WinCharm 1.0 for Windows - Copyright (C) 1995, Patrick Aoun. All rights reserved.
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THE AUTHOR STRONGLY RECOMMANDS YOU TO READ THIS FILE BEFORE USING WINCHARM


THE AUTHOR ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FOR FINANCIAL
LOSSES OR CLAIMS FROM ANYONE RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE AND ALL
OF ITS FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS THE LOSS OF OR THE ALTERATION OF DATA, ETC...
IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THIS PLEASE DON'T USE THIS SOFTWARE !

*** What is it ?

 WinCharm is an encryption utility for Windows. The program generates a random
 file called WCHARM.BIN in the install directory. WinCharm uses the data in
 the "bin" file and passwords to encrypt/decryt files. It is then nearly
 impossible de decrypt a file without having the associated "bin" file. Once two
 or more persons have the same "bin" files, they can safely share encrypted files
 via mail or modem.

*** System requirements

 * 486 CPU (100 % Intel compatible)
 * Microsoft Windows 3.1 and better
   (Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation)

*** Features

 * Fast encryption/decryption !
 * Small size !
 * No password restrictions ! (up to 128 characters - any characters)
 * Batch processing ! (supports MS-DOS file specification filters - eg: ab??.*)
 * Log file feature ! (file WCHARM.LOG)
 * No changes in files dates or sizes !
 * Supports command line parameters !
 * Unbreakable ! (uses private random binary files)
 * Free software !

*** Installation

 Simply copy the WCHARM.EXE program file to any directory and launch !

*** Syntax & Use

 You can set an icon in your favorite Windows shell, or call WCHARM.EXE from
 any Windows run prompt :

 1 - WCHARM.EXE (or)

 2 - WCHARM.EXE -G BINSIZE (or)

 3 - WCHARM.EXE -Operation Password FileSpec

 1 : Displays the command line window where you specify the operation,
     password & files...

 2 : Generates a file called WCHARM.BIN in the install directory.
     You must do it at least once. The random data contained in this file will be
     used with a password to encrypt/decrypt files.
     Please read the "IMPORTANT" section below...
     BINSIZE is the size of the random binary file (> 99999 bytes). Typically, this
     is the maximum size of the files you need to encrypt/decrypt. If you work with
     huge multimedia files you can specify 500000 in the BINSIZE parameter.

 3 : To encrypt, specify "-E" in the "Operation" parameter ; "-D" to decrypt.
     "Password" is any password (using almost any ascii code from 0 to 255 -
     except CR and some control codes).
     "FileSpec" is any MS-DOS file specification filter,
     examples : *.*, ..\*.?x*, etc...

 EXAMPLES : -g 500000 (generate a random binary file - 500000 bytes long)
            -e mypassword c:\secret\*.c (encrypt all C files in SECRET directory)
            -d mypassword c:\secret\*.c (decrypt them)

 >>> Important note : Read only/hidden/system files are ignored !

*** Log file

 WinCharm creates/updates the WCHARM.LOG file in the install directory
 enabling you to know :

 1 - which files were encrypted/decrypted.

 2 - which "bin" file was used for each operation - specifying its date, time,
     size, and location.

 3 - the date and time for every operation.

*** I M P O R T A N T !!!!!!!!!!

 * When decrypting a file, YOU MUST USE THE SAME BIN FILE YOU USED
   TO ENCRYPT THE FILE !!! TYPICALLY, YOU GENERATE THE BINARY FILE ONCE,
   SAVE IT ON A FLOPPY DISK, AND FORGET ABOUT IT !

 * Passwords are CASE SENSITIVE : "abc" and "aBc" give different results !!!

 * YOU MUST SPECIFY THE RIGHT PASSWORD !!! THE PROGRAM WILL RUN ANYWAY !!!

 * Before using WinCharm with real data, do some training in a test directory :
   copy some text files to a new directory, and try to encrypt/decrypt them.
   Check out the final results...

 * DON'T MIX UP THE "WCHARM.BIN" FILES !!! The log file feature will help...

*** Copyright & Licence

 You MAY FREELY use this software...
 You MUST FREELY distribute it (recommanded).

 YOU DON'T OWN THIS SOFTWARE, SO PLEASE DON'T ALTER ANY FILES AND MAKE SURE
 THAT THE README.TXT AND THE WCHARM.EXE FILE ARE DISTRIBUTED TOGETHER.
 THANK YOU VERY MUCH !!!

 FINALY, PLEASE DON'T SEND ANY MONEY. IF YOU FIND THIS SOFTWARE USEFUL TO YOU,
 AND YOU WANT TO THANK ME OR ENCOURAGE ME, YOU MAY SEND ME A POSTCARD !!!
 THAT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT ! TAKE CARE NOW...

*** To contact me

Name  : Patrick Aoun
Email : 100606.253@compuserve.com

Nov 6, 1995. Earth.

*** END OF README.TXT FILE ***