code: def decode(input, output, encoding):
      
      if encoding == 'base64':
          import base64
          return base64.decode(input, output)
      if encoding == 'quoted-printable':
          import quopri
          return quopri.decode(input, output)
      if encoding in ('uuencode', 'x-uuencode', 'uue', 'x-uue'):
          import uu
          return uu.decode(input, output)
      if encoding in ('7bit', '8bit'):
          return output.write(input.read())
      if encoding in decodetab:
          pipethrough(input, decodetab[encoding], output)
      else:
          raise ValueError, \
                'unknown Content-Transfer-Encoding: %s' % encoding
docs: Decode common content-transfer-encodings (base64, quopri, uuencode).