Feb 19, 2021

Automatically convert binary data in the paste buffer to Base64 encoded text with iTerm2

Overview

Paste binary files from the copy-paste buffer with iterm2 using the Edit -> Paste Special -> Paste File Base64-Encoded menu.

Details

Select a file to paste on the remote server:

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Log into a remote server and edit a file with vi (or your favorite editor):

jemurray@shell:~$ vi image.jpg

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Binary data in the paste buffer is automatically converted to Base64 text. Paste the image with Edit -> Paste Special -> Paste File Base64-Encoded:

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Depending on the size of the file pasting text may take a while. Pasting text is not the most efficient copy mechanism. Once complete, save the file:

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The new file is ASCII text:

jemurray@shell:~$ file image.jpg
image.jpg: ASCII text

Decode (convert) the ASCII file from Base64 back to a jpg:

jemurray@shell:~$ base64 -d image.jpg > image2.jpg

Validate the conversion is successful:

jemurray@shell:~$ file image2.jpg
image2.jpg: JPEG image data, JFIF standard 1.01, aspect ratio, density 144x144, segment length 16, Exif Standard: [TIFF image data, big-endian, direntries=5, orientation=upper-left, xresolution=74, yresolution=82, resolutionunit=2], baseline, precision 8, 912x1242, components 3

View the file with imgcat:

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