Using FAOPGP

Working with Secure Archives

Multiple files and folders can be protected and stored in an single archive file. You can add, delete, and extract files from an archive. Files and folders within the archive can be protected using either the same or different protection and signing keys.

The archive is in .zip format and files can be extracted from the archive using WinZip, PKZip or compatible software. Once the files are extracted they can be unprotected using any OpenPGP compatible software. Alternatively recipients can use the FAOPGP free reader to extract and unprotect files in one operation.

NOTE: Whilst you can create archive files in Windows Explorer, you can only view the contents of an archive using the FAOPGP GUI or a .zip compatible application. If you want to add additional protected files to the archive you must use the FAOPGP GUI. Alternatively you can protect files in Explorer and then use your normal zip application to add the files to the archive.


Creating Archive files
1.  Before protecting files, select the 'Archive'  checkbox.



2. Once you press the 'Protect' button the following dialog is displayed prompting you to enter the filename and location for the archive.



On entering a filename and pressing the archive file will be created containing the protected files.


Viewing Archive Files
To view the files in an archive, double-click on the archive (zip file) in the left hand pane. The archive contents are then displayed in the right-hand pane:



The archive contents show the file names, whether the files have been encrypted (and for whom) and whether they have been signed (and by who). If a file has been signed you can right-click on the file and select 'Advanced Signing Key Information' to show information about the signer of the file. A lock icon  indicates that a file has been protected in some way (either signed, encrypted or both).  


Unprotecting & Verifying files in an archive
By default all of the files in a selected archive are unprotected/verified when the ‘Unprotect & Verify’ button is pressed. If you just want to unprotect/verify selected files then you must select them first in the right-hand pane before clicking on the ‘Unprotect & Verify’ button. Alternatively, you can right-click and select 'Unprotect selected files'.


Adding files to an existing archive
Highlight the file(s) you want to add to the archive in the left-hand pane, right-click, and select 'Protect and add to the opened archive'. Files are added to the archive and protected/signed using the keys you have selected in the toolbar.


Deleting files in an archive
Highlight the file(s) in the currently active archive window that you want to remove, right-click, and select 'Delete selected files' from the pop-up menu. You will be asked to confirm this action before deletion occurs.


NOTE: Once you have selected an archive file it remains in the right-hand pane until you close it or until you select a new archive file. This is so that you can add additional files to the archive. Once you have finished working with the archive, press the button at the top right of the archive window to close it.