What this manual covers

APPX data file encryption protects data stored in native APPXIO files. This manual covers encrypting and decrypting an existing file, encrypting and decrypting the eligible files in a database, exporting encrypted data to CSV, and checking and recovering encrypted files.

This manual covers APPX 6.2.1 on any supported platform. The encryption and decryption workflow is the same across platforms. Command examples are provided for Unix and Windows where needed. GUI illustrations are retained from the earlier edition where the controls and steps are unchanged; screen appearance and sample data may differ.

At the time of publication, October 16, 2026, APPX data file encryption has no known bugs in release 6.2.1. Earlier releases are known to have bugs. Consult the APPX bug tracker for details.

Use a separate test installation and a copy of the DMO sample database. Complete each exercise and check its result before continuing. Keep application users, scheduled jobs, API users, and ODBC users out of the test database during a conversion.

Before converting a file used by ODBC clients, complete Check ODBC access before converting a file. Native APPX access and ODBC access must be checked separately.

Exercise	Starting state	Result
Encrypt PROSPECT	PROSPECT is unencrypted	Only PROSPECT is encrypted
Decrypt PROSPECT	PROSPECT is encrypted with its own file key	PROSPECT is unencrypted again
Encrypt DMO	Eligible DMO files are unencrypted	The eligible files use a dedicated encryption group
Decrypt DMO	The dedicated group encrypts the eligible files	Those files are unencrypted again

The CSV and recovery exercises can be run while PROSPECT is encrypted. The remaining chapters explain routine operation, backups, key changes, Unicode, and APPX ODBC.