---
name: "mpack"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "mpack"
version: "1.6-18+b2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mpack"
---

# mpack(1)

pack a file in MIME format

## NAME

mpack - pack a file in MIME format

## SYNOPSIS

**mpack** \[ **-a** \] \[ **-s** *subject* \] \[ **-d** *descriptionfile* \] \[ **-m** *maxsize* \] \[ **-c** *content-type* \] *file* *address ...*\
 **mpack** \[ **-a** \] \[ **-s** *subject* \] \[ **-d** *descriptionfile* \] \[ **-m** *maxsize* \] \[ **-c** *content-type* \] **-o** *outputfile* *file*\
 **mpack** \[ **-a** \] \[ **-s** *subject* \] \[ **-d** *descriptionfile* \] \[ **-m** *maxsize* \] \[ **-c** *content-type* \] **-n** *newsgroups* *file*

## DESCRIPTION

The  *mpack* program encodes the  the named file in one or more MIME messages. The resulting messages are mailed to one or more recipients, written to a named file or set of files, or posted to a set of newsgroups.

## OPTIONS

- **-a**

  Set the Content-Disposition to attachment.  If -a is not used the Content-Disposition is inline.

- **-s** *subject*

  Set the  **Subject** header field to *Subject*. By default, **mpack** will prompt for the contents of the subject header.

- **-d** *descriptionfile*

  Include the contents of the file *descriptionfile* in an introductory section at the beginning of the first generated message.

- **-m** *maxsize*

  Split the message (if necessary) into partial messages, each not exceeding *maxsize* characters.  The default limit is the value of the  **SPLITSIZE** environment variable, or no limit if the environment variable does not exist. Specifying a  *maxsize* of 0 means there is no limit to the size of the generated message.

- **-c** *content-type*

  Label the included file as being of MIME type *content-type*, which must be a subtype of  **application**, **audio**, **image**, or  **video**. If this switch is not given, **mpack** examines the file to determine its type.

- **-o** *outputfile*

  Write the generated message to the file *outputfile*. If the message has to be split, the partial messages will instead be written to the files *outputfile*.01, *outputfile*.02, etc.

- **-n** *newsgroups*

  Post the generated message(s) to the comma-separated netnews *newsgroups*.

- *file*

  Encode the named *file*.

- *address ...*

  Mail the generated messages to the specified addresses.

## ENVIRONMENT

- **TMPDIR**

  Directory to store temporary files.  Default is /tmp.

- **SPLITSIZE**

  Default value of the -m switch.

## REPORTING BUGS

Send all bug reports to mpack-bugs@andrew.cmu.edu.