GPG - Invalid packet

[David Shaw]

On Fri, Apr 02, 2004 at 10:46:31AM -0500, Harper, Jason (GE Consumer Finance) wrote:

> We get the file via a program called "Connect Direct" from Sterling
> Software, which I 'believe' to be a binary transfer program (will
> have to check).  Also the file itself does not have the neat
> "----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE----".  When I look at it in VIM it is total
> gibberish, but there is a noticeable "pgp" within the first 6
> characters (e.g. "??  PGPÁÂN Ä»??£eÔlã )

That's normal for a binary message.

So, it could be binary being treated as text somewhere.  This is a
really common problem.  An easy check is to send the file you received
back to the sender.  If it doesn't match, then it got mangled by the
transfer.

Another thing to try is to get the sender to turn on ASCII armor.  If
your transfer program wants text, give it text :)

David