Re: [hypermail] octet-stream

From: kent landfield <kent_at_hypermail.org_at_hypermail-project.org>
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 08:47:36 -0600 (CST)
Message-Id: <20030228144736.22D0127019F_at_dev.hypermail.org>

ronnie rephan writes:
>
> So, what is the fix?
>
> Ronnie

What is the fix to what ? Octet-stream ? Why did you mail this question here ? For whatever reason it seems that Apple users ask this question Am I wrong ? If it is documented somewhere to ask the hypermail list I'd like to know so I can get that incorrect reference removed. Thanks.

Additionally, it is best to read the FAQs written and supplied to the general public before asking questions on a public list. The Questions are not just listed in the FAQs, they have answers with them.

Because for some unknown reason we get this question regularly, we have listed it in the FAQ...

The Hypermail FAQ states:

---

I have received an email with attachment that needs octet-stream. What should I do?

   No attachment "needs" octet-stream. octet-stream is a label that describes    the attachment as being "a stream of octets". What is that you say? Well, the    application didn't know any more specifics and thus it identified it as good    as possible. It knows it is a stream of octets, nothing else.    

   So, an attachment coming as "octet-stream" can be pretty much ANYTHING. You    have no idea, and neither does anyone else. The only way to figure out is to    download the file and see for yourself, ask the person who mailed it or to    hope that the mail it came with describes what the attachment was about.    

   "octet-stream" could just as well be named "I haven't got the slightest idea    what this is, but I know it is built up with a series of bytes".

---

Take a look at the RFCs and search on octet-stream and get an 'official' definition...

-- 
Kent Landfield             |  HYPERMAIL: http://www.hypermail.org/ 
Email: kent_at_hypermail.org  |  RFCS: http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/

Received on Fri 28 Feb 2003 04:47:39 PM GMT