File Encryptor and Decryptor
by K Pardesi and S Pardesi

Coder is an application which can encode and decode any file using a password of up to 10 characters.

Coder can be used to store files which need to be kept private, or to pass files to other users without anyone else examining them.

WARNING
=======

CODER DOES NOT PERFORM ANY PASSWORD OR FILETYPE VERIFICATION. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DECODE AN UNENCODED FILE. DOING SO WILL RESULT IN AN EMPTY FILE BEING CREATED. IF YOU CLICK ON 'OK' IN THE SAVE BOX WITHOUT CHANGING THE FILENAME, THE EMPTY FILE WILL OVERWRITE YOUR ORIGINAL.

IF YOU ATTEMPT TO DECODE AN ENCODED FILE, BUT USE THE INCORRENT PASSWORD, CODER WILL NOT WARN YOU THAT THE PASSWORD IS INCORRECT. THE FILE WILL THUS BE DECODED WITH THE INCORRECT PASSWORD, CREATING IN EFFECT A DOUBLE-ENCODED FILE. TO RESTORE SUCH A FILE TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE, RE-ENCODE IT WITH THE INCORRECT PASSWORD, AND THEN DECODE IT WITH THE CORRECT PASSWORD.

ALWAYS ENSURE THAT CODER IS IN THE CORRECT MODE FOR THE ACTION YOU WANT TO PERFORM.

ALWAYS KEEP A BACKUP OF THE ORIGINAL UNENCODED FILE(S). IF YOU FORGET THE PASSWORD, AN ENCODED FILE IS USELESS.

Loading Coder
=============

Double-click on the Coder icon in the Filer window and the Coder icon will be installed on the icon bar.

Coder Menu
===========

Clicking Menu on the Coder icon pops up a menu with the following items:

Info          - Information about the program.
     
Mode          - Leads to a sub-menu providing a choice of 'Encode' or 'Decode'. A tick indicates the current mode.
 
Password      - Allows a 10 character password to be typed in. Use the 'OK' button or press Return to confirm the password.

Save Password - Allows the current password to be saved as default.

Quit          - Exits the program.
 
Using Coder
===========

The arrow on the Coder icon on the icon bar shows whether 'Encode' or 'Decode' is set. When in 'Encode' mode, the arrow points down, and vice versa.

Encoding Files
==============

To encode a file, drag the file onto the Coder icon on the icon bar. A save box will appear, and the encoded file can either be saved under a new name, or the same one. In this case, it will overwrite the original, so make sure you have a backup.

A file can be encoded as many times as you like for stronger security, but remember the number of times of encoding for decoding purposes.

Decoding Files
==============

Select 'Decode' in the Coder.Mode menu, enter the correct password, and drag the encoded file onto the Coder icon on the icon bar. A save box will appear, and the decoded file can either be saved under a new name, or the same one.

Note
====

Neither RISC Developments Ltd nor the authors can accept any responsibility for any data lost from the use of Coder.

 RISC User 1993