How to convert gpg4win's binary to ascii, with Notepad++
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I can reliably convert gpg4win's ascii to binary using Notepad++ option "Base64 Decode" (credit: James K Polk). Works every time.
But when I attempt the reverse, i.e. convert binary to ascii, it works sometimes and does not work other times. Here's how I'm doing it:
- Open the binary file in Notepad++ and select "Base64 Encode".
- Manually add the BEGIN/END PGP message lines (-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE-----)
This works sometimes (i.e. gpg4win can decrypt the resulting file), but fails other times (gpg4win can't decrypt). I am careful to do it exactly the same way each time, making sure there are no white spaces, etc. But it only works sometimes.
How can I get it to work using Notepad++?
Note:
I can do the conversion using --enarmor, but I would like to be able to do it with Notepad++. Especially since I can get it to work sometimes, so I know it's possible, and maybe I'm missing a small piece.
encryption gnupg pgp openpgp gpg4win
asked Nov 14 at 16:37
get_going
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get_going is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I can reliably convert gpg4win's ascii to binary using Notepad++ option "Base64 Decode" (credit: James K Polk). Works every time.
But when I attempt the reverse, i.e. convert binary to ascii, it works sometimes and does not work other times. Here's how I'm doing it:
- Open the binary file in Notepad++ and select "Base64 Encode".
- Manually add the BEGIN/END PGP message lines (-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE-----)
This works sometimes (i.e. gpg4win can decrypt the resulting file), but fails other times (gpg4win can't decrypt). I am careful to do it exactly the same way each time, making sure there are no white spaces, etc. But it only works sometimes.
How can I get it to work using Notepad++?
Note:
I can do the conversion using --enarmor, but I would like to be able to do it with Notepad++. Especially since I can get it to work sometimes, so I know it's possible, and maybe I'm missing a small piece.
encryption gnupg pgp openpgp gpg4win
asked Nov 14 at 16:37
get_going
255
New contributor
get_going is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
With this approach I think you are having difficulties with characters that Notepad++ understands as end-of-line. I don't think this is viable.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 17:25
1
I don't have access to a windows environment so I can't test gpg4win or Notepad++. However, using gpg I have verified that 1) gpg ignores whitespace except that the-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE-----must end in a newline and the-----END PGP MESSAGE-----must be preceded by a newline. 2) You don't need a comment line, but if you do have one it must be terminated by a newline. 3) You don't need a checksum line, but if you have one it must be preceded by a newline and it must be the correct checksum.
– James K Polk
Nov 14 at 21:01
@james-k-polk. Hi James, I could get certutil and even openssl to work (had to add the BEGIN/END lines manually), but Notepad++ doesn't work for encoding. It's works every time for decoding though.
– get_going
Nov 15 at 0:21
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I can reliably convert gpg4win's ascii to binary using Notepad++ option "Base64 Decode" (credit: James K Polk). Works every time.
But when I attempt the reverse, i.e. convert binary to ascii, it works sometimes and does not work other times. Here's how I'm doing it:
- Open the binary file in Notepad++ and select "Base64 Encode".
- Manually add the BEGIN/END PGP message lines (-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE-----)
This works sometimes (i.e. gpg4win can decrypt the resulting file), but fails other times (gpg4win can't decrypt). I am careful to do it exactly the same way each time, making sure there are no white spaces, etc. But it only works sometimes.
How can I get it to work using Notepad++?
Note:
I can do the conversion using --enarmor, but I would like to be able to do it with Notepad++. Especially since I can get it to work sometimes, so I know it's possible, and maybe I'm missing a small piece.
encryption gnupg pgp openpgp gpg4win
asked Nov 14 at 16:37
get_going
255
New contributor
get_going is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I can reliably convert gpg4win's ascii to binary using Notepad++ option "Base64 Decode" (credit: James K Polk). Works every time.
But when I attempt the reverse, i.e. convert binary to ascii, it works sometimes and does not work other times. Here's how I'm doing it:
- Open the binary file in Notepad++ and select "Base64 Encode".
