The mail server provides you with the capability to transfer files between it and your own computer or other computers on or off campus. This is so you can upload and download files, mail notebooks, or message text to e-mail to other users. Using MIME, PINE will encode the binary file so that it can be transferred via e-mail. The method for transferring files to or from the mail server depends upon how you access the mail server. If you are accessing the mail server from a computer connected to the Internet, you can use FTP file transfer.
Binary files are typically executable programs, sound or picture files, or compressed files.
The difficulty lies in telling the two file types apart. The best clue is to look at the file type or extension. Most file names you see will follow the DOS naming convention of an eight character file name, followed by a period, and followed by a three character extension. However, you may see file names, in particular UNIX files, that can be longer and have multiple parts to them. The above list is not meant to be exhaustive.