Prefered algorithms priority

[David Shaw]

On Mon, Nov 07, 2005 at 07:10:26PM +0100, Christoph Anton Mitterer wrote:
> Hi.
> 
> As you probably know, one can set his prefered algorithms for a OpenPGP 
> key using setpref.
> 
> How is the priority specified? Is it from left to right, meaning that an 
> algorithm a left from another (b) is preferd in favour of b?
> setpref <more prefered> --->--->--->---> <less prefered> ?

Correct, it's left to right.  The algorithm works by eliminating any
algorithm that isn't usable by all recipients (remember that by
definition 3DES is usable by all recipients, so it will be used if all
else fails).  Once the list has been reduced to what everyone can
handle, the final selection is made by either --personal-xxxx-prefs
(if you are using it) or by the first -r recipient.

David