RFC 2646 (rfc2646) - Page 1 of 14

The Text/Plain Format Parameter

Alternative Format: Original Text Document
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Network Working Group                                 R. Gellens, Editor
Request for Comments: 2646                                      Qualcomm
Updates: 2046                                                August 1999
Category: Standards Track


                    The Text/Plain Format Parameter

Status of this Memo

   This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
   Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
   Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
   and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1999).  All Rights Reserved.

Table of Contents

    1.  Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
    2.  Conventions Used in this Document . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
    3.  The Problem  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
      3.1.  Paragraph Text  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
      3.2.  Embarrassing Line Wrap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
      3.3.  New Media Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
    4.  The Format Parameter to the Text/Plain Media Type  . . . . .  4
      4.1.  Generating Format=Flowed  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
      4.2.  Interpreting Format=Flowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
      4.3.  Usenet Signature Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
      4.4.  Space-Stuffing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
      4.5.  Quoting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
      4.6.  Digital Signatures and Encryption  . . . . . . . . . . .  9
      4.7.  Line Analysis Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
      4.8.  Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
    5.  ABNF  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
    6.  Failure Modes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
      6.1.  Trailing White Space Corruption . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
    7.  Security Considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
    8.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
    9.  Internationalization Considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
   10.  Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
   11.  References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
   12.  Editor's Address  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
   13.  Full Copyright Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14




Gellens                     Standards Track
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