Vigen Files

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File:        Vigen Readme.txt
Author:      Shea Nicholas
Copyright:   (c) Ghost Writer Enterprises 1995-2025
Email:       nicholas-shea_AT_talktalk.net
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Vigen is UTF-8 encryption program based on the classic Tableau de Vigenère.
Vigen is an experiment using this particular cypher, intended for those who are
interesting in building their own encryption tables. Vigen uses a multi-key,
multi-pass and multi-rotation architecture; the number of keys, passes and
rotations are unlimited.

Vigen can generate exceedingly strong rotation cyphers that are probably un-
breakable, or at least very difficult to crack, without the given keys and
tables. Vigen might even generate military grade cyphers, although I make no
claims as to the security of the cypher.

Because Vigen uses Unicode, it can encrypt in any language or character set.
Vigen is for encrypting UTF-8 TEXT files; it is not intended for binary files.
Documentation is included with the program.
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RELEASE HISTORY
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 * Thu Mar 20 20:30:45 GMT 2025
   1-0-3-2 (x64) Codename: Methuselah
   
     • Message, Cypher, and Decryption Editor tabs ENCRYPT/DECRYPT as separate
       processes, allowing user to experiment with their own Cyphers without
       having to load files on the Vigenère tab.
     • Options menu allows automatic reloading of the Message, Cypher, and
       Decryption Editors when the corresponding items are checked. Otherwise
       the editor buffers are unchanged. Be aware that when unchecking these
       menu items the editor MD5 sums will no longer match those on the
       Vigenère tab.
     • This is the last update until I complete my novel (which uses Vigen to
       generate cyphers in the text).
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 * Wed Mar 19 16:10:30 GMT 2025
   1-0-3-1 (x64) Codename: Methuselah
   
     • Improved UI with new VGN md5 and file path outputs.
     • Added tabs for message, cypher, and decryption files.
     • Moved progress bar from its own window to bottom of app window.
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 * Tue Mar 18 10:37:45 GMT 2025
   1-0-2-9 (x64) Codename: Methuselah
   
     • When ENCYRPT/DECRYPT buttons are pressed, the input files are reloaded.
       This was implemented when running two instances of Vigen - instance A
       for encryption, and instance B for decryption.
       
       I wanted to change the encryption parameters within instance A, so the
       encypted file changed, and instance B was ignorant of the changes.
       In instance B, I verified that the new parameters decrypted the changed
       encryption of instance A. Previously, the user had to manually
       reload the input file(s) after each change.
       
     • Better progress feedback during long encryption/decryption.
       
     • Updated examples with encryption/decryption of a large text file
       and added screenshots of parameters with a WinMerge diff verification.
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 * Mon Mar 17 15:07:44 GMT 2025
   1-0-2-8 (x64) Codename: Methuselah
   
     • Fixes a 'DECRYPT' bug where the user did not press 'ENCRYPT' first.
       As in earlier versions, user can now decrypt vgn files without original
       message text - if they possess the seeds, keys and rotation numbers.
       
     • Fixes a bug in the Seed Total display field.
       When a Codepoint was removed from the row, (right clicking on a button)
       the Seed Total failed to update.
       
     • Removed bin directory from the Documentation as it contained old releases
       and bloated the distribution.
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 * Tue Nov 05 12:05:10 GMT 2024
   1-0-2-4b (x64) Codename: Methuselah
   
     • Consolidate Pass logging functions into a single FL_Menu_Button.

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 * Tue Nov 05 12:05:10 GMT 2024
   1-0-2-4b (x64) Codename: Methuselah
   
     • Consolidate Pass logging functions into a single FL_Menu_Button.
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 * Sun Nov 03 12:26:13 GMT 2024
   1-0-2-2b (x64) Codename: Methuselah
   
     • Added SWAP and ROTATE info to Log.
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 * Mon May 03 09:55 BST 2021
   1-0-1-8b (x64) Codename: Methuselah
   
     Seeds and Web Examples
     • Updated the Seeds and Examples to the new format so that they correlate 
       once more with the web documentation.
     • You can now convert old seed files that were created prior to version
       1-0-1-4b by holding down the CONTROL key whilst clicking 'LOAD...'
       Wait until the seed appears in the Seed Row table and click 'SAVE...'
       Be patient when converting old seeds above 4KB as they take time to
       process.
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 * Sun May 02 17:36 BST 2021
   1-0-1-6 (x64) Codename: Methuselah
   
     Unicode Charts and Tables
     • The Unicode Character Description string is now shown as a tooltip when
       the mouse hovers over a button in the table. This works for the Chart,
       Seed and Vigenère tables.
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 * Sat May 01 20:01:01 BST 2021
   1-0-1-4b (x64) Codename: Methuselah (dev snapshot)
   
     Planes menu
     • Completed TIP, SSP and PUA planes (all blocks).
     