- Manually add the BEGIN/END PGP message lines (-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE-----)
This works sometimes (i.e. gpg4win can decrypt the resulting file), but fails other times (gpg4win can't decrypt). I am careful to do it exactly the same way each time, making sure there are no white spaces, etc. But it only works sometimes.
How can I get it to work using Notepad++?
Note:
I can do the conversion using --enarmor, but I would like to be able to do it with Notepad++. Especially since I can get it to work sometimes, so I know it's possible, and maybe I'm missing a small piece.
encryption gnupg pgp openpgp gpg4win
encryption gnupg pgp openpgp gpg4win
asked Nov 14 at 16:37
get_going
255
New contributor
get_going is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Nov 14 at 16:37
get_going
255
New contributor
get_going is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Nov 14 at 16:37
get_going
255
New contributor
get_going is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Nov 14 at 16:37
get_going
255
asked Nov 14 at 16:37
get_going
255
255
New contributor
get_going is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
get_going is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
get_going is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
With this approach I think you are having difficulties with characters that Notepad++ understands as end-of-line. I don't think this is viable.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 17:25
1
I don't have access to a windows environment so I can't test gpg4win or Notepad++. However, using gpg I have verified that 1) gpg ignores whitespace except that the-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE-----must end in a newline and the-----END PGP MESSAGE-----must be preceded by a newline. 2) You don't need a comment line, but if you do have one it must be terminated by a newline. 3) You don't need a checksum line, but if you have one it must be preceded by a newline and it must be the correct checksum.
– James K Polk
Nov 14 at 21:01
@james-k-polk. Hi James, I could get certutil and even openssl to work (had to add the BEGIN/END lines manually), but Notepad++ doesn't work for encoding. It's works every time for decoding though.
– get_going
Nov 15 at 0:21
add a comment |
1
With this approach I think you are having difficulties with characters that Notepad++ understands as end-of-line. I don't think this is viable.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 17:25
1
I don't have access to a windows environment so I can't test gpg4win or Notepad++. However, using gpg I have verified that 1) gpg ignores whitespace except that the-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE-----must end in a newline and the-----END PGP MESSAGE-----must be preceded by a newline. 2) You don't need a comment line, but if you do have one it must be terminated by a newline. 3) You don't need a checksum line, but if you have one it must be preceded by a newline and it must be the correct checksum.
– James K Polk
Nov 14 at 21:01
@james-k-polk. Hi James, I could get certutil and even openssl to work (had to add the BEGIN/END lines manually), but Notepad++ doesn't work for encoding. It's works every time for decoding though.
– get_going
Nov 15 at 0:21
1
1
With this approach I think you are having difficulties with characters that Notepad++ understands as end-of-line. I don't think this is viable.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 17:25
With this approach I think you are having difficulties with characters that Notepad++ understands as end-of-line. I don't think this is viable.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 17:25
1
1
I don't have access to a windows environment so I can't test gpg4win or Notepad++. However, using gpg I have verified that 1) gpg ignores whitespace except that the
-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE----- must end in a newline and the -----END PGP MESSAGE----- must be preceded by a newline. 2) You don't need a comment line, but if you do have one it must be terminated by a newline. 3) You don't need a checksum line, but if you have one it must be preceded by a newline and it must be the correct checksum.– James K Polk
Nov 14 at 21:01
I don't have access to a windows environment so I can't test gpg4win or Notepad++. However, using gpg I have verified that 1) gpg ignores whitespace except that the
-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE----- must end in a newline and the -----END PGP MESSAGE----- must be preceded by a newline. 2) You don't need a comment line, but if you do have one it must be terminated by a newline. 3) You don't need a checksum line, but if you have one it must be preceded by a newline and it must be the correct checksum.– James K Polk
Nov 14 at 21:01
@james-k-polk. Hi James, I could get certutil and even openssl to work (had to add the BEGIN/END lines manually), but Notepad++ doesn't work for encoding. It's works every time for decoding though.
