GNUPG how to encrypt file without it's original extension in the name?

Question

I need to automatically encrypt file e.g. myfile.xls to myfile.gpg. Now when I'm trying to encrypt it automatically or with GNU privacy assistent, the encrypted file is myfile.xls.gpg. When I delete that .xls, it has no extension after decrypting. Thank you.

Answer 1

That gpgencrypt.c option looks like far too much effort.

To encrypt do this:

gpg -er $recipient_id -o myfile.gpg myfile.xls

To decrypt and restore the original filename do this:

gpg --use-embedded-filename -d myfile.gpg

That name has been encrypted and is stored with the encrypted data. That flag tells GPG to use the original filename instead of creating a new filename based on the name of the encrypted file.