ useful internet encoding.
+
+ If the message transits another gate, or if the receiving user has
+ the appropriate software, it can be decoded and used.
+
+ The X.400 keyword is followed by a second token indicating the method
+ used. The simplest form is "X.400 HEX", with the complete X.409
+ encoding of the body part in hexadecimal. More compact is "X.400
+ 3/4", using the 3-byte to 4-character encoding as specified in RFC
+ 1113, section 4.3.2.4.
+
+4.7. uuencode
+
+ The uuencode keyword specifies a section consisting of the output of
+ the uuencode program supplied as part of uucp.
+
+4.8. encrypted
+
+ The encrypted keyword indicates that the section is encrypted with
+ the methods in RFC 1115 [8]. This replaces the possible use of RFC
+ 934 [5] encapsulation.
+
+References
+
+ [1] International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee,
+ "Data Communication Networks: Message Handling Systems", In CCITT
+ Recommendations X.400 to X.430, VIIIth Plenary Assembly, Malaga-
+
+
+
+Robinson & Ullmann [Page 5]
+
+RFC 1154 Encoding Header Field for Internet Messages April 1990
+
+
+ Torremolinos, 1984, Fascicle VIII.7 ("Red Book").
+
+ [2] Crocker, D., "Standard for the Format of ARPA Internet Text
+ Messages", RFC 822, University of Delaware, August 1982.
+
+ [3] International Organization for Standardization, "Information
+ processing - 8-bit single-byte coded graphic character sets -
+ Part 1: Latin alphabet No. 1", ISO 8859-1, ISO, 1987.
+
+ [4] Linn, J., "Privacy Enhancement for Internet Electronic Mail: Part
+ I -- Message Encipherment and Authentication Procedures", RFC
+ 1113, IAB Privacy Task Force, August 1989.
+
+ [5] Rose, M., and E. Stefferud, "Proposed Standard for Message
+ Encapsulation", RFC 943, University of Delaware and NMA, January
+ 1985.
+
+ [6] Sirbu, M., "Content-type Header Field for Internet Messages", RFC
+ 1049, CMU, March 1988.
+
+ [7] Kent, S., and J. Linn, "Privacy Enhancement for Internet
+ Electronic Mail: Part II -- Certificate-Based Key Management",
+ RFC 1114, IAB Privacy Task Force, August 1989.
+
+ [8] Linn, J., "Privacy Enhancement for Internet Electronic Mail: Part
+ III -- Algorithms, Modes, and Identifiers", RFC 1115, IAB Privacy
+ Task Force, August 1989.
+
+Security Considerations
+
+ Security issues are not addressed in this memo.
+
+Authors' Addresses
+
+ David Robinson 10-30
+ Prime Computer, Inc.
+ 500 Old Connecticut Path
+ Framingham, MA 01701
+
+ Phone: +1 508 879 2960 x1774
+
+ Email: DRB@Relay.Prime.COM
+
+
+ Robert Ullmann 10-30
+ Prime Computer, Inc.
+ 500 Old Connecticut Path
+ Framingham, MA 01701
+
+
+
+Robinson & Ullmann [Page 6]
+
+RFC 1154 Encoding Header Field for Internet Messages April 1990
+
+
+ Phone: +1 508 879 2960 x1736
+
+ Email: Ariel@Relay.Prime.COM
+
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+Robinson & Ullmann [Page 7]
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