– get_going
Nov 15 at 0:21
@james-k-polk. Hi James, I could get certutil and even openssl to work (had to add the BEGIN/END lines manually), but Notepad++ doesn't work for encoding. It's works every time for decoding though.
– get_going
Nov 15 at 0:21
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
Notepad++ is an editor for text files, which are files that end with special
binary characters that denote an end-of-line.
It will always think that your text-line is found between two end-of-line
characters, and will mostly ignore the end-of-line itself in its operations.
This has the potential to destroy the file when converting to Base64,
since Notepad++ will convert the text between the end-of-lines, but may
cause a problem with not correctly handling the end-of-lines.
In fact, it's pretty amazing for me that this has worked correctly for you
for some files, and I can readily understand that it didn't for others.
I think you should really look for another solution than Notepad++ for
converting to Base64.
answered Nov 14 at 18:42
harrymc
247k10256542
After some more attempts I found something interesting. If I decrypt the Base64 encoded file, I get an error (i.imgur.com/jcD4n1b.jpg). BUT, If I copy the contents of the file directly into gpg4win's notepad, it works.
– get_going
Nov 14 at 19:34
You found a method of circumventing the end-of-line problem? I don't know gpg4win so cannot explain why it works.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 20:26
No I didn't. I just described what I observed, i.e. if I open the Base64 encoded file and copy the contents to gpg4win's notepad, it can decrypt. So I know Notepad++ is doing something right. But if I ask gpg4win to decrypt the file itself, it fails. What reliable alternative you can recommend on Windows?
– get_going
Nov 14 at 20:30
2
Microsoft#s certutil can do that (and much more), see this answer for a description. There are many others floating around like this one.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 20:39
1
I agree with this answer. Without thorough investigation, you could say that opening a binary file in a text editor and using a plug-in that expects ascii input is an unreliable solution. I would usegpg --enarmor.certutilgenerates-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----which will prevent gpg from working.
– evpo
Nov 15 at 2:34
|
show 4 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
Notepad++ is an editor for text files, which are files that end with special
binary characters that denote an end-of-line.
It will always think that your text-line is found between two end-of-line
characters, and will mostly ignore the end-of-line itself in its operations.
This has the potential to destroy the file when converting to Base64,
since Notepad++ will convert the text between the end-of-lines, but may
cause a problem with not correctly handling the end-of-lines.
In fact, it's pretty amazing for me that this has worked correctly for you
for some files, and I can readily understand that it didn't for others.
I think you should really look for another solution than Notepad++ for
converting to Base64.
answered Nov 14 at 18:42
harrymc
247k10256542
After some more attempts I found something interesting. If I decrypt the Base64 encoded file, I get an error (i.imgur.com/jcD4n1b.jpg). BUT, If I copy the contents of the file directly into gpg4win's notepad, it works.
– get_going
Nov 14 at 19:34
You found a method of circumventing the end-of-line problem? I don't know gpg4win so cannot explain why it works.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 20:26
No I didn't. I just described what I observed, i.e. if I open the Base64 encoded file and copy the contents to gpg4win's notepad, it can decrypt. So I know Notepad++ is doing something right. But if I ask gpg4win to decrypt the file itself, it fails. What reliable alternative you can recommend on Windows?
– get_going
Nov 14 at 20:30
2
Microsoft#s certutil can do that (and much more), see this answer for a description. There are many others floating around like this one.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 20:39
1
I agree with this answer. Without thorough investigation, you could say that opening a binary file in a text editor and using a plug-in that expects ascii input is an unreliable solution. I would usegpg --enarmor.certutilgenerates-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----which will prevent gpg from working.
– evpo
Nov 15 at 2:34
|
show 4 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
Notepad++ is an editor for text files, which are files that end with special
binary characters that denote an end-of-line.
It will always think that your text-line is found between two end-of-line
characters, and will mostly ignore the end-of-line itself in its operations.
This has the potential to destroy the file when converting to Base64,
since Notepad++ will convert the text between the end-of-lines, but may
cause a problem with not correctly handling the end-of-lines.
