SAMPLE: Sample Base 64 Encoding and Decoding

ID: Q191239

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Server Application Programming Interface (API)
Internet Client SDK, version 4.01

SUMMARY

B64_samp.exe is a sample that shows how to programmatically encode and decode Base 64 encoding mechanism. This encoding mechanism was introduced for use with Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME). It is the default mechanism used when authenticating in clear text (Basic Authentication) between a Web browser and a Web server.

The sample is in the form of a simple Win32 command line application. Usage is as follows:

   Usage:  Base64.exe -[d|e] <message>
           d  :  Decode <message>
           e  :  Encode <message>

The sample does not format the encoded text. The RFC specifications for Base 64 requires that each line of the encoded message not be greater than 76 characters. After 76 characters, the message must have a hard line break inserted (that is, carriage return + line feed). Furthermore, the encoded message when fed into a decoder must be padded so that the total number of characters be divisible by 4. The decoder sample included with this file will handle situations where the padding is missing. The encoded message should be padded with an equal sign character (=) at the end. Please refer to section 5.2 of RFC 1521 for more detailed description of the Base 64 Encoding standard.

NOTE: The sample includes the project files for Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0. For other development environments, simply copy over the .cpp/.h files into your own project. Note that the self-extracting executable is a Win32 EXE.

MORE INFORMATION

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Software Library:

 ~ B64_samp.exe (size: 31232 bytes)

Release Date: Jul-05-1998

For more information about downloading files from the Microsoft Software Library, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

REFERENCES

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q179323
   TITLE     : Encoding and Decoding: Overview and List of Third-Party
               Vendors

RFC 1521 : MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) Part One: Mechanisms for Specifying and Describing the Format of Internet Message Bodies

Additional query words:

Keywords          : kbsample
Version           : WINDOWS:4.01; WINNT:
Platform          : WINDOWS winnt

Last Reviewed: November 13, 1998