-= Introduction =-
Current Thor version (2.6) has PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) support, but is only
able to successfully control PGP v2.6.x. With PGP 5.0+ things have changed a
lot: now PGP is split into four executables, and each command has its own
syntax, which differs from that of PGP 2.6. So Thor is currently unable to
sign or encrypt mail using PGP 5.0.
But as the time passes, more and more users upgrade from 2.6 to 5 (or even 6),
especially PC and Unix users, so at least you might be forced to upgrade as
well. If you are a Thor user, this means that for each mail you want to
sign/encrypt you have to edit it separately, save it to a temporary file,
sign/encrypt that file and finally import it as a Thor message. Quite a pain
in the ass if you send some of such messages every day.
This small executable tries to solve this problem.
-= Distribution =-
This program is freeware. If you like it, just send me an email saying so,
I'll be glad to read it. My Email address is R.Patriarca@flashnet.it.
-= How it works =-
ToPGP5 acts as a "syntax converter" from PGP 2.6 to 5.0. Thor launches it as
it was the "real" PGP 2.6 executable, thus passing it proper parameters to
perform the needed operation (sign, encrypt...). This program takes those
parameters, examines them and launches the correct PGP5.0 executable,
passing to it the converted parameters. This way Thor "believes" it is
launching PGP 2.6, but your message is currently fed into PGP 5.0.
For example, if Thor executes this command:
ToPGP5 +batchmode -tae Thor:Data/BBS0/Text2833.msg Roberto -o Thor:Data/BBS0/Text2833.msg.asc
ToPGP5 actually executes this other command:
pgpe +batchmode -ta Thor:Data/BBS0/Text2833.msg -r Roberto -o Thor:Data/BBS0/Text2833.msg.asc
-= Requirements =-
- A version of Thor with PGP support
- PGP 5.0 installed and working. Also PGP 5.0 executables (pgpe, pgps...) must
be in your path.
-= Installation =-
Just put "ToPG5" somewere in your HardDisk (I suggest the same location where
you keep PGP5-related files, such as keyrings).
Then open Thor messages configuration window (configuration/global/message
options) and insert the complete path and filename of ToPGP5 where it reads
"PGP Command".
Also make sure there are no spaces in the field named "PGP SignID".
-= Usage =-
This is the easiest part: you sign & encrypt your messages as you did before,
and ToPGP5 will take care of everything, trasparently. The only thing you have
to worry about is to always use single-words UserIDs when ecrypting mails
using someone's public key, otherwise ToPGP5 will get confused.
Remember that this program is only meant for Thor usage, i.e. it can only
convert some paramters, and only if they occur in the same order as Thor passes
them to PGP. If you try to launch ToPGP5 yourself in a shell, you'll very likely
end up with some strange result.
As a consequence, you cannot use ToPG5 to decode messages or to extract public
keys: for that I suggest to download and install the following useful scripts:
util/crypt/ThorPGP50.lha
-= Disclaimer =-
This program is provided "as is", i.e. without any warranty about its
behaviour. Altough I've been using it for some time and it worked perfectly,
remember that you use it at your own risk. I'm not responsible for any damage
it might cause to your mail or to your Amiga.
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