In fact, it's pretty amazing for me that this has worked correctly for you
for some files, and I can readily understand that it didn't for others.
I think you should really look for another solution than Notepad++ for
converting to Base64.
answered Nov 14 at 18:42
harrymc
247k10256542
After some more attempts I found something interesting. If I decrypt the Base64 encoded file, I get an error (i.imgur.com/jcD4n1b.jpg). BUT, If I copy the contents of the file directly into gpg4win's notepad, it works.
– get_going
Nov 14 at 19:34
You found a method of circumventing the end-of-line problem? I don't know gpg4win so cannot explain why it works.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 20:26
No I didn't. I just described what I observed, i.e. if I open the Base64 encoded file and copy the contents to gpg4win's notepad, it can decrypt. So I know Notepad++ is doing something right. But if I ask gpg4win to decrypt the file itself, it fails. What reliable alternative you can recommend on Windows?
– get_going
Nov 14 at 20:30
2
Microsoft#s certutil can do that (and much more), see this answer for a description. There are many others floating around like this one.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 20:39
1
I agree with this answer. Without thorough investigation, you could say that opening a binary file in a text editor and using a plug-in that expects ascii input is an unreliable solution. I would usegpg --enarmor.certutilgenerates-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----which will prevent gpg from working.
– evpo
Nov 15 at 2:34
|
show 4 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
Notepad++ is an editor for text files, which are files that end with special
binary characters that denote an end-of-line.
It will always think that your text-line is found between two end-of-line
characters, and will mostly ignore the end-of-line itself in its operations.
This has the potential to destroy the file when converting to Base64,
since Notepad++ will convert the text between the end-of-lines, but may
cause a problem with not correctly handling the end-of-lines.
In fact, it's pretty amazing for me that this has worked correctly for you
for some files, and I can readily understand that it didn't for others.
I think you should really look for another solution than Notepad++ for
converting to Base64.
answered Nov 14 at 18:42
harrymc
247k10256542
Notepad++ is an editor for text files, which are files that end with special
binary characters that denote an end-of-line.
It will always think that your text-line is found between two end-of-line
characters, and will mostly ignore the end-of-line itself in its operations.
This has the potential to destroy the file when converting to Base64,
since Notepad++ will convert the text between the end-of-lines, but may
cause a problem with not correctly handling the end-of-lines.
In fact, it's pretty amazing for me that this has worked correctly for you
for some files, and I can readily understand that it didn't for others.
I think you should really look for another solution than Notepad++ for
converting to Base64.
answered Nov 14 at 18:42
harrymc
247k10256542
answered Nov 14 at 18:42
harrymc
247k10256542
answered Nov 14 at 18:42
harrymc
247k10256542
answered Nov 14 at 18:42
harrymc
247k10256542
247k10256542
After some more attempts I found something interesting. If I decrypt the Base64 encoded file, I get an error (i.imgur.com/jcD4n1b.jpg). BUT, If I copy the contents of the file directly into gpg4win's notepad, it works.
– get_going
Nov 14 at 19:34
You found a method of circumventing the end-of-line problem? I don't know gpg4win so cannot explain why it works.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 20:26
No I didn't. I just described what I observed, i.e. if I open the Base64 encoded file and copy the contents to gpg4win's notepad, it can decrypt. So I know Notepad++ is doing something right. But if I ask gpg4win to decrypt the file itself, it fails. What reliable alternative you can recommend on Windows?
– get_going
Nov 14 at 20:30
2
Microsoft#s certutil can do that (and much more), see this answer for a description. There are many others floating around like this one.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 20:39
1
I agree with this answer. Without thorough investigation, you could say that opening a binary file in a text editor and using a plug-in that expects ascii input is an unreliable solution. I would usegpg --enarmor.certutilgenerates-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----which will prevent gpg from working.
– evpo
Nov 15 at 2:34
|
show 4 more comments
After some more attempts I found something interesting. If I decrypt the Base64 encoded file, I get an error (i.imgur.com/jcD4n1b.jpg). BUT, If I copy the contents of the file directly into gpg4win's notepad, it works.
