GPG-CONNECT-AGENT(1)

NAME

gpg-connect-agent - Communicate with a running agent

SYNOPSIS

gpg-connect-agent [options][commands]

DESCRIPTION

The gpg-connect-agent is a utility to communicate with a running gpgagent. It is useful to check out the commands gpg-agent provides using the Assuan interface. It might also be useful for scripting simple applications. Input is expected at stdin and out put gets printed to stdout.

It is very similar to running gpg-agent in server mode; but here we connect to a running instance.

The following options may be used:

-v

--verbose

Output additional information while running.

-q

--quiet

Try to be as quiet as possible.

--homedir dir

Set the name of the home directory to dir. If this option is not used, the home directory defaults to '~/.gnupg'. It is only recognized when given on the command line. It also overrides any home directory stated through the environment variable 'GNUPGHOME' or (on W32 systems) by means of the Registry entry HKCU\Software\GNU\GnuPG:HomeDir.

-S

--raw-socket name

Connect to socket name assuming this is an Assuan style server. Do not run any special initializations or environment checks. This may be used to directly connect to any Assuan style socket server.

-E

--exec Take the rest of the command line as a program and it's argu

ments and execute it as an assuan server. Here is how you would run gpgsm:

gpg-connect-agent --exec gpgsm --server

Note that you may not use options on the command line in this case.

--no-ext-connect

When using -S or --exec, gpg-connect-agent connects to the assuan server in extended mode to allow descriptor passing. This option makes it use the old mode.

--run file

Run the commands from file at startup and then continue with the regular input method. Note, that commands given on the command line are executed after this file.

-s

--subst

Run the command /subst at startup.

--hex Print data lines in a hex format and the ASCII representation of

non-control characters.

--decode

Decode data lines. That is to remove percent escapes but make sure that a new line always starts with a D and a space.

CONTROL COMMANDS

While reading Assuan commands, gpg-agent also allows a few special commands to control its operation. These control commands all start with a slash (/).

/echo args

Just print args.

/let name value

Set the variable name to value. Variables are only substituted on the input if the /subst has been used. Variables are referenced by prefixing the name with a dollar sign and optionally include the name in curly braces. The rules for a valid name are identically to those of the standard bourne shell. This is not yet enforced but may be in the future. When used with curly braces no leading or trailing white space is allowed.

If a variable is not found, it is searched in the environment and if found copied to the table of variables.

Variable functions are available: The name of the function must be followed by at least one space and the at least one argument. The following functions are available:

get Return a value described by the argument. Available

arguments are:

cwd The current working directory.

homedir

The gnupg homedir.

sysconfdir

GnuPG's system configuration directory.

bindir GnuPG's binary directory.

libdir GnuPG's library directory.

libexecdir

GnuPG's library directory for executable files.

datadir

GnuPG's data directory.

serverpid

The PID of the current server. Command /serverpid must have been given to return a useful value.

unescape args

Remove C-style escapes from args. Note that \0 and \x00 terminate the returned string implicitly. The string to be converted are the entire arguments right behind the delimiting space of the function name.

unpercent args

unpercent+ args

Remove percent style escaping from args. Note that %00 terminates the string implicitly. The string to be converted are the entire arguments right behind the delimiting space of the function name. unpercent+ also maps plus signs to a spaces.

percent args

percent+ args

Escape the args using percent style escaping. Tabs, formfeeds, linefeeds, carriage returns and colons are escaped. percent+ also maps spaces to plus signs.

errcode arg

errsource arg

errstring arg

Assume arg is an integer and evaluate it using strtol. Return the gpg-error error code, error source or a formatted string with the error code and error source.

+

SEE ALSO

gpg-agent(1), scdaemon(1)

The full documentation for this tool is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If GnuPG and the info program are properly installed at your site, the command

info gnupg

should give you access to the complete manual including a menu structure and an index.

GnuPG 2.0.14 2010-07-25 GPG-CONNECT-AGENT(1)