def encode(self):
if self.data is None:<EOL><INDENT>return "<STR_LIT>"<EOL><DEDENT>elif not self.data:<EOL><INDENT>return "<STR_LIT:=>"<EOL><DEDENT>else:<EOL><INDENT>ret = standard_b64encode(self.data)<EOL>return ret.decode("<STR_LIT>")<EOL><DEDENT>
Base64-encode the data contained in the reply when appropriate.

        :return: encoded data.
        :returntype: `unicode`