– get_going
Nov 14 at 19:34
You found a method of circumventing the end-of-line problem? I don't know gpg4win so cannot explain why it works.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 20:26
No I didn't. I just described what I observed, i.e. if I open the Base64 encoded file and copy the contents to gpg4win's notepad, it can decrypt. So I know Notepad++ is doing something right. But if I ask gpg4win to decrypt the file itself, it fails. What reliable alternative you can recommend on Windows?
– get_going
Nov 14 at 20:30
2
Microsoft#s certutil can do that (and much more), see this answer for a description. There are many others floating around like this one.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 20:39
1
I agree with this answer. Without thorough investigation, you could say that opening a binary file in a text editor and using a plug-in that expects ascii input is an unreliable solution. I would usegpg --enarmor.certutilgenerates-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----which will prevent gpg from working.
– evpo
Nov 15 at 2:34
After some more attempts I found something interesting. If I decrypt the Base64 encoded file, I get an error (i.imgur.com/jcD4n1b.jpg). BUT, If I copy the contents of the file directly into gpg4win's notepad, it works.
– get_going
Nov 14 at 19:34
After some more attempts I found something interesting. If I decrypt the Base64 encoded file, I get an error (i.imgur.com/jcD4n1b.jpg). BUT, If I copy the contents of the file directly into gpg4win's notepad, it works.
– get_going
Nov 14 at 19:34
You found a method of circumventing the end-of-line problem? I don't know gpg4win so cannot explain why it works.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 20:26
You found a method of circumventing the end-of-line problem? I don't know gpg4win so cannot explain why it works.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 20:26
No I didn't. I just described what I observed, i.e. if I open the Base64 encoded file and copy the contents to gpg4win's notepad, it can decrypt. So I know Notepad++ is doing something right. But if I ask gpg4win to decrypt the file itself, it fails. What reliable alternative you can recommend on Windows?
– get_going
Nov 14 at 20:30
No I didn't. I just described what I observed, i.e. if I open the Base64 encoded file and copy the contents to gpg4win's notepad, it can decrypt. So I know Notepad++ is doing something right. But if I ask gpg4win to decrypt the file itself, it fails. What reliable alternative you can recommend on Windows?
– get_going
Nov 14 at 20:30
2
2
Microsoft#s certutil can do that (and much more), see this answer for a description. There are many others floating around like this one.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 20:39
Microsoft#s certutil can do that (and much more), see this answer for a description. There are many others floating around like this one.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 20:39
1
1
I agree with this answer. Without thorough investigation, you could say that opening a binary file in a text editor and using a plug-in that expects ascii input is an unreliable solution. I would use
gpg --enarmor. certutil generates -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- which will prevent gpg from working.– evpo
Nov 15 at 2:34
I agree with this answer. Without thorough investigation, you could say that opening a binary file in a text editor and using a plug-in that expects ascii input is an unreliable solution. I would use
gpg --enarmor. certutil generates -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- which will prevent gpg from working.– evpo
Nov 15 at 2:34
|
show 4 more comments
get_going is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
get_going is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
get_going is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
get_going is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
With this approach I think you are having difficulties with characters that Notepad++ understands as end-of-line. I don't think this is viable.
– harrymc
Nov 14 at 17:25
1
I don't have access to a windows environment so I can't test gpg4win or Notepad++. However, using gpg I have verified that 1) gpg ignores whitespace except that the
-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE-----must end in a newline and the-----END PGP MESSAGE-----must be preceded by a newline. 2) You don't need a comment line, but if you do have one it must be terminated by a newline. 3) You don't need a checksum line, but if you have one it must be preceded by a newline and it must be the correct checksum.– James K Polk
Nov 14 at 21:01
@james-k-polk. Hi James, I could get certutil and even openssl to work (had to add the BEGIN/END lines manually), but Notepad++ doesn't work for encoding. It's works every time for decoding though.
– get_going
Nov 15 at 0:21