EncodeFile Method  
 

Encode the contents of the specified file.

Syntax

object.EncodeFile( InputFile, OutputFile, Encoding )

Parameters

InputFile
A string value that specifies the name of the file to be encoded. The file must exist, and it must be a regular file that can be opened for reading by the current process. An error will be returned if a character device, such as CON: is specified as the file name.
OutputFile
A string value that specifies the name of the file that will contain the encoded data. If the file exists, it must be a regular file that can be opened for writing by the current process and will be overwritten. If the file does not exist, it will be created. An error will be returned if a character device, such as CON: is specified as the file name.
Encoding
The encoding method to be used when creating the file. The following encoding methods are valid:
Value Constant Description
0 fileEncodeDefault Use the default encoding method. Currently this is the same specifying that the base64 algorithm should be used for encoding and decoding files.
1 fileEncodeBase64 Use the base64 algorithm for encoding and decoding files. This is the standard method for encoding files as outlined in the Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) protocol. This is the method used by most modern email client software.
2 fileEncodeQuoted This encoding method is typically used for text messages that use characters beyond the standard ASCII character set, in the range of 128-255. This method, called quoted printable encoding, allows text messages to pass through mail systems that do not support characters with the high-bit set. Note that this method should not be used to encode binary files such as executables or file archives.
3 fileEncodeUucode Use the uuencode and uudecode algorithms for encoding and decoding files. This is a common encoding method used with UNIX systems and older email client software.
4 fileEncodeYencode Use the yEnc algorithm for encoding the file. This is an encoding method that is commonly used when posting files to Usenet newsgroups.
&H10000 fileEncodeCompressed This option is used in combination with one of the encoding types listed above. If specified, the file will be compressed prior to being encoded by the control. This can significantly reduce the size of the encoded output.

Return Value

This method returns a value of zero if the file was successfully encoded. A non-zero return value specifies an error code which indicates the reason for the failure.

Remarks

The EncodeFile method encodes the contents of a file, using the specified encoding method.

When specifying the fileEncodeCompressed option, it is important to remember that the compressed, encoded data can only be restored to its original contents using the DecodeFile method. This option should not be used when encoding a file to be attached to an email message unless you provide the recipient with a utility to decode the data.

See Also

Encoding Property, DecodeFile Method