Add a -force-textmode Option to IBM Encryption Facility to Ensure ASCII to EBCDIC Conversion on Decryption

Currently, the -t option in IBM Encryption Facility (IBMEF) does not enforce ASCII to EBCDIC conversion when decrypting files, unless the original encryption process explicitly used the  "--textmode" option in GnuPG. This behavior creates an issue for IBM z/OS users when receiving encrypted files from partners using GnuPG on Linux or other non-z/OS platforms.

The --textmode option in GnuPG is now marked as deprecated in the official GnuPG documentation. As a result, it may no longer be consistently used by external partners, leading to situations where decrypted files remain in ASCII, rather than being converted to EBCDIC as expected.
 

Proposed Enhancement

To address this limitation, we request the introduction of a new option in IBM Encryption Facility:

-force-textmode 
This option should ensure that decrypted files are converted from ASCII (or UTF-8) to the system’s default EBCDIC character set, regardless of whether the --textmode option was used during encryption.
 

Justification

• Ensures compatibility with GnuPG versions where --textmode is deprecated.
• Eliminates dependency on external partners correctly setting --textmode during encryption.
• Provides z/OS users with direct control over text conversion, similar to the existing -ignore-textmode option but in the opposite direction.
• Aligns IBMEF behavior with its documented functionality, which states that the -t option should trigger ASCII to EBCDIC conversion on decryption.

We believe this enhancement would significantly improve the usability of IBMEF for enterprise customers relying on OpenPGP encryption for cross-platform file exchange.

This enhancement has been discussed with IBM Support team in case TS017974098.

Thank you for considering this request.