A.10 Miscellaneous UI Server Commands

The server needs to implement the following commands which are not related to a specific command:

Command: GETINFO what

This is a multi purpose command, commonly used to return a variety of information. The required subcommands as described by the what parameter are:

pid

Return the process id of the server in decimal notation using an Assuan data line.

To allow the server to pop up the windows in the correct relation to the client, the client is advised to tell the server by sending the option:

Command option: window-id number

The number represents the native window ID of the clients current window. On Windows systems this is a windows handle (HWND) and on X11 systems it is the X Window ID. The number needs to be given as a hexadecimal value so that it is easier to convey pointer values (e.g. HWND).

A client may want to fire up the certificate manager of the server. To do this it uses the Assuan command:

Command: START_KEYMANAGER

The server shall pop up the main window of the key manager (aka certificate manager). The client expects that the key manager is brought into the foregound and that this command immediately returns (does not wait until the key manager has been fully brought up).

A client may want to fire up the configuration dialog of the server. To do this it uses the Assuan command:

Command: START_CONFDIALOG

The server shall pop up its configuration dialog. The client expects that this dialog is brought into the foregound and that this command immediately returns (i.e. it does not wait until the dialog has been fully brought up).

When doing an operation on a mail, it is useful to let the server know the address of the sender:

Command: SENDER [--info] [--protocol=name] email

email is the plain ASCII encoded address ("addr-spec" as per RFC-2822) enclosed in angle brackets. The address set with this command is valid until a successful completion of the operation or until a RESET command. A second command overrides the effect of the first one; if email is not given and --info is not used, the server shall use the default signing key.

If option --info is not given, the server shall also suggest a protocol to use for signing. The client may use this suggested protocol on its own discretion. The same status line as with PREP_ENCRYPT is used for this.

The option --protocol may be used to give the server a hint on which signing protocol should be preferred.

To allow the UI-server to visually identify a running operation or to associate operations the server MAY support the command:

Command: SESSION number [string]

The number is an arbitrary value, a server may use to associate simultaneous running sessions. It is a 32 bit unsigned integer with 0 as a special value indicating that no session association shall be done.

If string is given, the server may use this as the title of a window or, in the case of an email operation, to extract the sender’s address. The string may contain spaces; thus no plus-escaping is used.

This command may be used at any time and overrides the effect of the last command. A RESET undoes the effect of this command.