newbie: --edit-key problem

[Michael D. Berger]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: gnupg-users-bounces at gnupg.org 
> [mailto:gnupg-users-bounces at gnupg.org] On Behalf Of John W. Moore III
> Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 7:30 PM
> To: GnuPG Users List
> Subject: Re: newbie: --edit-key problem
> 
> 
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA256
> 
> This is also from the Manual and should help set your prefs 
> in gpg.conf.
> 
> - --personal-cipher-preferences string
>        Set  the  list of personal cipher preferences to string, this
>        list should be a string similar to the  one  printed  by  the
>        command  "pref"  in  the  edit menu.  This allows the user to
>        factor in their own preferred algorithms when algorithms  are
>        chosen via recipient key preferences.  The most highly ranked
>        cipher in this list is also used for the --symmetric  encryp-
>        tion command.
> 
> 
> Remember, when placing Commands into gpg.conf the '--' prefix 
> is omitted.
> 
> JOHN ;)
[...]

--personal-cipher-preferences string

did not seem to work either in the config file (without --) or in a
command line.  It was "seen", however, since a misspelling resulted
in a diagnostic.

I ultimately was able to add blowfish to my preferences with:

   gpg --edit-key mdb00
      setpref BLOWFISH <followed by the things that were already there, no
commas>
      <confirm that I really want to do it>
      <supply passphrase when asked>
      <ignore output suggesting passphrase was not seen -- it was>

It is noteworthy that the 3DES cipher cannot be removed by this
procedure, while any other cypher can.  I wonder why this is.

Thanks for help and encouragement.

Mike.

--
Michael D. Berger
m.d.berger at ieee.org