     Unicode Charts
     • Non-characters now have a black button labelled "NON CHAR".
     • Completed label system for other control chars, variation selectors, etc.
       These labels now appear in both the Seed Row and the Tableau de Vigenère.
       
     Seed Files
     • The seed file format has changed for this release.
       IMPORTANT: Seed files created by previous development snapshots won't
       load in this version. You must recreate your seed files and save them to
       disk using this version.
       
     Seed Row Table
     • You can now remove a character from the Seed Row by right-clicking on its
       button and selecting "Remove" from the pop-up menu.
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 * Wed Apr 27 15:15 BST 2021
   1-0-1-2b (x64) Codename: Methuselah (dev snapshot)
   
     Planes menu
     • Completed SIP plane (all blocks).
     
     Encryption/Decryption
     • Further speed optimisations
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 * Tue Apr 27 11:11 BST 2021
   1-0-1-0b (x64) Codename: Methuselah (dev snapshot)
   
     Encryption/Decryption
     • Optimised look-ups with std::map
     
     Build
     • Optimised with -O2
     
     These optimisations appear to be stable. If you encounter problems, roll
     back to 1-0-0-8b.
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 * Mon Apr 26 13:32:44 BST 2021
   1-0-0-8b (x64) Codename: Methuselah (dev snapshot)
   
     Planes menu
     • Completed SMP plane (all blocks).
     
     Cypher Tab
     • MD5 hash sum verification for original unencrypted file and the decrypted
       file.
       
     • The Log will stall when trying to display an exhorbitant amount of
       Egyptian Hieroglyphs; this is not a fault with Vigen but a bottle-neck in
       FLTK's Fl_Text_Buffer class. In fact, the same problem occurs in Windows
       notepad. However, Notepad++ displays any amount of Egyptian Hieroglyphs
       without problems.
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 * Fri Apr 23 14:19 BST 2021
   1-0-0-6b (x64) Codename: Methuselah (dev snapshot)
   
     Planes menu
     • Implemented SMP plane blocks 10000-10FFF and 11000–11FFF.
     • Fixed bug where BMP "Latin Extended D" did not show up the menu.
     • Fixed typo for BMP "Rejang" that prevented the table from loading.
       (It was listed in the menu as "KRejang").
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 * Thu Apr 22 13:30 BST 2021
   1-0-0-4b (x64) Codename: Methuselah (dev snapshot)
   
     Table Entry
     • Implemented SWAP seed option.
       This allows further obsfucation. Both seeds must have the same number of
       characters. In effect one table is transposed to another, where all the
       characters in Table A are replaced by the characters in Table B. Thus a 
       look up in Table A returns the character in Table B.
     • Option to set font for individual Key entry fields.
     
     UI
     • Made for a cleaner and clearer interface.
     • Fixed UI bug where table was not automatically regenerated after user
       modified the current seed. (Previously, user had to manually reload the
       seed to regenerate the table).
       
     • Planes menu
       Fixed typo for "Hangul Syllables [Part 3 of 4]" that prevented the table
       from loading.
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 * Tue Apr 20 11:07:29 BST 2021
   1-0-0-2b (x64) Codename: Methuselah (dev snapshot)
   First release for Microsoft Windows 10 x64
   
     Planes Menu
     • Only the BMP (Basic Multilingual Plane) is implemented in this release.
     
     Trace Files
     • The option to Trace encryption files was a feature implemented during
       development but is still enabled in the beta version. Trace files are
       saved in the 'TRACE_ENCRYPT' and 'TRACE_DECRYPT' folders. Be aware that
       trace files from a previous encryption/decryption are over-written each
       time you 'ENCRYPT' or 'DECRYPT'.
     Seeds
     • The seeds that come with the distribution are starting points only, and
       the ones used in the examples for the web documentation at:
       http://www.neolithicsphere.com/utils/vigen/index.htm
       The folder 'web_examples' contains the messages and keys used in the web
       documentation.
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