Data Encoding Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples - v5.23, by Herong Yang
Windows Command - "certutil -encode/-decode"
This section provides a tutorial example on how to use 'certutil -encode' command on a Windows system to perform Base64 encoding and decoding.
If you are using a Windows system, there is no built-in command to directly perform Base64 encoding and decoding. But you can use the built-in command "certutil -encode/-decode" to indirectly perform Base64 encoding and decoding.
Here is the help information for "certutil":
herong> certutil -encode -? Usage: CertUtil [Option] -encode InFile Outfile Base64 encode the InFile as an X.509 certificate. ...
Test 1 - Let's encode a short text string of "ABC" from a file, which can be created using the "cat > input.txt" command. We need to press Ctrl-Z and <Enter> to end the input stream from the keyboard.
herong> copy con input.txt ABC^Z<Enter> herong> certutil -encode input.txt output.txt herong> type output.txt -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- QUJD -----END CERTIFICATE-----
Test 2 - Let's decode the encoded string of "QUJD" back.
herong> certutil -decode output.txt decoded.txt herong> type decoded.txt ABC
Test 3 - Let's encode the "lazy dog" message:
herong> lazy_dog.txt The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. herong> certutil -encode lazy_dog.txt output_2.txt herong> type output_2.txt -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- VGhlIHF1aWNrIGJyb3duIGZveCBqdW1wcyBvdmVyIHRoZSBsYXp5IGRvZy4= -----END CERTIFICATE-----
Test 4 - Let's encode a binary file. The output is wrapped into 64-character lines. This form is not the same as 76-character lines used in the MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) specification.
herong> curl http://herongyang.com/_logo.png > icon.png herong> certutil -encode icon.png output_3.txt herong> type output_3.txt -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- VGhlIHF1aWNrIGJyb3duIGZveCBqdW1wcyBvdmVyIHRoZSBsYXp5IGRvZy4= iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABgAAAAYCAYAAADgdz34AAAAAXNSR0IArs4c6QAA AARnQU1BAACxjwv8YQUAAAAJcEhZcwAAEnQAABJ0Ad5mH3gAAAEYSURBVEhL7ZbL DcIwDIYdBGfYADahm1E24QRr9AxLNBvAuUjgJE7ruI5S8RAXPslqaltxfsdSax4I fJEZPQeMSa2EyLdmTwHCKUhwLmYt1BTIIPIleovkyZUUj8zrrgDzJb0EQovuN64S bFt7d4/cCLE2bYWFCsxi2e9xutxCwOvormOV3OEMcxJkXLiO55A/vuSIy+MsVrTA 0+5TRfbQ0ErBl9EUIO2hGpxobUUXznzeCO6KCkI0U8DDA5oxuLvcooibjAy2Zq3B QdEoF8CxsxWtBevdllZ51AJx1KJtGlQtwU4keTiiGmUFGdymU3i5wFTUAuk8BJOM crpXL/lN/gWKfK6A+A5EpheQYzORr7foB38VHwXgCfzQYOFCEQYGAAAAAElFTkSu QmCC -----END CERTIFICATE-----
If you want to get the encoded string into other formats, you need to:
Table of Contents
►Base64 Encoding and Decoding Tools
Base64.Guru - Base64 Online Tool
►Windows Command - "certutil -encode/-decode"
Java Built-In Implementation of Base64
Java Built-In Implementation of MIME Base64
Python Built-In Implementation of Base64
Python Built-In Implementation of MIME Base64
PHP Built-In Implementation of Base64
PHP Built-In Implementation of MIME Base64
Perl Built-In Implementation of Base64
Perl Built-In Implementation of MIME Base64
Base64URL - URL Safe Base64 Encoding