SFTP file transfer mode question

I am having trouble viewing a file in ASCII after doing a 'get' using SFTP. It appears to have come across as machine language. Does the file have to be in ASCII format prior to the 'get' or is there a way to convert it to ascii after I get it onto my server? I have read where the secure file transfer is in binary, does that mean it stays in binary after is moved, or does it convert back to what it was prior to the 'get' command? :confused: