# Encrypt Passwords

Micro Focus recommends that you encrypt all passwords that you enter into a configuration file.

## Create a Key File

A key file is required to use AES encryption.

To create a new key file

1. Open a command-line window and change directory to the IDOL installation folder.

2. At the command line, type:

       autpassword -x -tAES -oKeyFile=./MyKeyFile.ky

   A new key file is created with the name `MyKeyFile.ky`

CAUTION: To keep your passwords secure, you must protect the key file. Set the permissions on the key file so that only authorized users and processes can read it. IDOL must be able to read the key file to decrypt passwords, so do not move or rename it.

## Encrypt a Password

The following procedure describes how to encrypt a password.

To encrypt a password

1. Open a command-line window and change directory to the IDOL installation folder.

2. At the command line, type:

       autpassword -e -tEncryptionType [-oKeyFile] [-cFILE -sSECTION -pPARAMETER] PasswordString

   where:

   Option | Description
   --- | ---
   `-tEncryptionType` | The type of encryption to use: `Basic` `AES` For example: `-tAES` NOTE: AES is more secure than basic encryption.
   `-oKeyFile` | AES encryption requires a key file. This option specifies the path and file name of a key file. The key file must contain 64 hexadecimal characters. For example: `-oKeyFile=./key.ky`
   `-cFILE -sSECTION -pPARAMETER` | (Optional) You can use these options to write the password directly into a configuration file. You must specify all three options. `-c`. The configuration file in which to write the encrypted password. `-s`. The name of the section in the configuration file in which to write the password. `-p`. The name of the parameter in which to write the encrypted password. For example: `-c./Config.cfg -sMyTask -pPassword`
   `PasswordString` | The password to encrypt.

   For example:

       autpassword -e -tBASIC MyPassword

       autpassword -e -tAES -oKeyFile=./key.ky MyPassword

       autpassword -e -tAES -oKeyFile=./key.ky -c./Config.cfg -sDefault -pPassword MyPassword

   The password is returned, or written to the configuration file.

## Decrypt a Password

The following procedure describes how to decrypt a password.

To decrypt a password

1. Open a command-line window and change directory to the IDOL installation folder.

2. At the command line, type:

       autpassword -d -tEncryptionType [-oKeyFile] PasswordString

   where:

   Option | Description
   --- | ---
   `-tEncryptionType` | The type of encryption: `Basic` `AES` For example: `-tAES`
   `-oKeyFile` | AES encryption and decryption requires a key file. This option specifies the path and file name of the key file used to decrypt the password. For example: `-oKeyFile=./key.ky`
   `PasswordString` | The password to decrypt.

   For example:

       autpassword -d -tBASIC 9t3M3t7awt/J8A

       autpassword -d -tAES -oKeyFile=./key.ky 9t3M3t7awt/J8A

   The password is returned in plain text.

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