Encryption

[John Burke]

Hi members, sorry I'm in a bit of a panic here, don't have time to search for answer. This morning we opened our scheduler, or tried to, it came up with an error message. This file was encrypted using a different key. We can get into the scheduler, but cant use anything, all seems to be corrupted, any thought. We do have a backup of 3 days ago, if we have to resort to this, we have 3 days of data to enter. tks for the help, jb
The actual reading of the error msg is "this table is encrypted using a different key" tks

[DaveM]

Re: Encryption

could you tell us if this is an existing table, one you import from another source, copy from another db?

Did someone decide to encrypt the db, like an IT for security. Who has access to the db that could encrypt it and would know how. It couldn't happen accidentally( I think).

To the best of my knowledge, to un encrypt, you will need the password.

to test if a password for the db was created, from control panel, click tools, security, and see if the top selection is grayed out. If it is it has a password. if you can open the encrypt/decrypt you can see if it was encrypted because it would have a checkmark beside it.

It may be corrupted if not encrypted.

[John Burke]

Re: Encryption

Thanks for the reply dave. I checked the encryption earlier, not been touched. Whatever happened, happened over the weekend, everything was ok Fri. It's also looking for a file "null.sex", this doesn't exist on this computer or mine.The only two table used during Fri work day, were Clients, and Schedules. I've checked both tables and the date is uptodate, including todays work. I'm going to export those tables then import them to mine copy of the scheduler, which has upto the 22 Jan backup. Thanks again for the reply. jb

[DaveM]

Re: Encryption

John,

It is possible that it was opened and encrypted in another db. That would not show up in your copy(I think). Are there any more databases on any computer that could have access to that file?

When something like this happens to me, I get like a junk yard dog til I figure it out.

[John Burke]

Re: Encryption

Hi Dave, thanks again for the response. I may have found a problem, lets try this on for size. When I go into my forms and try to edit the events, I get an error msg. c:/program files/a5v7/null.sex, can't be found. I' ve checked all versions of V7 & 8, and can only finds null.dbd,ddd,ddm,ddx. Now the only machine that won't let me edit the events is the one i'm having the problem with. I've backed up and restored from working maching, still the same problem. All of the menu selections work, on the problem machine, just can't revise them. If i delete a selction, and try and create a new button, I get the same error msg, null.sex not found. Puzzling. tks jb

[Doug Page]

Re: Encryption

You said you restored from a working machine. Did you delete all the files on the problem machine first so that there is nothing left over to cause the problem. I only suggest this as you mentioned that you found a file that was not present in the other machines.

[John Burke]

Re: Encryption

Hi Dave, yes I deleted the orig, database and replaced it with the new restore. My next step will be to deleter V7 and replace it with a fresh copy. tks jb

[turbojack]

Re: Encryption

I have only gotten that message a time or two. It will put you in a panic. Is the form based on a set? If a set try to open each table on it's own. I had researched all I could and you have no choice but to restore the bad table only from a good backup.

[DaveM]

Re: Encryption

Does the table in the control panel show a blue(or other color) symbl that looks like a lock on the table icon?

[DaveM]

Re: Encryption

john,

If you can figure out the encryption key to your table(maybe someone came forward), look at this to decrypt.

 
default_encryption_key_set("key")

tbl=table.open("badtable",FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE)
tbl.decrypt()
tbl.close()

[turbojack]

Re: Encryption

john,

If you can figure out the encryption key to your table(maybe someone came forward), look at this to decrypt.

 
default_encryption_key_set("key")

tbl=table.open("badtable",FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE)
tbl.decrypt()
tbl.close()

Dave, The application I use is password protected and most all of the tables are encrypted. All I have to do is log into the application and then all of the table look like they have not been locked. When I have had this error message I can still get into all of the other tables that are encrypt except for the one that gives the error message. Something corrupes the table's key so the key I know will not work. I had searched the internet high and low and did not find an answer. The problem is not just related to Alpha tables. I now keep good backups.

[DaveM]

Re: Encryption

Jack,

I meant this for John in hopes he had discovered the encryption code if that is what happened.

You don't have to have a password database to use encryption. I did not password the db to set it up. I was thinking you did for the longest time, but a user trying to do their own letters against a company policy with msword caused me to make this change. There are only a handfull of tables encrypted, so what I use works.

Yes, the user got a surprise.


This is what I used to make the encryption

default_encryption_key_set("key") ' needed for the key.  i use in autoexec

tbl=table.open("badtable",FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE)
tbl.encrypt()
tbl.close()

Only have to run this one time.